May 13, 2025: Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia made a celebrated return to the Cannes Film Festival this year — not as a competitor, but as a jury member on the prestigious panel for the 2025 edition.
Kapadia joined other global cinema luminaries for a press conference and photocall on Tuesday ahead of the opening ceremony of the world-renowned film festival. She shares jury responsibilities with iconic names including Hollywood star Halle Berry, Italian actor Alba Rohrwacher, French-Moroccan writer Leila Slimani, Congolese filmmaker Dieudo Hamadi, and acclaimed South Korean director Hong Sang-soo.
Her Cannes jury appearance comes just one year after scripting history in 2024, when she became the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix, the second-highest honour at Cannes, for her acclaimed film All We Imagine as Light.
The award-winning Indo-French co-production tells the poignant story of Prabha, a nurse whose life is upended by a mysterious gift from her estranged husband. Along with her roommate Anu, she embarks on a reflective journey to a coastal town, where a mystical forest becomes a space of peace and possibilities. The film resonated with global audiences and was also nominated for two Golden Globes at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.
Fashion and pop-culture platform Diet Sabya shared Kapadia’s Cannes jury photos, further highlighting the significance of her representation at the event.
As Kapadia takes a seat at the jury table this year, her journey symbolizes a proud moment for Indian cinema on the international stage, reaffirming her place as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary filmmaking.