Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia has been announced as the president of the jury for the 65th edition of Cannes Critics’ Week 2026. This is an important moment in her career, as she takes on a major role at one of the most respected platforms for emerging cinema. Kapadia will not be alone in this responsibility. She will be joined by a diverse group of jury members from different parts of the world.
The jury includes Quebecois actor Théodore Pellerin, singer-songwriter Oklou, Ghanaian-British producer Ama Ampadu, and journalist and festival director Donsaron Kovitvanitcha. Together, they will watch and judge a selection of new films and performances. Kapadia’s journey to this position has been steady and meaningful. She gained international attention with her second feature film All We Imagine As Light. The film premiered in competition at the Cannes Official Selection in 2024 and went on to win the Grand Prix. This recognition brought her work to a wider global audience.
Born in ’86: How Short Films Launched Payal Kapadia’s Award-Winning Career
Born in 1986 in Mumbai, Kapadia studied directing at the Film & Television Institute of India. During her early years as a filmmaker, her short films Afternoon Clouds and And What is the Summer Saying were selected for important festivals. These included the Cinéfondation and the Berlin International Film Festival. These early selections helped her connect with other filmmakers and build her creative path. Her first feature documentary, A Night of Knowing Nothing, was selected at the Directors’ Fortnight in 2021. The film received strong recognition and won the L’Oeil d’Or. This win further established her as a filmmaker with a clear voice and vision.
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The Cannes Critics’ Week itself is a parallel section run by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. It focuses on first and second feature films, giving space to new filmmakers. This year, the section will showcase 11 feature films. Out of these, seven will compete for awards. These films were selected from a total of 1,050 submissions. In addition to features, 13 short films will also be presented, chosen from 2,400 entries. Kapadia and her jury will decide the winners of several awards. These include the La Semaine de la Critique Ami Paris Grand Prize, the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award, and the Sony Discovery Prize. These awards aim to highlight new talent and encourage fresh voices in cinema.
Why does Payal Kapadia believe supporting first-time filmmakers is essential today?
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Speaking about her role, Kapadia shared how film festivals helped her early in her journey. She said that being selected at festivals gave her the chance to meet other filmmakers from around the world. It also helped her build a community of collaborators. She stressed that supporting first-time filmmakers is very important, especially at a time when independent cinema is facing challenges in many countries. She also spoke about the role of film criticism. According to her, criticism is an important part of the independent and arthouse film ecosystem. She believes that first films are often bold and personal. They carry a strong individual voice, and it is important to support and protect that. She described these early works as fragile, needing care and attention so they can grow.
The 65th edition of Cannes Critics’ Week will take place from May 13 to 21.
