Who Is Payal Kapadia? First Indian To Lead Global Jury Panel At The Cannes Film Festival 2026

India has a proud moment on the global stage as filmmaker Payal Kapadia achieves a major milestone at the Cannes Film Festival 2026. The filmmaker has been selected as the president of the Critics’ Week jury, becoming the first Indian to receive this honour. Her achievement highlights the growing recognition of Indian cinema worldwide and marks another big step in her successful career.

Payal Kapadia To Lead Global Jury Panel At Cannes 2026

Payal Kapadia has been appointed as the jury president for the 65th Critics’ Week at Cannes. She becomes the first Indian filmmaker to hold this prestigious position. This comes following her outstanding performance at the Cannes Film Festival last year, when she was awarded the Grand Prix for her film titled All We Imagine As Light.

The other members of the jury include Canadian actor Theodore Pellerin, singer-songwriter Oklou, producer Ama Ampadu, and Bangkok World Film Festival director Donasarn Kowitwanich. This diverse panel will review and select some of the most promising emerging talents from across the world.

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Who Is Payal Kapadia?

Who is Payal Kapadia (Image: Instagram)

Payal Kapadia is a renowned Indian film director who created history in 2024. She became the first Asian director to win the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival through her film 'All We Imagine as Light' (2024).

Some of her acclaimed works include the documentary film 'A Night of Knowing Nothing' (2021), which won the Golden Eye award and some short films such as 'Afternoon Clouds' (2017), 'And What Is the Summer Saying' (2018), and 'The Last Mango Before the Monsoon' (2015).

Critics’ Week Details 

Cannes Critics' Week will be held between the 13th and the 21st of May. It is known for providing an opportunity for emerging directors to present their works. The jury at Critics' Week lauded Payal's unique narrative approach. They were impressed by the fact that her films contain poetic qualities as well as a political message, dealing with real-world situations such as class conflicts and women’s rights.

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Payal Kapadia Reacts And Her Cannes Journey

Expressing her happiness, Payal said in a statement reported by The Hollywood Reporter that film festivals played a key role in shaping her journey. She added that such platforms helped her connect with filmmakers worldwide and build creative collaborations. Payal’s films have been featured at major festivals over the years. Her documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing won the Golden Eye award at Cannes in 2021. Her short films have also received international recognition.