AceShowbiz - Payal Kapadia, the acclaimed Indian filmmaker whose film All We Imagine as Light won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2024, has been appointed president of the jury for the 65th edition of the Cannes Critics' Week. The event will take place from May 13 to 21, 2026, running parallel to the main festival.

Joining Payal Kapadia on the jury are a diverse group of creatives: Canadian actor Théodore Pellerin, known for his role in Lurker; French singer-songwriter and producer Oklou; Ghanaian-British producer Ama Ampadu, recognized for My Father’s Shadow; and journalist and director of the Bangkok World Film Festival, Donsaron Kovitvanitcha.

Payal Kapadia has earned recognition through her short films Afternoon Clouds and And What is the Summer Saying, which were selected respectively at the Cinéfondation and the Berlinale. Her debut feature documentary, A Night of Knowing Nothing, premiered at Cannes in 2021 and received the prestigious L'Oeil d'Or award for Best Documentary.

Her second feature, All We Imagine as Light, emerged as a standout at the 2024 Cannes festival, further establishing her as a rising voice in contemporary world cinema.

Reflecting on her own journey, Payal Kapadia stated, "My own journey as a filmmaker was supported early on because of film festival selections. Through these, I had the opportunity to meet others like myself from across the world and helped me build a community of future collaborators."

Taking on the jury presidency during a time when independent cinema faces many challenges, Payal Kapadia emphasized the importance of supporting first-time filmmakers. She described this support as "almost a resistance to market forces," highlighting the role of Cannes Critics' Week as a vital platform.

She also praised film criticism as a crucial element of the independent and arthouse film ecosystem, noting, "The first films are often freer, more daring and fearless, having an individual voice and to champion those is absolutely essential. First films are also fragile, and to be nurtured in a section like Critics' Week helps them blossom amongst already established filmmakers' work."

The Critics' Week jury headed by Payal Kapadia will award several prizes, including the Ami Paris Grand Prize for best feature, the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award for best actor or actress, and the Sony Discovery Prize for best short film.