Last year was a landmark moment for both Payal Kapadia and Indian cinema when her indie film All We Imagine As Light made history by winning the prestigious Grand Prix at Cannes. This year, she stunned the red carpet in an even more distinguished role. For the 78th edition of the festival in 2025, Payal Kapadia joined the official jury for the main competition, not as a contender, but as a judge.

Well, her selection for the jury at Cannes marks a rare and meaningful moment for Indian cinema, especially for the independent filmmakers and women directors. The role of the jury isn't just ceremonial; it also marks a global recognition of her unique artistic voice.

This affirms the rise of a new Indian storytelling that breaks away from traditional Bollywood norms.

Payal Kapadia at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 💙❤️#Payal #PayalKapadia pic.twitter.com/11IFU6e90V

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Payal Kapadia is a renowned Indian filmmaker who captured global attention in 2024 by winning the Grand Prix for her debut feature, All We Imagine As Light, and this year, she has returned to the French Film Festival as a jury member.

Payal Kapadia’s acclaimed fiction debut ‘ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT’ is now streaming on KlikFilm.pic.twitter.com/Su95aINsha

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Her appointment as a juror follows the success she enjoyed at the 77th edition of the festival, making her presence on the jury panel a complete circle moment in her Cannes journey. The 39-year-old director was spotted walking the red carpet on Tuesday at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. She represented India among an international panel of distinguished filmmakers and artists.

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Payal was born on January 4, 1986, and was immersed in creative arts from an early age. Her mother, Nalini Malani, was also a celebrated painter and video artist, while her father, Shailesh Kapadia, was a psychoanalyst.

Kapadia attended the Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh and did her bachelor's at St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai. Following this, the director went to Sophia College for Women for her master's. She later pursued her film direction at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

At FTII, Kapadia made her name and was recognised not only for her filmmaking skills but also for her activism, especially for protesting against the controversial appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the institute's chairman.

Additionally, for the 70th Cannes Film Festival, which took place in 2017, her short film Afternoon Clouds was the only Indian entry selected, further establishing her international credentials.

Credit: X

Payal Kapadia's presence on the jury symbolises the rise of India's indie filmmakers on the global stage. It also marks a major gender milestone, as she is one of the few Indian women filmmakers who gained consistent global recognition.