indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia has been announced as president of the jury for the 65th edition of cannes Criticism Week.
She will be joined by Quebec actor Théodore Pellerin, singer-songwriter Oklou, Ghanaian-British producer Ama Ampadu and journalist and director of the Bangkok World Film Festival, Donsaron Kovitvanitcha.
Kapadia broke out internationally with his second feature film Everything we imagine as lightwhich debuted in competition in the Official Selection of Cannes in 2024, winning the Grand Prix.
Born in 1986 in Mumbai, she studied directing at the Film and Television Institute of India. his short films Afternoon clouds and And what does summer say? They were selected at the Cinéfondation and the Berlinale.
His first feature-length documentary. One night without knowing anything was selected in the 2021 Directors’ Fortnight and won the L’Oeil d’Or for Best Documentary.
The parallel section of the French Syndicate of Film Critics will show 11 first and second featuresseven of which play in competition, selected from 1,050 applications. Another 13 short films will also be screened, selected from 2,400 applications.
Kapadia and his jury will decide the winners of the La Semaine de la Critique Ami Paris Grand Prix for best feature film, the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award for best actor or actress, and the Sony Discovery Award for best short film.
“My own journey as a filmmaker was supported from the beginning by selections in film festivals. Through them I had the opportunity to meet other people like me from around the world and they helped me build a community of future collaborators,” said Kapadia.
“At a time when independent cinema is eroding in all countries, supporting the first works of filmmakers is almost a resistance to market forces. Film criticism is one of the key components of the independent and art cinema ecosystem. Early films are often freer, bolder and bolder, having an individual voice and defending them is absolutely essential. Early films are also fragile and being nurtured in a section like Critics’ Week helps them flourish among the work of established filmmakers”.
The 65th Cannes Critics’ Week will be held from May 13 to 21.