Acclaimed filmmaker Payal Kapadia is set to return to the Cannes Film Festival in 2025 — but not with a film this time. She joins the main competition jury, becoming one of the select few Indian filmmakers to take a seat on the prestigious panel.

Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s poignant drama “All We Imagine as Light” took home the best picture prize at the 18th Asian Film Awards. The film has been on an impressive journey since winning the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival last May. Kapadia praised her lead actors during her acceptance speech, expressing her gratitude and excitement for ending this journey in Hong Kong.

Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine As Light” continues to make waves on the global stage, adding another feather to its cap after receiving recent Golden Globe nominations. The film has now secured a coveted spot on the longlist for three prestigious BAFTA awards.

This comes after the Film Federation of India chose Kiran Rao’s “Laapataa Ladies” as the country’s Oscar submission. However, Rao’s satirical take on patriarchy in rural India failed to make it to the recently revealed Oscar shortlist.

In his Instagram post, Obama wrote, “Here are a few movies I’d recommend checking out this year,” accompanied by a photo creative listing his top picks. The list includes titles such as “Conclave”, “The Promised Land”, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”, “Didi”, and “A Complete Unknown” alongside Kapadia’s critically acclaimed work.

Kapadia’s nomination in the Best Director category is a monumental step for Indian cinema, placing her in competition with distinguished international filmmakers, including Jacques Audiard (“Emilia Pérez”), Sean Baker (“Anora”), Edward Berger (“Conclave”), Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”), and Coralie Fargeat (“The Substance”). This recognition places "All We Imagine As Light" among an elite group of global films vying for the top awards.

The nominations for the 2025 Golden Globe Awards were announced on Monday, with “Emilia Perez” featuring Selena Gomez and the series “The Bear” leading the pack with numerous nods, showcasing their widespread acclaim and success.

This Hindi-language movie, which had its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last year, edged out “All We Imagine As Light” by Payal Kapadia. Kapadia’s film, initially viewed as the favourite following its critical success and Grand Jury Prize win at Cannes, lost out to Rao’s film in the Oscar race selection.

Shah Newaz Khan Cju’s “Not a Fiction” has secured its second Oscar-qualifying spot at the 19th edition of the Tasveer Film Festival and Market 2024.

Celebrated Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has criticised India’s tendency to claim credit for individual achievements on the international stage, specifically highlighting Payal Kapadia’s recent win at Cannes 2024. Kashyap, known for his unfiltered opinions, expressed his discontent with the narrative that frames such successes as collective national triumphs without acknowledging the lack of support from the country.

Directed and penned by Payal Kapadia, the Malayalam-Hindi feature film follows the lives of two nurses from Kerala.

The festival will commence on May 14 and run till May 25, this year.