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Indian Filmmaker Payal Kapadia Awarded France’s 'Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters' for Her Contribution to Cinema.

Awards | Dated: 27 Apr 2025

On 24th April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia was honoured with the "Officier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters), one of France's highest civilian distinctions in the fields of arts and literature. She was recognised for her exceptional contribution to global cinema and her efforts in fostering Indo-French cultural ties. The award was conferred by Jean-Marc Sere-Charlet, Consul General of France in Mumbai, during a ceremony held at the Residence of France in Mumbai.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - Kapadia is an alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and is widely known for her innovative and experimental storytelling in cinema.
  • - ii. Her fiction feature debut, All We Imagine as Light (2024), an Indo-French co-production between France-based petit chaos and Mumbai-based Chalk and Cheese Films, won the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival (CFF)—making it the first Indian film in 30 years to receive a major award in the main competition. The film was also shortlisted as France’s official entry for the Academy Awards (Oscars) in the Best International Feature Film category.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) In 2017, her short film Afternoon Clouds was selected as the only Indian entry at the 70th CFF.
  • (ii) Her experimental short And What Was the Summer Saying won the Special Jury Prize at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in 2018, and the Pramod Pati Award at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) in 2020.
  • (iii) In 2021, Payal Kapadia received the Oeil d'Or (Golden Eye) Award at the 74th Cannes Film Festival for her acclaimed documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing. In 2025, she further cemented her global reputation with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director and was ranked 5th in Cahiers du Cinéma's prestigious annual list of top filmmakers.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Recently, which Indian filmmaker was awarded France’s 'Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters' for contribution to cinema?

Correct Answer: Payal Kapadia

🚀 Quick Recap: