Payal Kapadia made history by winning the country's first Grand Prix Award for ‘All We Imagine As Light’ at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
38-year-old Payal Kapadia is a FTII alumni. She lead the 2015 protest against then-FTII Chairman Gajendra Chauhan.
She reportedly boycotted classes during the protest and faced disciplinary action, including a cut to her FTII grant.
In 2021 her film A' Night of Knowing Nothing' won the Oeil d’Or (Golden Eye) award.
Her film 'Afternoon Clouds' was also screened in Cinefondation, a category dedicated to supporting the next generation of talented filmmakers.
'All We Imagine as Light' stars Chhaya Kadam, Divya Prabha and Kani Kusruti in the leading roles.
While thanking everyone at Cannes, she requested the jury to not take another 30 years to select an Indian Film.
From authorities at FTII to Bollywood stars, many have congratulated the filmmaker as she made India proud at an International level.