[France], May 16: Academy Award-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor made a powerful impact at the 78th Cannes Film Festival by officially launching Women in Film India (WIF India), a new chapter of the global Women in Film (WIF) network aimed at uplifting female voices in Indian cinema.
The launch was marked by the introduction of WIF India’s flagship initiative—The Women in Film India Fellowship: Cannes Producers Edition—spotlighting three exceptional Indian women producers and offering them access to the prestigious Producers Network at the Marché du Film, one of the most influential platforms for international film collaboration.
The 2025 inaugural fellowship recipients are:
- Tillotama Shome – An acclaimed actor and emerging producer, known for Sir, Lust Stories 2, and her debut as a producer with the Bengali film Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox).
- Rucha Pathak – A veteran studio executive and producer behind celebrated films such as Paan Singh Tomar, Neerja, Barfi, and Madgaon Express.
- Dimpy Agarwal – An independent producer known for socially conscious storytelling, co-producer on Baksho Bondi and contributor to films like Chashma, Umeed, and Monica O My Darling.
Additionally, Shefali Bhushan, whose Marathi-language film Sthal is being showcased at the Cannes Film Market, received an Accreditation Grant as part of the initiative.
Speaking on the occasion, Monga said,
“With WIF India, we’re putting real structure behind the idea of equality—mentorship, access, and leadership pathways. This launch is just the beginning of a long-term commitment to investing in women, not just for today, but for the future of the Indian entertainment industry.”
Backed by Women In Film Los Angeles (WIF LA), WIF India now joins over 50 chapters across six continents in a global movement working toward gender equity in the film, television, and media industries. The official WIF India website is now live, offering membership registration, updates on upcoming programs, and industry resources.
The Board of Directors of WIF India includes some of India’s most influential voices in cinema and media:
Siddharth Roy Kapur, Karan Johar, Faye D’Souza, Anupama Chopra, Tahira Kashyap, Gauri Shinde, Nikhil Advani, Jyoti Deshpande, Gayatri Yadav, Aparna Purohit, Varun Grover, Kanika Dhillon, Vani Tripathi, Miriam Joseph, Ekta Kapoor, Twinkle Khanna, and Guneet Monga Kapoor herself.
Participants of the fellowship will benefit from global mentorship, financing insights, and extensive networking opportunities—and are expected to share their experiences with the broader WIF India community to foster collective growth.