Women In Film India (WIF India), a national non-profit initiative founded by Academy Award-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor, has announced the recipients of its inaugural scholarships for both the impACT Lab and the Producers Network at the Marché du Film, Cannes. The Producers Network scholarships are supported by Jio Studios.
The selected scholars will represent WIF India at Cannes this May, where they will gain access to mentorship, workshops, and curated industry interactions as part of the global film market.
The WIF India impACT Lab jury comprised Smriti Kiran, Tahira Kashyap Khurrana, Sucharita Tyagi, and Rucha Pathak, while the Producers Network jury included Jyoti Deshpande, Siddharth Roy Kapur and Guneet Monga Kapoor. Both juries reviewed submissions from a nationwide open call, drawing entries from across the country, according to a press note.
This year’s WIF India impACT Lab cohort will include Suruchi Sharma from Jaipur and Jasmin A. Singh from Mumbai, who will begin their online lab sessions on April 21, ahead of their on-ground participation in Cannes. The WIF India Producers Network scholarships have been awarded to Archana Borhade and Molshri Singh.
Jyoti Deshpande, President of Jio Studios, pointed out the collaborative nature of the initiative. "What stands out is the clarity of voice and intent in the selected filmmakers. The Producers Network is not just a platform for visibility, but for meaningful exchange, and that’s where real collaborations begin," she said in a press note.
Guneet Monga Kapoor, the WIF India founder, added, “This partnership with the Marché du Film marks a real milestone for WIF India. A year in, we are moving from building the foundation to opening doors that connect Indian women filmmakers directly to the global market. That is what this scholarship class represents.”
Rabia Chopra, the Head of Programme and Development, WIF India, noted how the response to the open call was reflective of the talent in the country. “Our focus now is on ensuring that the access these four scholars gain in Cannes translates into sustained opportunity, not just a single moment.” The four scholars will travel to Cannes this May as part of the WIF India delegation.