In a significant moment for Indian cinema on the global stage, Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor’s initiative, ‘Women In Film India’ (WIF India), has officially launched at the Cannes Film Festival. The debut was marked by the unveiling of a powerful fellowship program aimed at elevating the careers of female producers in the industry.
This fellowship program is designed to nurture mid-career women in entertainment through structured mentorship, increased global exposure, and pathways to leadership roles.
According to an IANS report, the inaugural edition, named ‘The Women in Film India Fellowship: Cannes Producers Edition’, will spotlight and support three accomplished women producers from India: actor-turned-producer Tillotama Shome, veteran studio executive Rucha Pathak, and socially conscious independent producer Dimpy Agarwal. These three individuals will receive exclusive access to the Producers Network at the Marché du Film in Cannes, recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious networking platforms for film professionals.
“This launch is just the beginning of a long-term commitment in investing in women—not just for today, but for the future of the Indian entertainment industry,” stated Guneet Monga Kapoor, the Founder of WIF India. She further added, “With WIF India, we’re putting real structure behind the idea of equality—mentorship, access, and leadership pathways.” Shome, whose recent Bengali feature film ‘Baksho Bondi’ (‘Shadowbox’) marks her debut as a producer, joins Pathak and Agarwal, both of whom have contributed to critically acclaimed and commercially successful projects in India.
WIF India is supported by ‘Women In Film Los Angeles’ (WIF LA) and now joins a global network of over 50 chapters spanning six continents, all dedicated to addressing gender disparity within film, television, and digital media. In addition to the fellowship, WIF India has also awarded an Accreditation Grant to Shefali Bhushan, a prominent producer from the Marathi film industry whose film ‘Sthal’ is being showcased at the Cannes Film Market this year.
Kirsten Schaffer, the Chief Executive Officer of WIF LA, commented on the partnership, saying, “Our partnership with Women in Film India marks an important step toward building a strong, interconnected community that supports women across all aspects of the screen industries. This fellowship is a key part of the solution to ensuring that women have equal opportunity to create high-quality film and television.”
WIF India is governed by a diverse and influential Board of Directors comprising prominent figures from India’s film and media landscape, including 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.
With its impactful debut at Cannes, Women in Film India sets a promising tone for a more inclusive future in storytelling and production, aiming to create more opportunities for women in cinema both within India and internationally.
Key Highlights:
- Guneet Monga’s ‘Women In Film India’ (WIF India) has debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.
- WIF India launched a global fellowship program for female producers.
- The inaugural fellows include Tillotama Shome, Rucha Pathak, and Dimpy Agarwal.
- The initiative aims to provide mentorship, global exposure, and leadership pathways for women in the film industry.