Is Guneet Monga Kapoor's Women In Film Set to Transform Cannes with a New Fellowship for Female Producers?

Mumbai, May 15 (NationPress) Academy Award winner Guneet Monga has launched her initiative, Women in Film India, making its inaugural appearance at the Cannes Film Festival with a fellowship aimed at empowering female producers, including Tillotama Shome.

The first initiative is unveiled at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, featuring a unique program that highlights three female producers from India.

“Through WIF India, we are establishing a solid framework for the concept of equality—offering mentorship, access, and pathways to leadership,” stated Guneet Monga Kapoor, the founder of WIF India.

She continued, “This launch marks the commencement of a long-term commitment to invest in women, not only for today but also for the future of the Indian entertainment landscape.”

Supported by Women In Film Los Angeles (WIF LA), WIF India integrates into a global network of over 50 chapters across six continents, all dedicated to promoting gender equity in the entertainment sector.

To celebrate its debut, WIF India is rolling out The Women in Film India Fellowship: Cannes Producers Edition, a flagship program crafted to uplift mid-career female producers by granting them access to the Producers Network at the Marché du Film during Cannes.

The inaugural fellowship recipients of this year include the acclaimed actor Tillotama Shome, who has recently transitioned into producing with her Bengali project, Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox).

Also part of this initiative are veteran studio executive and creative producer Rucha Pathak, known for her work on films such as Paan Singh Tomar, Neerja, Barfi, and Madgaon Express, alongside Dimpy Agarwal, an independent producer recognized for her socially impactful storytelling—she is also a co-producer on Baksho Bondi and has contributed to award-winning films like Chashma, Umeed, and Monica O My Darling.

Furthermore, WIF India has presented an Accreditation Grant to an exceptional female producer from the Marathi film industry, Shefali Bhushan, whose film Sthal is being featured at the Cannes Film Market.

Kirsten Schaffer, Chief Executive Officer of Women in Film, remarked, “Our collaboration with Women in Film India signifies a crucial advancement toward fostering a robust, interconnected community that champions women across all dimensions of the screen industries.”

“This fellowship is integral to ensuring women are afforded equal opportunities to produce high-quality film and television,” she added.

WIF India is governed by a prominent Board of Directors, representing diverse sectors of 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.