Bollywood actor Ishaan Khatter made a significant mark on the global stage by serving as a jury member at the Biarritz Film Festival – Nouvelles Vagues 2026 in France. The actor shared the jury table with Hollywood star Kristen Stewart, who chaired the prestigious panel for the festival’s fourth edition.
The event took place from June 23 to June 28 in the scenic coastal city of Biarritz, located in southwestern France. The festival is known for its focus on young generations and emerging voices in cinema, making it one of Europe’s most closely watched festivals for contemporary storytelling.
Ishaan Khatter’s International Jury Role
Ishaan Khatter became the only Indian actor invited to be part of this year’s jury lineup. He sat alongside an international panel that included Kristen Stewart as jury president, Canadian actress Whitney Peak, French actor-director Raphaël Quenard, French filmmaker Nathan Ambrosioni, French actress Suzy Bemba, Italian director Carolina Cavalli, and British actress Esmé Creed-Miles.
Photos from the opening ceremony quickly went viral on social media. The actor shared a carousel of images on his Instagram, writing, “In Biarritz with the coolest gang on jury duty. Replenishing my cinematic appetite 😊 Nouvelles Vagues baby. Viva cinema”.
The opening night attracted an impressive crowd of Hollywood celebrities and acclaimed European filmmakers. French icon Marion Cotillard took the stage to honor the legendary Isabelle Huppert with a lifetime achievement award.
Festival’s Focus on Emerging Talent
The Biarritz Film Festival – Nouvelles Vagues is dedicated entirely to youth and emerging talent in cinema. Now in its fourth year, the six-day festival has gained attention for highlighting contemporary storytelling and new creative voices from around the world.
The festival featured eight films in competition for the international feature category. A jury of eight international talents, led by Stewart, was responsible for deciding the winners.
Kristen Stewart, who made her directorial debut with The Chronology of Water in 2025, brought significant star power to the event. The actress, known for her roles in Twilight and her work with Chanel, had previously headed the Berlinale jury in 2023 and served on the Cannes jury in 2018.
Ishaan Khatter’s Growing International Presence
This jury invitation comes at a significant phase in Ishaan Khatter’s career. The actor has been steadily expanding his international footprint with projects that have reached global audiences.
His performances in A Suitable Boy and The Royals introduced him to a wider international audience. He also starred in the Netflix murder-mystery miniseries The Perfect Couple, which marked his Hollywood debut.
Recently, Khatter featured in Homebound, a social drama directed by Neeraj Ghaywan alongside Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival under the Un Certain Regard category, where it received a nine-minute standing ovation.
Earlier this year, Ishaan was featured on the Gold House Gold 100 list, becoming the only Indian male actor included in the annual lineup that recognizes influential Asian and Pacific figures across industries.
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Recognition from Indian Armed Forces
In a separate honor, Khatter was conferred with an honorary membership of the 45 Cavalry of the Indian Armoured Corps. The recognition came for his portrayal of a 45 Cavalry officer in the 2023 war drama Pippa.
The actor shared his gratitude on social media, saying it was “the honour of a lifetime.” He wrote, “There is no bigger acknowledgment and I only hope to always be reliably and humbly in service in any which way I can be to the bravest and most honourable members of the Indian army”.
Upcoming Projects for Ishaan Khatter
On the work front, Ishaan Khatter will next appear in the comedy film Jugaadu. The actor recently shared his first look from the film on Instagram, describing it as “a riot of an entertainer” set to arrive in cinemas soon.
He is also set to return for the next season of Netflix series The Royals, continuing his association with international projects.
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