PARIS — Kering will award this yr’s Women in Motion Emerging Talent prize to “Thunder” director Carmen Jaquier.

“I’m very grateful to receive this award, especially from a visionary and provoking director like Ninja Thyberg. Because of Women in Motion, I even have a sense of sorority, which touches me and provides me hope on this desire I even have for reflection, rise up and transmission. I even have special feelings for all of the people — technicians, producers, screenwriters, actresses and actors — who fiercely committed themselves to my side for my first feature film, ‘Thunder,’” she said.

The Swiss director was chosen by last yr’s honoree, Swedish director Thyberg. It’s a Kering tradition for the Emerging Talent Award to be chosen by her predecessor.

“’Thunder’ is an incredibly beautiful, life-affirming and modern film that challenges conventional ideas of sexuality, God, pain and redemption. Carmen Jaquier is 100% loyal to her female protagonist and this film has a really female gaze. It’s an important honor to pass on this award to her,” said Thyberg about selecting to pass the dignity on to Jaquier.

Jaquier will take to the stage with Michelle Yeoh, this yr’s honoree for the Women in Motion Award, and she’s going to receive a 50,000 euro grant earmarked for her next film project.

Jaquier graduated from École Cantonale d’Art in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she studied photography before moving into film. Her student film “Le Tombeau des Filles” won a prize for emerging talent within the Locarno Film Festival. She has directed several short movies since then to wide acclaim and other awards.

Her first feature film, “Thunder,” premiered on the Toronto Film Festival and took home one of the best director award on the Marrakech Film Festival. The story centers on a teen who returns to her village from a convent after learning of her sister’s mysterious death, and the tumult across the reunion along with her childhood friends.

Kering is an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival. Its Women in Motion program was founded in 2015 and has grown to a series of talks specializing in female filmmakers, actresses and film executives that takes place throughout the festival.

The gala awards dinner will probably be held at Cannes’ Musée de la Castre overlooking the view of the Mediterranean on May 21. Kering chairman and chief executive officer François-Henri Pinault will present each awards alongside Cannes Film Festival president Iris Knobloch and general delegate Thierry Frémaux.