Tag: Indian Express Group

Awards

Screen Awards 2025: A Cultural Milestone Goes Digital-First with YouTube

allycaralgoa

The Indian Express Group has announced a groundbreaking transformation of one of India’s most iconic film award shows — Screen Awards 2025. This year, the awards take a digital-first leap, streaming exclusively on YouTube to bring together the grandeur of Bollywood with the dynamism of digital creators.

Backed by the editorial credibility of the Indian Express Group and chosen by the Screen Academy, an independent body of acclaimed filmmakers and artists, Screen Awards 2025 promises recognition based on merit and integrity.

📌 Why It’s Historic:

  • First time Screen Awards will be fully digital-first, streamed worldwide on YouTube.
  • Bollywood superstars will share the spotlight with YouTube creators, symbolizing the convergence of cinema and new-age storytelling.
  • A 3-month-long cultural festival featuring red carpet events, behind-the-scenes coverage, creator-led content, and fan engagement.

📌 Industry Voices:

  • Anant Goenka, Executive Director, Indian Express Group, emphasized that the awards aim to celebrate creativity beyond box-office numbers, spotlighting India’s most original voices.
  • Gunjan Soni, MD YouTube India, called it a milestone collaboration that blends Bollywood’s stars with YouTube’s fandom-driven creator ecosystem.
  • Priyanka Sinha Jha, Curator of Screen Awards, highlighted the legacy of Screen as India’s first jury-based film award and now, the first to go fully digital.

📌 Why YouTube?
With YouTube reaching 4 out of 5 Indian internet users and entertainment videos generating over 7.5 billion daily views worldwide in 2024, the platform offers unmatched scale. Connected TVs (CTV) — YouTube’s fastest-growing screen in India — ensure accessibility across devices, bridging traditional and digital audiences.

📌 Legacy Meets Future:
Since its inception in 1995, Screen Awards has been a pioneer in Indian entertainment. From being the first jury-based film award to hosting Oscar representatives, it has always been about credibility and innovation. With this YouTube partnership, Screen Awards once again sets a new standard, symbolizing India’s entertainment future.

👉 Screen Awards 2025 is not just another awards night. It is a digital cultural festival — a stage where cinema, creators, and communities converge.

Entertainment

Screen Academy Launches to Identify and Empower Future Voices of Indian Cinema

allycaralgoa

Mumbai, July 8, 2025 – The Indian Express Group has officially launched Screen Academy, a bold and visionary not-for-profit initiative aimed at supporting emerging talent in Indian cinema through fellowships, mentorship, and formal education.

Screen Academy will work in partnership with India’s leading film institutes — FTII (Pune), SRFTI (Kolkata), and Whistling Woods International (Mumbai) — to identify exceptional students who demonstrate storytelling potential but lack the financial resources to continue their education. These students will receive fully funded postgraduate fellowships, along with access to industry mentorship from some of the country’s most respected film professionals.

Backed by the Lodha Foundation and conceptualized by Anant Goenka, Executive Director of The Indian Express Group, the initiative is designed to institutionalize excellence and build an ecosystem that celebrates and nurtures creativity in cinema.

“We will create an ecosystem that not only celebrates excellence but actively nurtures diverse and promising talent with both financial aid and access,” Goenka said.

A Powerful Line-Up of Members
The Academy’s founding members include award-winning producers, directors, and screenwriters:

  • Guneet Monga – Oscar-winning Producer (The Elephant Whisperers)
  • Payal Kapadia – Cannes Grand Prix winner
  • Resul Pookutty – Oscar-winning Sound Designer
  • Anjum Rajabali – Screenwriter & Academic
  • Subhash Ghai – Founder, Whistling Woods
  • Ronnie Screwvala – Founder of RSVP Films

More members will be announced on www.screenacademy.org.

Educational Integration with National Institutions
The Academy’s 2025 fellowships will begin with FTII, SRFTI, and WWI, with future plans to expand to other film schools. Selected students will receive full tuition support and gain hands-on learning through:

  • Masterclasses by leading filmmakers
  • Internships with top production houses
  • Industry mentorship and ongoing professional support

“Some of our students come from very modest backgrounds,” said Samiran Dutta (SRFTI). “The Screen Academy fellowships will give them the chance to tell their stories to the world.”

“Access to quality education transforms lives,” added Meghna Ghai Puri (WWI). “This is about ensuring creativity isn’t blocked by lack of funding.”

Recognition Through the Screen Awards
Screen Academy will also oversee the revival of the iconic Screen Awards, with voting conducted by its members to ensure credibility. These awards will celebrate artistry and innovation across Indian entertainment including film, music, regional cinema, and new media.

A special Resident Critics Panel has been formed for transparent evaluations, featuring:

  • Dr. Priya Jaikumar (USC)
  • Priyanka Sinha Jha (Curator)
  • Shubra Gupta (Indian Express)
  • Nikhil Taneja (We Are Yuvaa)
  • Anjum Rajabali (WWI, FTII)

About Screen
Re-acquired from Disney in 2024, Screen has re-emerged as India’s leading digital-first entertainment brand. With over 40 million monthly users and programming in Hindi, English, Marathi, and Tamil, it continues to serve as a hub for authentic, engaging entertainment journalism.