Mumbai, India — The Screen Awards, a long-standing pillar of India’s cinematic landscape, is set to re-emerge in 2025 with a bold new identity. This year, the Indian Express Group has aligned with YouTube to deliver the prestigious awards to audiences across the globe through an innovative digital-first format.
In an unprecedented move, Bollywood’s most celebrated names will now share the stage with YouTube’s most influential creators. The festival, spanning three months, promises a fresh narrative that combines red-carpet glamour, behind-the-scenes exclusives, creator-led storytelling, and interactive fan engagement.
The awards will continue to uphold their credibility, with winners selected by the Screen Academy — an independent, not-for-profit institution comprised of acclaimed filmmakers, artists, and cultural leaders. This ensures the recognition remains rooted in authenticity while embracing contemporary dynamics.
Gunjan Soni, Managing Director for YouTube India, emphasized the significance of this partnership. “We are thrilled to be the digital home for the Screen Awards, bringing a cultural icon to its next chapter,” she said. “By bridging Bollywood’s biggest stars with YouTube’s most influential creators, we are building an engaged community for an iconic event and unlocking the power of fandoms.”
Anant Goenka, Executive Director of the Indian Express Group, underscored the vision behind this revival. “Indian cinema deserves a stage that celebrates creativity beyond collections. Our storytellers carry 1.4 billion dreams — rooted in tradition and racing toward an exciting future. This award will honour that spirit and spotlight India’s boldest, most original voices.”
ComScore data further highlights the reach of this partnership, with YouTube engaging four out of five Indian internet users aged 18 and above, and entertainment videos generating over 7.5 billion daily views worldwide in 2024.
For curator Priyanka Sinha Jha, the evolution of the Screen Awards is both a continuation and a reinvention. “Established in 1995, Screen Awards has a legacy of firsts. With the inception of The Screen Academy and our partnership with YouTube, we mark another first for India — building on our reputation for presenting the nation’s most credible and coveted awards, delivered with path-breaking entertainment.”
The Screen Awards 2025 signals not only a celebration of cinematic brilliance but also a forward-looking embrace of digital culture, redefining how India and the world experience its most illustrious night in film.
