Pune: The Screen Awards 2025 is set to mark a new chapter by going digital-first through a strategic collaboration with YouTube. Announced by The Indian Express Group, this move redefines the awards as a modern cultural milestone, merging legacy with digital innovation.
Screen Awards 2025: Redefining Legacy with Digital-First Format
Unlike traditional ceremonies, the Screen Awards 2025 will be powered by the Screen Academy — an independent, not-for-profit body comprising acclaimed filmmakers, cultural leaders, and artists. This ensures that recognition is based solely on integrity and merit.
Also Read: Screen Academy Launched to Nurture Emerging Talent in Indian Cinema
Anant Goenka, Executive Director of The Indian Express Group, remarked: “Indian cinema deserves a stage that celebrates creativity beyond collections. Our storytellers carry 1.4 billion dreams, rooted in tradition while racing toward an exciting future. The awards will honour that spirit, spotlighting bold and original voices.”
Screen Awards 2025 on YouTube: Bollywood Meets Digital Creators
For the first time in history, the awards will stream exclusively on YouTube, offering open global access. The three-month-long festival will feature Bollywood’s biggest stars alongside YouTube’s most influential creators, blending cinema with creator-led storytelling, red-carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, and fan-driven engagement.
Gunjan Soni, Managing Director of YouTube India, said: “We are thrilled to be the digital home for the Screen Awards 2025. By bridging Bollywood’s biggest stars with YouTube’s creator ecosystem, we are unlocking the power of fandoms while delivering one of cinema’s biggest nights in a truly immersive way.”
Also Read: RuPay BookMyShow Tie-Up Brings Premium Access to Sunburn, Lollapalooza and More
YouTube’s Reach Strengthens Screen Awards 2025 Visibility
With YouTube reaching four out of five Indian internet users aged 18+, and entertainment videos on the platform generating over 7.5 billion daily global views in 2024, the platform offers unmatched accessibility and cultural engagement.
A Legacy of Firsts Continues at Screen Awards 2025
Curator Priyanka Sinha Jha emphasized that since its inception in 1995, the Screen Awards have pioneered many firsts in India’s entertainment history. These include being the first jury-based film award in the country, the first to receive validation from the Oscars management, and the first accolade earned by several Bollywood icons.
With the establishment of the Screen Academy and the partnership with YouTube, the Screen Awards 2025 promises to deliver another landmark moment in India’s cinematic journey.
