Screen Awards 2025 Goes Digital: Iconic Celebration Premieres on YouTube
The Indian Express Group proudly announces a bold new chapter for the Screen Awards 2025, one of India’s most iconic cinema celebrations, as it transitions to a fully digital format on YouTube.More than just an awards show, the Screen Awards combine editorial integrity, cultural heritage, and expansive digital reach, embodying the Indian Express Group’s commitment to journalism-first storytelling. Winners are chosen by the Screen Academy, an independent, not-for-profit body made up of esteemed filmmakers, artists, and cultural leaders dedicated to recognizing true excellence in Indian cinema.
Anant Goenka, Executive Director of the Indian Express Group, said, “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. We’re thrilled YouTube shares our enthusiasm for this endeavour.”Adopting a digital-first strategy, Screen Awards 2025 will stream exclusively on YouTube, making the event accessible to a global audience. For the first time, Bollywood’s biggest stars will share the spotlight with YouTube’s top creators, who will be integrated throughout the three-month-long festival—from red carpet moments and behind-the-scenes exclusives to creator-led storytelling and fan engagement.
This approach reflects how entertainment consumption is evolving, driven by rising internet access, the growth of Connected TVs (CTV), and increased mobile usage. Notably, CTV has been YouTube’s fastest-growing screen in India over the past five years, showcasing the platform’s power to deliver premium content across devices and formats. The event marries the grandeur of cinema with the immediacy of digital storytelling, bridging generations, platforms, and communities.
Gunjan Soni, Managing Director – India, YouTube, shared, “We are thrilled to be the digital home for the Screen Awards, bringing a cultural icon to its next chapter. YouTube is where billions of fans connect with the entertainment they love, and we’re excited for them to experience one of cinema’s biggest nights in an immersive way.
By bridging Bollywood’s biggest stars with YouTube’s most influential creators, we’re building an engaged community for an iconic event and unlocking the power of fandoms.”With unmatched reach in India and worldwide, YouTube is the perfect platform for the Screen Awards. According to ComScore, YouTube reaches four out of five internet users in India aged 18 and older, and entertainment videos on the platform generated over 7.5 billion daily views globally in 2024.
