UK Asian Film Festival Announces 2025 Award Winners – My Melbourne Wins Best Film

The prestigious UK Asian Film Festival announced the winners of its coveted Tongues on Fire Flame Awards at the Closing Gala Ceremony of its 27th edition, on Sunday 11th May at Riverside Studio, London. The UK Asian Film Festival has long been a champion of South Asian female-centric cinema and women in film, both on and off-screen. Each year, its programmes challenge patriarchal norms, spark critical conversations, and drive its mission to advocate for gender equality in the film industry. This year was no exception with a brilliant slate of films, in conversations and more.

UK Asian Film Festival Founder and Director, Dr Pushpinder Chowdhry MBE said, “This year has been a profound celebration of British Asian talent standing alongside our international guests – debut directors and actors pushing boundaries, creating against all odds, and confronting stereotypes with courage and creativity. We’ve been overwhelmed by the unexpected support from our communities and businesses, reminding us that in a fractured world, storytelling is still our strongest bond. Cinema remains our mirror and our medicine—a space where healing begins, empathy is nurtured, and peace can be imagined. In times of rising fear and division, it is not people we must fear, but the forces that seek to silence, erase, or divide. As we close this year’s edition, we look to the future with Stories That Bind Us as our 2026 theme. These are the stories that join us in joy, tradition, and memory—but also those that weigh heavy, keep us tethered, and echo unresolved pain. Through cinema, we explore what binds us—and what we must release to grow.”

The Closing Gala welcomed luminaries from across the Indian and British creative industries. Legendary music producer and composer, Biddu received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Music, recognising his groundbreaking contributions to global pop and disco. Acclaimed director, Sandhya Suri, whose latest work Santosh continues to make international waves, was presented with the Flame Award for Making Waves Internationally, while filmmaker, Onir, won the Best Director for We Are Faheem and Karun. Author and cultural commentator, Shobhaa De received the Golden Flame Award for Excellence in Cinema & Cultural Journalism, lauded for her fearless voice and enduring literary legacy. Writer, filmmaker, and broadcaster, Yavar Abbas was honoured with the Golden Flame Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film and Television, acknowledging his decades-long dedication to bridging cultures through powerful storytelling. The gala also welcomed renowned producer and filmmaker, Bobby Bedi, who was recognised for Producing Powerful Narratives. His documentary, Kehta Hai Joker (So Says The Joker), which explores legendary showman Raj Kapoor’s life and cinematic legacy, took place during the Closing Awards Gala ceremony. The In Focus Q&A’s also welcomed composing duo, Vishal & Sheykhar, who discussed their musical legacy and teased their forthcoming stage musical, Come Fall in Love: The DDLJ Musical.

Full award-winners’ list:

The UK Asian Film Festival showcases a diverse selection of films each year, alongside a compelling lecture series, interactive audience workshops, live performances, visual arts exhibitions, and masterclasses. It also hosts the annual Short Film Competition, celebrating the finest films connected to South Asia while highlighting the rich and varied facets of South Asian arts and culture. This year’s “Longing and Belonging” theme explored the universal human search for connection, identity and meaning, through stories of migration, love, and self-discovery. Cinema continues to serve as a powerful tool for change—bringing people together; sparking dialogue; amplifying underrepresented voices; and fostering empathy across cultures.

UK Asian Film Festival Creative Director, Samir Bhamra said, “The UK Asian Film Festival continues to thrive because it listens, evolves, and reflects the communities it serves. This year, we witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of talent—filmmakers who defied limitations to tell bold, human stories that deserve to be seen and heard. This year’s theme of ‘Longing and Belonging’ struck a powerful chord across generations navigating identity, memory, and displacement. In the face of political unrest, cultural tension, and personal loss, our festival became a sanctuary—a space where connection triumphed over division. As we look to 2026, Stories That Bind Us invites us to explore the threads that tie us together—those filled with love and legacy, and those burdened by silence and shadow. We honour the storytellers who unravel these complexities and challenge us to imagine a world where we are united not just by heritage, but by hope.”