iWorld
America Ferrera makes speech for SeeHer award victory at the 29 Critics Choice Awards
Mumbai: The 29 Critics’ Choice Awards revealed itself to be a cinematic masterpiece of its own! Celebrating the year’s most exceptional performances, and finest stars, the night showcased everything from electrifying wins to tears of joy as legends were honoured and rising stars received recognition. Amongst the names that made headlines was America Ferrera who won the SeeHer Award, which honours the silver screen’s leading ladies who advocate for gender equality and portray authentic, boundary-pushing characters. America won the award for her role in Barbie, the female-led film that was a box-office phenomenon, grossing over 1.4 Billion Dollars globally. The 29 Critics’ Choice Awards streamed LIVE on Lionsgate Play on 15 January 2024. In case you missed tuning in live, rewatch the event exclusively on Lionsgate Play.
In her acceptance speech, America Ferrera said, “I yearned to see people like myself on screen as full humans. When I started working over 20 years ago, that seemed impossible, I know. It seemed impossible that anyone could make a career of portraying fully dimensional Latina characters. But because of writers, directors, producers and executives who are daring enough to rewrite outdated stories and to challenge deeply entrenched biases, I, and some of my beloved Latina colleagues, have been supremely blessed to bring to life some fierce and fantastic women. Because of that, we have had the chance to bring through some deeply layered Latina characters and characters that I could not have seen growing up.’
She further went on to say, “But now I can see her and I see her expanding in the next generation of talent like my beloved Ariana Greenblatt, who plays my daughter in Barbie, and in Jenna Ortega, and in Selena Gomez, and in so many more out there. To me, this is the best and highest use of storytelling to affirm one another’s full humanity, to uphold the truth that we are all worthy of being seen – Black, brown, indigenous Asian, Trans, disabled, any body type, any gender. We are all worthy of having our lives richly and authentically reflective.”
Watch the 29 Critics’ Choice Awards exclusively on Lionsgate Play.
iWorld
Prime Video unveils biggest India originals slate yet
Nearly 55 titles across languages signal deeper push into films, series
MUMBAI: Prime Video is turning up the volume on Indian storytelling, unveiling its largest-ever Originals slate at the ‘Prime Video Presents’ showcase, with close to 55 series and films spanning languages, genres and formats.
The new lineup, which stretches across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, signals a clear intent: go bigger, go wider, and meet audiences wherever they are watching, whether on streaming screens or in cinemas. Alongside Originals, the platform also announced a fresh theatrical slate under Amazon MGM Studios, marking a deeper step into the big-screen business.
Among the headline acts is The Revolutionaries, a large-scale drama from Nikkhil Advani starring Bhuvan Bam and Rohit Saraf. The slate also features Matka King with Vijay Varma, Raakh starring Ali Fazal and Sonali Bendre, and Lukkhe, which marks rapper King’s acting debut. Adding a genre twist is Vansh – The Kalyug Warriors, positioned as India’s first homegrown Hindi superhero series for streaming.
Familiar favourites are also making a return, with new seasons of Farzi, Panchayat, Call Me Bae, Dupahiya, Dahaad and The Traitors in the pipeline, reinforcing the platform’s bet on established franchises.
Regional storytelling gets a notable push. Highlights include a Telugu adaptation of The Traitors hosted by Teja Sajja, the drama Guvvala Cheruvu Ghat, and Tamil titles such as Exam and returning seasons of Vadhandhi and Inspector Rishi.
The slate also opens new creative partnerships. Hrithik Roshan’s HRX Films steps into streaming with Storm and Mess, while Alia Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Productions backs Don’t Be Shy. Production houses including Excel Entertainment, Tiger Baby Films and The Viral Fever further deepen the creative bench.
On the theatrical front, the platform is lining up five films, including Raftaar starring Rajkummar Rao and Keerthy Suresh, VIBE directed by Kunal Kemmu, Dilkashi with music by A. R. Rahman, Nayyi Navelli featuring Yami Gautam, and Kuku Ki Kundli starring Wamiqa Gabbi.
According to Prime Video India director and head of Svod business Shilangi Mukherji, India remains central to the platform’s global growth, ranking among its top markets for new subscribers. She noted that nearly two-thirds of users watch content in more than four languages, underlining a growing appetite for diverse storytelling.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the new slate reflects a continued push towards bold, culturally rooted narratives with global appeal.
In short, Prime Video is not just adding titles, it is widening the lens. From small-town dramas to superhero sagas and cinema-ready spectacles, the message is simple: more stories, more voices, and far more ways to watch them.
