UK Delegation at FICCI Frames 2025 - Johnson Thomas
Civic Studios Joins UK Prime Minister’s India Delegation to Strengthen Cross-Border Creative Collaboration
~From Gurinder Chadha’s vibrant musical Christmas Karma to a pioneering £1 million Climate Media Fund, the women-led studio is redefining how stories inspire change across borders~
Civic Studios is one of the only creative industry delegates with deep roots in India
Mumbai, 9th October 2025: Civic Studios, the global media company known for creating socially conscious and purpose-driven content, is proud to be part of the HMG Trade Delegation to India, led by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Taking place on 8-9th October, the visit brings together over 130 UK delegates, including 40 from the creative industries, to strengthen trade and cultural partnerships with India.
This follows a landmark UK–India Cultural Cooperation Agreement, signed earlier this year between UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and India’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, aimed at boosting collaboration in the creative sector.
Civic Studios is one of the only creative industry delegates with deep roots in India
“Civic Studios was founded on the belief that entertainment can be a force for change,” said Anushka Shah, Founder of Civic Studios. “Being part of this delegation reflects our mission to connect the UK and India through stories that inspire and empower.”
One of Civic Studios’ most exciting upcoming releases is Christmas Karma, a joyful Bollywood-style musical reimagining of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham), the film stars Kunal Nayyar, Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, and Boy George. Financed through Indian investment for a British director of Indian origin, the film marks a landmark UK–India collaboration and releases globally this November, including in the UK and India.
Beyond film, Civic Studios is driving global conversations on climate change through engaging, accessible storytelling — from children’s learning media and community radio to youth-focused digital content.
To scale this mission, the studio will launch a £1 million Climate Media Fund later this year, supporting Indian and UK creators who bring climate action themes into mainstream entertainment.
About Civic Studios
Civic Studios is a global media company with a vision of creating entertainment to engage and empower. Incubated at the MIT Media Lab, USA, the studio develops, produces and finances feature films, streaming shows and short digital content with a distribution reach across digital platforms, theaters and streamers.
The studio has a growing slate of Climate Change Media across formats of children’s content via schools and edtech platforms, rural and community radio, social media for youth action, and grant-based incentives for climate messaging in films, television, and digital content, all with a goal of providing hopeful and action oriented climate messaging.
Civic Studios is a women-led production house with a 70% female team, aimed at telling stories that entertain, engage and empower. Civic Studios currently operates out of offices in Mumbai & London.
Website: www.civicstudios.com
UK–India Creative Collaboration Takes Centre Stage at FICCI FRAMES 2025
UK and India are Natural Partners in Creativity and Innovation: Harjinder Kang at FICCI FRAMES 2025
NEW DELHI, 10 October 2025: The creative partnership between the United Kingdom and India took centre stage at the Silver Jubilee edition of ‘FICCI FRAMES 2025’ with a high-level roundtable on ‘Building the UK–India Creative Corridor: Co-Productions, Skills, and Innovation for a Global Creative Economy’.
The UK delegation’s participation at FICCI FRAMES 2025 formed part of the official visit of Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, Hon’ble Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to India from 8–9 October 2025 at the invitation of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The visit follows the signing of the landmark India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the adoption of the India–UK Vision 2035 earlier this year. “The UK and India are natural partners in creativity and innovation. Our collaboration spans cinema and design through to gaming and immersive storytelling. Taking part in FICCI FRAMES 2025 reinforces our shared commitment to building a vibrant creative corridor that supports co-production, talent exchange, and global impact. As evidenced by the recent signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and our shared India–UK Vision 2035, the creative economy will continue to be a bridge of opportunity and understanding between our two nations,” said Harjinder Kang, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia & British Deputy High Commissioner to Western India.
Ashish S Kulkarni, Chief Mentor, FICCI FRAMES & Frame Your Idea; Founder, Punnaryug Artvision Pvt. Ltd., said “The participation of the UK delegation at FICCI FRAMES 2025 reinforces the deep-rooted creative and cultural partnership between our two nations. FICCI remains committed to fostering collaborations that drive co-productions, skills exchange, and innovation in the global creative economy.”
The discussion focused on co-production opportunities, skills development, academic partnerships, and IP frameworks that can drive growth and innovation across the global creative economy. The dialogue underscored the importance of deepening institutional linkages and industry partnerships, building on the shared ambition articulated in the India–UK Vision 2035.
Also participating in the discussion were John Nickell, Head of Creative Industries, British High Commission, India, Adrian Wootton (British Film Commission), Alison Barrett (British Council India), Esme Ward (Manchester Museum), Tessa Tyler Todd (No.10), Namrata Sharma (Civic Studios), and Garima Jain and Daisy Chinoy (British High Commission India).
~From Gurinder Chadha’s vibrant musical Christmas Karma to a pioneering £1 million Climate Media Fund, the women-led studio is redefining how stories inspire change across borders~
Civic Studios is one of the only creative industry delegates with deep roots in India
Mumbai, 9th October 2025: Civic Studios, the global media company known for creating socially conscious and purpose-driven content, is proud to be part of the HMG Trade Delegation to India, led by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Taking place on 8-9th October, the visit brings together over 130 UK delegates, including 40 from the creative industries, to strengthen trade and cultural partnerships with India.
This follows a landmark UK–India Cultural Cooperation Agreement, signed earlier this year between UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and India’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, aimed at boosting collaboration in the creative sector.
Civic Studios is one of the only creative industry delegates with deep roots in India
“Civic Studios was founded on the belief that entertainment can be a force for change,” said Anushka Shah, Founder of Civic Studios. “Being part of this delegation reflects our mission to connect the UK and India through stories that inspire and empower.”
One of Civic Studios’ most exciting upcoming releases is Christmas Karma, a joyful Bollywood-style musical reimagining of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham), the film stars Kunal Nayyar, Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, and Boy George. Financed through Indian investment for a British director of Indian origin, the film marks a landmark UK–India collaboration and releases globally this November, including in the UK and India.
Beyond film, Civic Studios is driving global conversations on climate change through engaging, accessible storytelling — from children’s learning media and community radio to youth-focused digital content.
To scale this mission, the studio will launch a £1 million Climate Media Fund later this year, supporting Indian and UK creators who bring climate action themes into mainstream entertainment.
About Civic Studios
Civic Studios is a global media company with a vision of creating entertainment to engage and empower. Incubated at the MIT Media Lab, USA, the studio develops, produces and finances feature films, streaming shows and short digital content with a distribution reach across digital platforms, theaters and streamers.
The studio has a growing slate of Climate Change Media across formats of children’s content via schools and edtech platforms, rural and community radio, social media for youth action, and grant-based incentives for climate messaging in films, television, and digital content, all with a goal of providing hopeful and action oriented climate messaging.
Civic Studios is a women-led production house with a 70% female team, aimed at telling stories that entertain, engage and empower. Civic Studios currently operates out of offices in Mumbai & London.
Website: www.civicstudios.com
UK–India Creative Collaboration Takes Centre Stage at FICCI FRAMES 2025
UK and India are Natural Partners in Creativity and Innovation: Harjinder Kang at FICCI FRAMES 2025
NEW DELHI, 10 October 2025: The creative partnership between the United Kingdom and India took centre stage at the Silver Jubilee edition of ‘FICCI FRAMES 2025’ with a high-level roundtable on ‘Building the UK–India Creative Corridor: Co-Productions, Skills, and Innovation for a Global Creative Economy’.
The UK delegation’s participation at FICCI FRAMES 2025 formed part of the official visit of Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, Hon’ble Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to India from 8–9 October 2025 at the invitation of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The visit follows the signing of the landmark India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the adoption of the India–UK Vision 2035 earlier this year. “The UK and India are natural partners in creativity and innovation. Our collaboration spans cinema and design through to gaming and immersive storytelling. Taking part in FICCI FRAMES 2025 reinforces our shared commitment to building a vibrant creative corridor that supports co-production, talent exchange, and global impact. As evidenced by the recent signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and our shared India–UK Vision 2035, the creative economy will continue to be a bridge of opportunity and understanding between our two nations,” said Harjinder Kang, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia & British Deputy High Commissioner to Western India.
Ashish S Kulkarni, Chief Mentor, FICCI FRAMES & Frame Your Idea; Founder, Punnaryug Artvision Pvt. Ltd., said “The participation of the UK delegation at FICCI FRAMES 2025 reinforces the deep-rooted creative and cultural partnership between our two nations. FICCI remains committed to fostering collaborations that drive co-productions, skills exchange, and innovation in the global creative economy.”
The discussion focused on co-production opportunities, skills development, academic partnerships, and IP frameworks that can drive growth and innovation across the global creative economy. The dialogue underscored the importance of deepening institutional linkages and industry partnerships, building on the shared ambition articulated in the India–UK Vision 2035.
Also participating in the discussion were John Nickell, Head of Creative Industries, British High Commission, India, Adrian Wootton (British Film Commission), Alison Barrett (British Council India), Esme Ward (Manchester Museum), Tessa Tyler Todd (No.10), Namrata Sharma (Civic Studios), and Garima Jain and Daisy Chinoy (British High Commission India).
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