As anticipation built ahead of the EE BAFTA Film Awards weekend, a new kind of gathering quietly made history.
Society O and Product of Culture hosted a first-of-its-kind industry event spotlighting the achievements of South Asian creatives across film and television, not as a side conversation to awards season, but at its very centre.
Held on 20 February 2026, the gathering brought together nominees, filmmakers, executives and industry leaders at a pivotal moment in the global awards calendar. Designed as a dedicated space within BAFTA weekend, the evening reflected the expanding international presence of South Asian storytelling across this year’s nominations, from internationally distributed documentaries and award-winning British shorts to bold regional cinema reaching new global audiences.
The room was filled with a cross-generational mix of talent and influence. Among the guests were Aziz Ansari, Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Nina Wadia, Kulvinder Ghir, Daniel Francis, Adeel Akhtar, Varada Sethu, and Gurinder Chadha, each representing different chapters of a shared creative journey.
One of the evening’s most talked-about moments was a reunion more than a decade in the making. The legendary cast of Goodness Gracious Me, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Kulvinder Ghir and Nina Wadia stood together once again, sparking nostalgia and underscoring just how far British South Asian representation has come since the show first reshaped mainstream comedy.
The event was spearheaded by Society O, a new British events platform dedicated to amplifying Asian voices, founded by filmmakers Sukki Menon and Parvinder Shergill, in partnership with U.S.-based Product of Culture, led by Archana Misra Jain and Monika Sharma Abbas. Known for marketing-first strategy, awards-season campaigns and industry convenings, Product of Culture has played a key role in elevating South Asian entertainment on the global stage.
Together, the founders described the evening as more than a celebration but a statement of intent.
“This awards BAFTA weekend represents a moment where global storytelling converges,” they shared. “This year’s nominations highlight the breadth and impact of South Asian creatives across the industry, from internationally distributed documentaries and award-winning British shorts to groundbreaking regional cinema reaching new audiences worldwide. By bringing together nominees, collaborators and industry leaders, we aim to create a meaningful space that celebrates artistic excellence while strengthening the connections shaping the future of the screen industries.”
As BAFTA weekend unfolded across London, this gathering signalled a clear shift: South Asian storytelling is no longer emerging, it is embedded, expansive and influencing the global screen landscape. And now, it has a dedicated space at the awards season table.