Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
The 2025 Webby Awards just dropped their nominee list, and Charli XCX snagged two major nods, proving yet again she’s a force in music and digital culture. Her razor-sharp "Von Dutch" music video is up for 'Best Music Video', while her deep-dive Apple Music special, Charli XCX: The BRAT Interview, scored a 'Best Interview or Talk Show' nomination. Clearly, she’s owning the entire internet.
Charli XCX joins music heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga at the 2025 Webby AwardsGetty Images
Since 1996, the Webby Awards have recognised the best the internet has to offer, from music and film to social media and emerging tech. Organised by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), the Webbys honour creatives who redefine digital culture. Charli XCX’s nomination in two different categories speaks to her power to drive conversations online and engage audiences through both music and media.
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The Music Video category is stacked with talent. "Von Dutch" is up against Kendrick Lamar’s cultural juggernaut "Not Like Us," Dua Lipa’s hypnotic "Illusion," Megan Thee Stallion’s high-energy "Mamushi," and Lady Gaga’s dramatic "Abracadabra." Each contender brings something unique to the table, making this one of the year’s tightest races.
Beyond her music, Charli XCX is also being recognised for her revealing Apple Music interview, where she dives into the making of her highly anticipated album, BRAT, and her creative evolution. Her raw and honest conversation earned her a nomination alongside big names like MTV’s The Pit Stop with Trixie Mattel and Spotify’s Countdown to Beautifully Broken: Jelly Roll in Conversation with MGK.
Every Webby nominee has a shot at two awards: the Webby Award, selected by industry professionals, and the Webby People’s Voice Award, chosen by fans. Supporters can cast their votes online until April 17 to help Charli XCX take home the win.
Winners will be announced on April 22, leading up to the big ceremony on May 12 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Hosted by comedian Ilana Glazer, the event is expected to be a big celebration of the internet’s most creative minds.
Whether she takes home the trophy or not, these nominations cement Charli XCX as the queen of merging music with digital magic. Now, let’s see if the internet crowns her.
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
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