Blender’s Choice The Daily Star OTT & Digital Content Awards enters its fifth edition

Ispahani Tea Limited and The Daily Star announce the return of the Blender's Choice The Daily Star OTT & Digital Content Awards for its fifth edition. Over the years, the awards have served as a great source of inspiration for digital storytellers and a meaningful recognition for those who work behind the scenes. By celebrating their contributions, the awards pay tribute to the industry's unsung heroes.

The call for submissions for the new edition is open until July 30, while the awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 9. 

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This edition will honour projects released in 2025 across a total of 28 categories, recognising excellence throughout Bangladesh’s OTT and digital content industry. The awards comprise eight Popular Choice categories celebrating audience favourites across films, dramas, and series; four Music categories recognising outstanding original music and soundtracks; 12 Critics’ Choice categories honouring artistic excellence and industry achievement; three Content Creator categories recognising impactful digital creators; and one People’s Choice Award, determined entirely through public voting.

Regarding the expectations, hype and hopes for this year’s event, The Daily Star spoke to many artistes who have shared their thoughts on the award that has played an important role in the OTT and digital industry.

Omar Hannan, General Manager (Marketing) at Ispahani Tea Limited, said, “Ispahani is proud to be part of this celebration of creativity and cultural excellence. Through this initiative, we aim to recognise and honour the talented individuals whose dedication and innovation are enriching Bangladesh’s OTT and digital content landscape and shaping its future.”

Tajdin Hassan, Chief Business Officer at The Daily Star, said, “The success of Bangladesh’s OTT industry is driven by bold ideas and exceptional talent. As we mark the fifth edition, we remain committed to celebrating the storytellers, performers, musicians, and creators whose work continues to shape the future of Bangladeshi content and inspire audiences everywhere.”

Veteran actor Chanchal Chowdhury shared that The Daily Star's initiative is truly commendable. “I would describe it as a wonderful endeavour. In particular, I applaud the decision to dedicate this platform exclusively to OTT content.” The actor believes that through this initiative, those who work in the OTT industry are being recognised and honoured for their contributions. “I hope this recognition will encourage the creation of even more outstanding work in the OTT space. I expect that this award will continue for many years to come while remaining completely fair and impartial, and that The Daily Star continues to stand by and support the arts.”

Renowned actress Azmeri Haque Badhan shared that she has been impressed by the standard of the judging for this award, which has always been thoughtful and well considered.

“What I appreciate most about these awards is the recognition they give to the technical professionals who work behind the camera. They are the people whose contributions often go unnoticed, so honouring them is incredibly important. I hope that the organisers continue to uphold this standard in the years ahead by recognising those who truly deserve the honour and ensuring the awards always go to the worthiest recipients.

Bangladesh's OTT and digital content industry has transformed storytelling by creating space for bold ideas and fresh voices, says acclaimed filmmaker Shankha Dasgupta. “I hope the Blender's Choice The Daily Star OTT & Digital Content Awards 2025 continues to celebrate not only commercial success but also originality, craftsmanship, and the many talented people working behind the scenes.” Recognition like this inspires creators to take risks and tell more diverse stories, he believes. “I also hope the awards evolve into a broader platform through masterclasses, panel discussions, and industry dialogues that encourage collaboration and learning. Such initiatives strengthen the creative ecosystem, inspire confidence, and help Bangladesh's growing OTT industry reach even greater heights.”

“These awards are perhaps even more important for crew members and other behind-the-scenes departments than they are for already established directors, who naturally receive greater media attention,” says renowned director Nuhash Humayun. “I would like to see an even stronger focus on director of photography, make-up artists, prosthetic artists, special effects teams, and art directors, while ensuring that each category is judged by a knowledgeable and impartial jury.”

For rising stars, the awards are a source of both recognition and inspiration. Young actress Sarika Sabah believes one of their greatest strengths is the fairness of the selection process, expressing hope that this standard continues.

Sarika also praises the awards for their professional organisation and believes they have set a benchmark for similar initiatives in Bangladesh. She hopes to see greater recognition for technicians, whose behind-the-scenes contributions are often overlooked.

“The awards have also created a valuable opportunity for newcomers. In the past, many digital content creators, technicians, and artistes did not receive the recognition they deserved.”

She also adds, “Since The Daily Star OTT Awards were introduced, more organisations have begun recognising and celebrating the contributions of these professionals. I believe this has been a positive development for Bangladesh's entertainment industry, particularly for emerging talent.” 

Saad Salmi Naovi, the young actor, hopes the awards continue to be as fair and unbiased as it has been over the years. “With so many promising new creators emerging each year, recognising fresh talent is essential and encourages them to share their work with wider audiences. The awards are already doing an excellent job, though I believe there should be a category for lighting gaffers. Lighting plays a vital role in shaping the tone and visual appeal of OTT productions, and the crew deserves greater recognition.”

He shares, “Awards are a powerful source of motivation, inspiring artists to keep improving while giving newcomers a platform where talent and dedication can truly shine.”

Musician Emon Chowdhury shares that he often tells people that it is among the finest awards events in Bangladesh. “It has such a vibrant atmosphere, is exceptionally well organised, and always carries a wonderful festive spirit. One of the things I enjoy most is the way the entire programme is presented—everything is thoughtfully planned and professionally executed, making it a truly outstanding event every year.”

He hopes that the awards continue to uphold this consistency, maintain their engaging presentation and festive atmosphere, and preserve the integrity of the selection process.

Renowned writer and lyricist Sadat Hossain, who has been on the jury board at the award, expressed his heartfelt wish for the upcoming iteration. “What I admire most is the awards' commitment to recognising behind-the-scenes talent, especially writers. Too often, directors and actors receive the spotlight, while the people who create the stories remain overlooked. By honouring writers and lyricists alongside other creative professionals, The Daily Star has set an important benchmark for the industry. As a writer, I truly appreciate this initiative and hope it continues to give deserving storytellers the recognition they deserve.”

He also suggests that “Having served on the jury for several years, I believe the awards could broaden representation by encouraging more submissions. Stronger promotion, particularly through social media and influential content creators, would help reach a wider pool of talent and ensure more diverse nominations across categories.”