“It’s an incredible honour to receive the Henry Grand Prize — especially from an institution like Harvard,” said the thrilled Vinay Shukla’s whose turbulent newsroom drama While We Watched featuring Ravish Kumar has won the top honour – the Grand Prize at the inaugural Henry Awards for Public Interest Documentary by The Documentary Film in the Public Interest Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. He also received the cash award of $100,000.
Applauding the filmmaker for coming up with ‘an exceptional cautionary tale that takes an unflinching look at the State’s violent crackdown on freedom of expression in the Jury’s statement, Vinay Shukla’s film depicts the experience of a journalist who dares to defend his integrity.
Directed and produced by Vinay Shukla and produced by Luke W Moody and Khushboo Ranka While We Watched is a timely depiction of a newsroom in crisis, WHILE WE WATCHED follows tormented journalist Ravish Kumar for two years as he battles a barrage of fake news, falling ratings and the resulting cutbacks.
The Henry Awards recognize nonfiction films that advance public understanding of the critical issues of our time while demonstrating outstanding cinematic achievement. Guided by the hallmarks of ethical practice, rigorous investigation, and courageous storytelling, the Henry Awards are intended to honor and encourage a documentary filmmaking practice grounded in its essential role to a thriving society and focused on the public good. Starting with the 2025 Henry Awards, a grand prize of $100,000 will be awarded annually, along with four finalists, each receiving a prize of $25,000. The award winners, finalists, and honorable mentions were recognized at a celebratory dinner on campus on April 16th.
The 2025 Henry Awards Jury comprising Ra’anan Alexandrowicz, Mandy Chang, Petra Costa, Ron Nixon and Michèle Stephenson released the following statement about the winner of Grand Prize— WHILE WE WATCHED is an exceptional cautionary tale that takes an unflinching look at the State’s violent crackdown on freedom of expression through the experience of a journalist who dares to defend his integrity. Ravish Kumar is an unforgettable character. His specific story manages to instantly transcend its locality and become a real time documentation of the attack against the free press. The film is a brave effort by the filmmakers that should serve as a warning to us all.”
Sharing his joy Vinay Shukla says, “It’s an incredible honour to receive the Henry Grand Prize — especially from an institution like Harvard, which has long stood for intellectual rigour, public service, and the pursuit of truth. While We Watched is a deeply personal film — not just about one journalist, but about what it means to hold on to your values when everything around you is shifting. We made this film against impossible odds: with no money, partners dropping out mid-production, and constant uncertainty about its future. To see it capture the zeitgeist the way it has over the past few years has been truly heartening. The film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2022, and here I am in 2025 – still accepting awards for it. The prize money is the same as *Kaun Banega Crorepati*, so honestly, I feel like I’ve just won KBC – which is quite something, considering I wasn’t the smart sibling.”
