Rakasree Basu, founder of the Glasgow-based Momentum Films, has been officially appointed Artistic Director and Creative Producer for two flagship public programmes at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Festival — a prestigious recognition of her distinctive ability to bridge cultures, continents, and creative visions.
An established international producer long before her arrival in Scotland, Basu had already built a formidable reputation through Frames Per Second Films, her Mumbai and Kolkata-based production house. She co-produced ambitious feature films and television series that traversed borders and sensibilities with remarkable finesse. Yet, seeking intellectual renewal and strategic depth, she chose to pursue the MSc in Creative Industries and Cultural Policy at the University of Glasgow, supported by the British Council Creative Economy Scholarship.
The decision proved transformative. The University offered a rare intellectual ecosystem where creative practice was rigorously examined alongside cultural policy, economics, governance, and the dynamics of international exchange. This experience refined her understanding of value creation, collaborative leadership, and institutional responsibility within the global creative economy. It reinforced her conviction that enduring entrepreneurship rests not merely on talent and ambition, but on adaptability, intellectual rigour, accountability, and the capacity to navigate complex, multilayered systems with grace and precision.
Since graduating, this enriched perspective has profoundly shaped her professional trajectory. In Glasgow, she established Momentum Films, a dynamic production company specialising in ambitious international co-productions spanning Scotland, the wider UK, Europe, and South Asia across feature films, television, and documentary formats.
Beyond production, Basu has made significant contributions to Scotland’s cultural landscape. She conceptualised and programmed the first Indian Film Festival in Scotland, in partnership with the Consulate General of India, Edinburgh, and Glasgow Film Theatre. She also founded the South Asians in Cinema Collective under Momentum Films — an initiative dedicated to fostering screen talent exchange and sector development, supported by the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District.
Her enduring engagement with India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), including the curation of its prestigious Producers’ Workshop, continues to strengthen two-way cultural and institutional bridges between Scotland and the global South Asian creative industries.
Rakasree Basu’s journey exemplifies the unique role the University of Glasgow plays in shaping visionary leaders and incubating truly global operators. It supported the evolution of an already accomplished international practitioner into a sophisticated cultural strategist — one who embeds Scotland’s creative voice on the world stage through sustained partnerships, institutional collaborations, and impactful cultural programming.
For mid-career professionals and aspiring leaders in India, her story offers compelling testimony: the University of Glasgow is a place where seasoned practitioners can sharpen their intellectual edge, reimagine their leadership potential, and translate bold ideas into enduring, cross-border impact.