The award is given to the person whose life time mission is to propagate film culture through writings, festivals, film societies etc. The award is in memoriam of Satyajit Ray renowned film maker of India.
2006 – Prof. Satish Bahaddur Ex. Professor of film appreciation in Film and Television institute of India and he conducted annually film Appreciation course of one month in Pune. The face of film criticism was changed all over India. He enumerated the principals of film criticism.
2007 – Ms. Aruna Vasudev English journalist from New Delhi who introduced Asian cinema in India through Aisn Film Festival at new Delhi. Se edited the quarterly magazine Cinemaya and promoted Asian Cinema all over the worlds. She also established network for promoting Asian cinema Net — established Jury in Many festivals.
2008 – Mr. P. K. Nair, Ex. Director NFAI who build India’s National Film Archive single handedly at Pune.
2009 – Shri. Basu Chatterjee, based in Mumbai is known as Hindi filmmaker and making films in the parallel cinema category. However it is not much known that Basu Chatterjee along with Arun Kaul started Film forum a leading film society of Mumbai in 1965, Film forum by its activities introduced film society movement to the discerning film lovers in Mumbai Film Forum was having 2500 members and organized film festivals, published monthly magazine and organized discussion groups. Thus gave impetus to the movement after Film Forum, many film society sprang up in metropolis of Mumbai.
2010 – Shri. H. N. Narahari Rao the engineer by profession based in of Bangalore started Suchitra film society and popularize the movement in Karnataka state. Suchitra enrolled 1000 members and finally Narahari Rao built up Art theatre in Bangalore the first in South India.
2011 – Dr. Shyamala Vanarase psychologist by profession took keen interest in cinema and under guidance of the Prof. Satish Bahaddur she taught in film appreciation courses at the film institute and other centers and promoted film culture among the students. She is based in Pune.
2012 – ms. Manju Bora the filmmaker from Assam North East India State cultivated film Culture in her state by starting two film societies i.e. Guwahati Cine Cluib and Cine Asia; Manju Bora made films, T.V. Serials and documentaries.
2013 – Skipped.
2014- Shri. Arun Khopkar graduated from Film & Television Institute of India. Khopkar mainly made documentaries, Taught film appreciation in India & abroad. Won several award for his documentaries. He wrote book on guru Dutt in Marathi which won the best writing on cinema national Award the book is translated in English, French & Kannad.
2015 – Shri. Dilip Bapat from Kolhapur is film society activist since 1982. Before taking up the cause of promoting film culture he was on experimental Marathi stage as director and actor. After starting the film society at Kolhapur seat of Marathi cinema he devoted fully to the cause of film culture promotion and build up a strong film society called Babura Painter film Society, he start6ed Kolhapur International Film Festival which is successfully running in Kolhapur. Besides that he acts in Television serials and is also active in Bhalji Pendharkar Cultural Centre and Deval Club of Music.
2016 – Shri. Satish Jakatdar film society activist from Pune. Satish was interested in cinema since his school days. He started Aashay film Club in Pune and devoted to propagation of film culture. Aashay alone continued as film society so far and enrolled 800 members. 1999 Satish Jakatdar organized 8th Trinnial Conference of FFSI which was attended by 200 film society activist all over India. Aashay Started Asian Film Festival along with the Asian Film Foundation Mumbai and it is running successfully. Besides Aashay, Satish jakatdar also wrote on cinema in various newspapers. FFSI western Region decided to start Annual Film Appreciation course in Marathi, Satish has shouldered the responsibility and last 12 years he is organizing it successfully.
2017 – Skipped 2018 – Shri. Premendra Mazumdar film critic and film society activist from Kolkata. He is familiar name for cineastes across India, Bangladesh, Nepal & Shri Lanka. He is promoting film culture through film society movement and writing on cinema over 40 years During younger days he was active in Trade union Movement But he left trade union activities and joined film society movement currently he is Vice President of FFSI and Secretary Fipresci the international Association of film critics. He has served as Jury in many international film festivals and organized film workshops in different educational institutes. Bangladesh has honored him with Ritiwik Ghatak memorial award in 2016 .