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Dendy Cinemas, NDTV launch Australia’s first national Indian film festival
Mumbai: The Australian Centre for Indian Cinema announces the country’s first National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA), set to be the largest celebration of Indian cinema in Australasia. Scheduled from 13-16 February 2025, NIFFA will showcase the best of Indian cinema across seven Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Darwin, and Hobart.
This landmark event, led by Indian cinema expert and filmmaker Anupam Sharma, with veteran Peter Castaldi as festival director, will feature film screenings, panels on coproduction, and workshops. It will also award grants for Australian content focused on India, with award categories to be revealed in November.
NDTV, director and editor-in-chief, Sanjay Pugalia, shares, “As NDTV expands globally and the Indian diaspora flourishes across Australasia, partnering with this premier celebration of Indian cinema felt like a perfect fit. We at NDTV are happy to amplify the festival’s spirit worldwide, bringing it to Indian communities across the globe and celebrating the ever-growing impact of Indian filmmaking on the international stage.”
Dendy Cinema, CEO, Sharon Strickland adds, “Dendy Cinema is honoured to partner with the National Indian Film Festival of Australia, bringing the best of Indian cinema to audiences across Australia. With a resurgence of Indian films making a strong impact at the global box office, this collaboration highlights our commitment to showcasing diverse and culturally significant stories. We are excited to support this festival, celebrating the vibrant creativity and growing influence of Indian filmmaking on the world stage.”
Val Morgan, director of strategy and marketing, Paul MacGregor notes, “The record-breaking success of Indian films in Australia over the past three years is a clear indication of the strong and growing appetite for a national festival like this. We are excited to be working with the team at Australian Centre for Indian Cinema on the inaugural festival, which not only celebrates the cultural richness of Indian cinema but also opens an exciting and unique opportunity for brands to connect with this high-value, culturally diverse audience.”
Additional partners, brand ambassadors, and retrospectives will be announced at IFFI Goa in November, where Australia is spotlighted as a focus country. Detailed program and award information will follow on 6 January 2025.
