The Australian Centre for Indian Cinema has unveiled plans for the first-ever National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA), scheduled for February 13-16, 2025. Spanning seven cities, NIFFA aims to be the largest Indian cinema celebration in Australasia, with Dendy Cinemas, NDTV, and Val Morgan among the leading partners.
Filmmaker Anupam Sharma, Australia’s top expert on Indian cinema, will spearhead the festival alongside industry veteran Peter Castaldi as Festival Director. The event will offer a vibrant selection of screenings, discussions, and panels on India-Australia co-production opportunities, and host development workshops for Australian content connected to India. The program, featuring retrospectives, an opening gala, and awards, will be announced on January 6, 2025.
NDTV’s Director Sanjay Pugalia highlighted the collaboration as part of NDTV’s global expansion, underscoring the festival’s alignment with India’s cinematic influence worldwide. Dendy Cinema’s CEO Sharon Strickland shared the excitement about bringing diverse Indian stories to Australian audiences, acknowledging the surge in popularity of Indian films globally.
Peter Castaldi, NIFFA’s Festival Director, emphasized the festival’s timing, aligning it with the India-Australia co-production treaty, which has revitalized interest in Indian films across Australasia. He remarked, “This festival offers a curated showcase of the immense talent in Indian filmmaking, celebrating its cultural and artistic ties with Australia.”
Paul MacGregor, Director of Strategy at Val Morgan, highlighted the commercial impact, noting the festival’s potential to connect brands with a high-value, diverse audience that embraces Indian cinema.
In a special gesture, NIFFA will announce additional partners and ambassadors at the upcoming IFFI Goa in November, where Australia will be the focus country. With support from Indian film distributors in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, including Forum Films, NIFFA is set to be a significant cultural milestone in the Australia-India entertainment sector.
Key Highlights:-
- NIFFA, Australia’s inaugural National Indian Film Festival, will take place from February 13-16, 2025, in seven cities.
- Partners include Dendy Cinemas, NDTV, and Val Morgan, with Anupam Sharma and Peter Castaldi leading the initiative.
- Program details and awards will be announced on January 6, 2025; major announcements expected at IFFI Goa in November.