Sydney, Australia – 22 January 2025 – With the support of the Indian High Commission (Canberra), Indian Consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, along with key partnerships with the prestigious Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), the National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) has been expanded and will take place from Thursday, 13 February to Sunday, 2 March 2025, across multiple Australian cities. This marks a groundbreaking cinematic event for Australian audiences.
The NIFFA Nomination Council has brought together leading Australian Indian film professionals, including Achala Datar (Head of Operations, Zee Studios), award-winning producer Deepti Sachdeva, film and arts writer Neeru Saluja, and actress-director Amruta Apte.
NIFFA has received overwhelming support from both the Indian and Australian film industries, as well as from Indian diplomatic missions in Australia. His Excellency Mr. Gopal Baglay, Indian High Commissioner to Australia, emphasized,
“Cinema transcends borders, cultures, and languages. Bringing Indian cinema to Australia not only showcases its global appeal but also highlights the deep cultural ties between our two nations, especially within the one-million-strong Indian diaspora and beyond.”
In an exciting first for India-Australia film collaborations, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) of India will present a curated selection of films.
Festival Director Anupam Sharma stated,
“This long-overdue celebration will be a quintessential Australian event, with strong participation from local film professionals of Indian heritage. The response from industry leaders and organizations has been truly inspiring.”
Festival Co-Director Peter Castaldi added,
“Anupam and I wanted to celebrate Indian cinema in all its diversity—not just Bollywood or its stars—but on the big screen, in a big way. With NDTV and NFDC backing from India and Dendy Cinemas and SBS Audio in Australia, this collaboration is shaping up to be extraordinary. We are incredibly grateful for the immense support.”
Dr. S. Janakiraman, Consul General of India in Sydney, shared,
“For the first time, Sydney will host the National Indian Film Festival of Australia, with the Consulate General of India proudly partnering in this initiative. This festival not only highlights India’s rich cinematic heritage but also fosters storytelling, talent, and investment through the India-Australia Co-Production Agreement. With an exciting lineup of films, masterclasses, industry panels, and cultural celebrations, we envision this as the start of an annual tradition for cinephiles and industry leaders alike.”
Ms. Neetu Bhaagotia, Consul General of India in Brisbane, echoed the sentiment, stating,
“Cinema connects people beyond borders, and NIFFA serves as a platform to celebrate shared narratives that bridge our two great nations.”
Niyati Mehta from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Australia highlighted,
“The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre and the Consulate General of India, Sydney, are proud to support NIFFA. Indian cinema’s creativity and linguistic diversity continue to captivate audiences worldwide.”
Sharon Strickland, CEO of Dendy Cinemas, expressed her enthusiasm,
“Dendy Cinemas is honored to be part of NIFFA’s debut edition. This festival is a celebration of storytelling that brings cultures together, and we’re thrilled to showcase the incredible talent and diversity of Indian cinema on our screens.”
David Hua, Director of Audio Language Content at SBS Audio, added,
“As SBS celebrates its 50th anniversary, we are proud to partner with NIFFA. Our South Asian team is excited to contribute to this vibrant cultural exchange through film.”
National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) 2025
📅 Thursday, 13 February – Sunday, 2 March 2025
📍 Sydney | Gold Coast | Brisbane | Perth | Adelaide | Melbourne | Canberra
🌐 niffa.com.au
The first and only annual national Indian film festival of Australia announces an all-female nomination council, as Indian government bodies partner and support the celebration of Indian cinema across Australia added by Indian newspaper Sydney on
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