Inaugural National Indian Film Festival of Australia commences in Canberra

Canberra, February 17 (Australia India News Newsdesk)

The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) has officially begun its inaugural celebration with a red carpet event in Canberra. The festival aims to strengthen cultural ties by showcasing the rich diversity of Indian cinema across Australia.

The High Commissioner Gopal Baglay inaugurated the first ever National Indian Film Festival of Australia National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) at a red carpet event in Canberra, recently.

Spanning 18 days, from February 13 to March 2, 2025, NIFFA will present over 35 films in 16 languages, including three world premieres and 36 Australian premieres. The festival will take place in seven cities: Sydney, Canberra, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne.

The opening film, "Superboys of Malegaon," directed by Reema Kagti, made its Australian premiere during the festival's red carpet gala in Sydney. Inspired by a true story, the film follows Nasir Shaikh, an aspiring filmmaker from Malegaon, Maharashtra, who, along with his friends, transforms their town into a hub of filmmaking passion.

NIFFA also honours the late filmmaker Shyam Benegal with a retrospective of his influential body of work, organized with support from the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

Supported by the Indian High Commission in Canberra, Indian Consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as partnerships with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), NIFFA serves as a cinematic cultural bridge between India and Australia. Festival Directors Peter Castaldi and Anupam Sharma have curated a program that includes industry talks and workshops, aiming to foster discussions on co-productions, investment, distribution, and development within the film industry.