The Australian Centre for Indian Cinema has announced a groundbreaking event, the first National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA), set to run from February 13-16, 2025. This major celebration, spanning seven cities across Australia, marks a milestone as the largest showcase of Indian cinema in Australasia.

Backed by cinema chain Dendy Cinemas, Indian media giant NDTV, and cinema advertising leader Val Morgan, NIFFA is led by prominent filmmaker Anupam Sharma, with industry veteran Peter Castaldi as the festival director. The cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Darwin, and Hobart will host NIFFA events, with a highlight city yet to be chosen for the festival’s opening night gala, industry panels, and workshops, the news network said in a press release.

NDTV Director and Editor-in-Chief, Sanjay Pugalia, commented on the partnership: “As NDTV expands globally, this festival reflects our commitment to amplifying Indian cinema’s worldwide influence.” Dendy Cinema’s CEO, Sharon Strickland, emphasized the collaboration as a chance to showcase “the best of Indian cinema to Australian audiences,” aligning with a global rise in Indian film popularity.

The festival will also include NDTV programming focused on Indo-Australian cultural ties, reaching over 350 million viewers. Program details and awards will be announced on January 6, 2025, with more updates expected at IFFI Goa this November.