The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) has opened in Broken Hill for the first time, marking a significant milestone for Indian cinema and cultural exchange in Australia. The opening also coincides with the announcement of a new three-year partnership between NIFFA and Destination NSW, aimed at strengthening ties between New South Wales and India.
The agreement represents a major boost for the festival, which has already travelled through Sydney, Canberra, Geelong, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide and Dubbo during the current season. Organisers say the partnership will help deepen engagement with Indian and South Asian audiences, filmmakers and industry stakeholders across Australia.
Under the new collaboration, NIFFA and Destination NSW will work together over the next three years to promote Sydney and regional New South Wales through the festival platform. The initiative is expected to strengthen cultural, community and commercial connections while increasing the visibility of NSW among audiences in both Australia and India.
A key highlight of the partnership will come in 2027, when New South Wales will be celebrated as NIFFA’s Focus State across Australia and India. The festival plans to showcase the state’s long-standing relationship with Indian cinema while promoting NSW as a destination for film production, creative industries and international collaboration.
According to the organisers, New South Wales is already home to the majority of India-centric Australian screen projects currently in development, with investments exceeding $90 million. Many of these productions are being supported by Screen Australia, Screen NSW and NSW-based producers and private investors, highlighting the state’s growing importance in Australia’s screen sector.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper described NIFFA as one of the state’s most exciting cultural events, saying it has successfully brought Indian cinema to audiences across both metropolitan and regional communities. He noted that taking the festival to Broken Hill demonstrates how major cultural events can generate economic benefits beyond capital cities.
NIFFA Festival Director and filmmaker Anupam Sharma said Indian cinema has become one of the strongest bridges connecting Australia and India through culture, tourism, commerce and community. He described the support from Destination NSW as an important step in securing the future of the festival and strengthening a relationship that has evolved over decades.
The decision to launch the festival in Broken Hill has also been welcomed by local leaders. Barwon MP Roy Butler said the partnership would provide a boost to the region by supporting local businesses, jobs and the night-time economy. He described the event as a unique opportunity to bring Indian storytelling to the heart of regional New South Wales.
Following the opening in Broken Hill, NIFFA will continue its national journey with screenings in Alice Springs, Melbourne, Hobart, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The expansion reflects the festival’s growing influence and its role in bringing Indian cinema to audiences across Australia.
For the Indian-Australian community, the new partnership is another sign of the deepening cultural relationship between Australia and India. As Indian cinema continues to gain popularity worldwide, NIFFA’s growth highlights the increasing role of film and storytelling in building stronger connections between the two nations and celebrating Australia’s multicultural identity.
