The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) has successfully concluded its biggest and most ambitious edition yet, cementing its reputation as the world’s largest national celebration of Indian cinema outside India. The 2026 festival culminated with a grand finale across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, bringing together filmmakers, industry leaders and audiences from across Australia and India.
This year’s festival recognised outstanding cinematic achievements across multiple categories. Marathi film Tighee (Motherhood) won Best Indie Feature, while Courage, a Mumbai-based love story, received the Best International Indie Feature award. Documentary Gottipua: Beyond Borders claimed top honours in its category, and Khwabeeda was named Best Short Film.
Adding a unique Australia-India connection to the awards, the producers behind both winning feature films are graduates of Australian film schools. Their success highlights the growing influence of Australian-trained filmmakers in shaping contemporary independent Indian cinema and strengthening creative collaborations between the two countries.
NIFFA 2026 also celebrated some of Indian cinema’s most respected personalities. Acclaimed filmmaker Anubhav Sinha and director Leena Yadav received the prestigious NIFFA Nishtha Awards, while celebrated film trade analyst Komal Nahta travelled to Australia to receive the Vimarsh Samman. Earlier in the festival, veteran actor Anupam Kher was honoured with the Indian International Cinema Icon Award.
Spanning more than 13 cities across Australia, the festival showcased over 39 films in 15 Indian languages through more than 200 screenings, workshops, masterclasses, red carpet events and special presentations. NIFFA’s nationwide footprint extended beyond major cities into regional communities and the Australian outback, making Indian cinema more accessible than ever before.
The festival’s expansion into iconic Australian locations reflects the increasing popularity of Indian storytelling among multicultural audiences. NIFFA has successfully created a platform where cinema, culture and community engagement come together while fostering meaningful dialogue between Australia’s and India’s creative industries.
Festival Director Anupam Sharma described NIFFA as much more than a film festival, emphasising its role in promoting cultural exchange and strengthening connections between India and Australia. He highlighted the importance of initiatives that celebrate multiculturalism and bring communities together through the universal language of storytelling.
Queensland Minister and State Member for Surfers Paradise, John-Paul Langbroek MP, praised the festival for deepening cultural and creative ties between the two nations. He noted that events such as NIFFA play a significant role in showcasing Australia’s multicultural identity while creating opportunities for international collaboration within the screen sector.
In one of the festival’s biggest announcements, New South Wales has been named NIFFA’s focus state for 2027. NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism and Minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper, welcomed the decision and expressed enthusiasm about hosting the next chapter of the festival’s continued growth and success.
The 2026 edition received significant support from government agencies and cultural institutions across Australia and India, including Screen Queensland, Screen NSW, Destination NSW, Tourism and Events NT, NFDC, ICCR and India’s diplomatic missions in Australia. As NIFFA continues to expand, it has firmly established itself as a powerful cultural bridge connecting the Indian and Australian film industries while celebrating the rich diversity of Indian cinema on the global stage.
