The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA), in partnership with Dendy, has launched its highly anticipated 2025 lineup, making it the biggest celebration of Indian cinema in Australia. With over 40 films being showcased, including three world premieres and 36 Australian premieres, NIFFA offers a diverse cinematic experience like never before. The festival features films in 16 languages, including rare ones that have never before been presented on Australian screens, thanks to the support of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
Opening Film: Superboys of Malegaon
The festival officially kicked off on 13th February 2025 in Sydney with the Australian premiere of Superboys of Malegaon. This much-awaited film, which has already been featured at the Toronto International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival, tells the inspiring story of Nasir Shaikh, an aspiring filmmaker from Malegaon, who dreams of making movies with his friends despite facing many obstacles. The film stars Adarsh Courav, Vineet Kumar Singh, and Shashank Arora in lead roles.
The opening night saw a glamorous red carpet gala in Sydney, followed by similar events in Canberra, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne, culminating in a grand finale in Melbourne. After the festival, Superboys of Malegaon will be released nationwide by Forum Films on 27th February 2025.
Festival Highlights and Diverse Offerings
In addition to Superboys of Malegaon, NIFFA 2025 is set to showcase a wide array of films, including:
- Rome Roam Mein, the directorial debut of actress Tannishtha Chatterjee, which will close the festival.
- Wingman, an indie feature by Anuj Gulati.
- Parikrama, an Indian/Italian docu-drama directed by Goutam Ghose.
- The Man Who Hurls News, a world premiere short documentary by Ananth Mahadevan.
- Feature documentaries What If I Tell You by Teenaa Kaur and Maa Oori Ramayanam by Badrappa Gajula.
Festival Director Anupam Sharma shared, “Our aim is to present Australians with the most diverse and critically acclaimed selection of Indian cinema, moving away from Bollywood stereotypes. The stars of this festival are the films chosen by our Nomination Council.”
Support from Indian and Australian Dignitaries
NIFFA has received incredible support from the Indian High Commission in Australia, consulates in Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth, as well as the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). This collaboration has made the festival a first-of-its-kind celebration of Indian cinema in Australia.
Pritesh Raniga of Forum Films expressed his excitement, stating, “We’re thrilled that Superboys of Malegaon will have red carpet premieres across Australia through NIFFA. We look forward to bringing this film to audiences nationwide.”
A Landmark Festival for Australia
NIFFA is proud to open with Superboys of Malegaon, produced by Excel Entertainment, continuing its long-standing relationship with the entertainment company. Festival Co-Director Peter Castaldi added, “We are honored to showcase Superboys of Malegaon as the festival’s headline film, ahead of its official Australian release.”
The festival runs from 13th February to 2nd March 2025, screening over 40 films across seven cities: Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Canberra.
Producer’s Statement
Producer Ritesh Sidhwani expressed, “Excel Entertainment has had a long-standing relationship with Australia, starting with Dil Chahta Hai. We’re truly excited that Superboys of Malegaon is being so well received, with multiple red carpet events across the country. It’s an incredible honor, and we can’t wait for Australian audiences to connect with this inspiring story.”
A Unique Cinematic Journey
Inspired by a true story, Superboys of Malegaon follows the journey of Nasir Shaikh, an aspiring filmmaker from a small town who faces many challenges while pursuing his dream of making films. The film’s heartfelt performances and relatable narrative are set to make a lasting impact on Australian audiences.
