A national festival celebrating Indian cinema and its links with Australia will launch in Geelong this month.
The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) 2026 kicks off with a red carpet event at Reading Cinemas Waurn Ponds on Wednesday 18 March, with Indian films screening for five days as part of Geelong Waterfront Film Foundation’s REEL Film Festival.
The festival, which debuted in metropolitan cities last year, has expanded into regional centres in 2026, including Geelong, Alice Springs, Broken Hill, Dubbo, Griffith and Leeton.
Australian filmmaker and festival director Anupam Sharma, also known as the Bollywood Czar of Australia, has worked for years promoting Australian cinema to Indian markets and facilitating cinema collaborations between the two countries.
He said film helped foster understanding and connection between cultures.
“Bringing the festival to Geelong brings back old and fond memories of filming some of the first Bollywood films in the region,” he said.
“The new co-production treaty and growing Indian diaspora is creating more India-centric Australian films, which allows us to connect with new audiences while also exploring opportunities for creative exchange.”
Geelong Waterfront Film Foundation executive Belinda Lyle said the festival highlighted Geelong’s creative heart.
“Geelong is already a highly creative and artistic city and it’s undergoing an arts transformation that can be complemented by a strong film culture,” she said.
“Events like this help attract global interest, welcome fresh ideas and invite new audiences, which are all important steps in positioning Geelong as a genuine screen hub.”
Visit geelongwaterfrontfilm.com.au/reel-film-festival for more information.
