The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) will open in Broken Hill this Friday, marking its first screening in the outback city alongside the announcement of a three-year partnership with Destination NSW.
The festival, which has travelled through Sydney, Canberra, Geelong, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide and Dubbo this season, will now extend its reach further into regional New South Wales, with Broken Hill set to host opening events as part of its national rollout.
Under the new agreement, NIFFA and Destination NSW will work together over the next three years to strengthen the visibility of Sydney and regional NSW through the festival platform, while deepening engagement with Indian and South Asian communities, filmmakers and industry stakeholders across Australia.
A key milestone in the partnership will come in 2027, when NSW is positioned as the festival’s Focus State across Australia and India. The program is expected to highlight the state’s screen production capacity, including crews, facilities, locations and institutional support. According to NIFFA, more than $90 million worth of India-focused Australian screen projects are currently in development, supported by Screen Australia, Screen NSW and private investors based in the state.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said the festival has grown into a major cultural fixture for the state, with its reach now extending beyond metropolitan centres.
“NIFFA has grown into one of NSW’s most exciting cultural events, bringing Indian cinema to audiences right across the state, from Sydney to regional NSW. As the first and only national celebration of Indian film, it’s a drawcard that puts NSW on the map as a destination of choice,” he said.
He added that the expansion into regional areas reflects the broader value of cultural events in driving local activity.
“And now, we’re taking it to Broken Hill. That’s what great cultural events do, they don’t just stay in the city. They travel and they drive real economic benefit for regional NSW.”
Festival director and filmmaker Anupam Sharma said the partnership marks a long-term boost for cultural and industry ties between Australia and India.
“Indian cinema has become one of the strongest bridges between Australia and India, across culture, community, tourism and commerce,” he said.
“NSW has led this relationship for decades, and this three-year support from Destination NSW gives that legacy, and a platform like NIFFA, a clear future. It is especially meaningful that this announcement comes as we open in Broken Hill, with regional NSW now very much part of our migration and cinematic story.”
Member for Barwon Roy Butler said Broken Hill’s role as an opening host reflects growing cultural engagement in regional communities.
“Broken Hill has the great honour of opening NIFFA this week for the first time ever, bringing a unique celebration of Indian film to our community in the heart of regional NSW,” he said.
“This new partnership with Destination NSW will provide a boost to Broken Hill, supporting local businesses and jobs and the night-time economy. We are excited to welcome visitors from across the region to experience this wonderful showcase of Indian stories.”
NIFFA will also open simultaneously in Alice Springs this weekend, before screenings continue in Melbourne, Hobart, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
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