Our Bureau
Sydney
The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) is set to celebrate the illustrious career of the late filmmaker Shyam Benegal by showcasing a retrospective of his influential works. With support from the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the festival aims to provide audiences with an opportunity to experience Benegal’s cinematic brilliance and connect with India’s rich cultural heritage.
Anupam Sharma, the Festival Director of NIFFA, emphasized that the festival is not solely focused on Bollywood but rather serves as a tribute to the depth and diversity of Indian cinema. The retrospective includes some of Benegal’s most celebrated films, such as ‘Mammo,’ ‘Suraj ka satvan Ghoda,’ and ‘The Making of Mahatma’. Additionally, Benegal’s last directorial endeavor, ‘Mujib: Making of a Nation,’ which tells the life story of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, the Father of the Nation in Bangladesh, will also be featured.
NIFFA 2025 is a grand celebration of Indian storytelling, presenting over 35 world and Australian premieres across various languages and genres. The festival is currently taking place in major Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra, offering cinephiles throughout the country the chance to participate.
The festival has established partnerships with esteemed institutions such as Dendy Cinemas, the Indian High Commission, Marriott Bonvoy, and SBS, underscoring its commitment to promoting the richness of Indian filmmaking on a global scale.
In addition to the film screenings, NIFFA also aims to foster collaboration and investment within the India-Australia co-production agreement, encouraging talent and storytelling. The festival’s Nomination Council includes prominent Australian Indian film professionals like Achala Datar, Deepti Sachdeva, Neeru Saluja, and Amruta Apte.
The National Indian Film Festival of Australia runs from February 13 to March 2, 2025. SBS South Asian is offering a chance to win a double pass to watch any one film in the NIFFA schedule at Dendy cinemas.
