Vidya Balan will be in Perth on 22 January to open the inaugural Indian Film Festival of Perth, running 22-24 January 2027.
The first-ever Indian Film Festival in Western Australia will bring the richness, diversity and storytelling traditions of Indian cinema to Perth audiences for the very first time.
Vidya Balan is one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated actors. She has consistently championed distinctive storytelling and powerful female-led narratives through her acclaimed body of work. Her presence at the opening of the inaugural edition will give the festival special significance and set the tone for a celebration of cinema that connects audiences across cultures, languages and geographies.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR INDIAN CINEMA IN AUSTRALIA
IFFP is the latest initiative from the team behind the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), one of the largest celebrations of Indian cinema outside India, and the Indian Film Festival of Sydney (IFFS). Building on the success of these festivals, the Perth edition creates a new platform for Indian cinema, filmmakers and audiences, and strengthens the cultural connections between India and Western Australia.
The festival was announced during the visit of the Premier of Western Australia, Hon Roger Cook MLA, to India, underscoring the growing cultural and creative ties between the two regions.
“Bringing the Indian Film Festival to Perth is a very special milestone for us. Having built platforms for Indian cinema in Melbourne and Sydney, we are delighted to now bring this celebration to Western Australia and connect with a new community of audiences and film lovers. Cinema has a remarkable ability to bring people together, transcend borders and create a deeper understanding of one another. We are thrilled to welcome Vidya Balan to Perth for our inaugural edition, and we look forward to creating a festival that celebrates the extraordinary diversity of Indian storytelling while building meaningful cultural connections between India and Western Australia.”
Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM, Festival Director
“I congratulate Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM and her team at Mind Blowing Films for bringing the Indian Film Festival to Perth for the very first time.
It will bring more than 30 movies across genres and spanning 11 languages, from India and other countries from the Indian Subcontinent. It will also bring renowned filmmakers and actors from India for gala events with the stars and the film industry, and the wider audience in Perth, and masterclasses for film students and enthusiasts.
The Indian Film Festival of Perth (IFFP) will be a celebration of community, culture, and storytelling from India to a global audience in Perth. It aspires to become a vital link between Perth’s growing creative industries sector and India, home to one of the world’s largest film industries and box office markets and a significant addition to Perth’s calendar of public events and festival of the arts.”
Ms Kajari Biswas, Consul General of India to Western Australia & Northern Territory
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