The three-day festival will bring Indian cinema, filmmakers and audiences together in Western Australia from 22–24 January 2027.
Acclaimed Indian actor Vidya Balan will open the inaugural Indian Film Festival of Perth (IFFP) as its Chief Guest, as the festival brings Indian cinema to Western Australian audiences for the first time.
Taking place from 22–24 January 2027, IFFP will celebrate the breadth of Indian storytelling across languages, genres and perspectives. The festival aims to create a new destination for Indian cinema in Australia, bringing together audiences, filmmakers and the wider creative community.
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). The Perth edition will build on the success of those festivals, creating a platform for Indian cinema and strengthening cultural connections between India and Western Australia.
The festival was recently announced during the visit to India by the Premier of Western Australia, Hon Roger Cook MLA. Its launch reflects growing cultural and creative ties between the two regions and opens new opportunities for exchange through film.
Balan is among Indian cinema’s most celebrated actors and is known for championing distinctive storytelling and powerful female-led narratives. Her role as Chief Guest will mark the beginning of the festival’s first edition and its celebration of cinema’s ability to connect audiences across cultures, languages and geographies.
Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM, Festival Director, said: “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 as the Chief Guest 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.”
Through screenings, conversations and opportunities for collaboration, the inaugural festival will bring Indian stories to new audiences and create space for cultural exchange between India and Western Australia.
www.indianfilmfestivalofperth.com
