India Australia screen collaboration deepens with new agreements at IFFI Goa

India Australia screen collaboration was formalised at IFFI Goa with new multi year MOUs that link festivals, education, industry ties and distribution across both countries.

India and Australia are strengthening their ties in film and entertainment through a series of new agreements announced at the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa. The India Australia screen collaboration is being positioned as a new phase of partnership built on shared festivals, industry exchanges and education pathways.

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne led a large and diverse Australian delegation of screen leaders to the festival in Panjim, where discussions focused on creative and institutional linkages between the 2 countries. This visit marks a step change in how the 2 industries plan to work together.

On 21 November, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and the International Film Festival of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding that begins a 3 year partnership between the Australian and Indian screen sectors. In total, 3 MOUs were signed to shape this new era of collaboration.

The signing took place in the presence of Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, Sanjay Jaju who is Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, members of the Indian and Australian film communities and other stakeholders.

Lord Mayor Reece said Australia is home to 1 of the largest Indian diasporas in the world, which has helped drive the growth of the local Indian film ecosystem. He noted that more Australians are embracing Indian cinema, with its colour, passion and energy, and that the new agreement would strengthen ties between India and Melbourne while creating more jobs, more films and more global exposure within the Indian film industry.

Mitu Bhowmick Lange, Festival Director of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and Founder of Mind Blowing Films, described the development as a transformative moment for both screen industries. She said India and Australia have shared a long and meaningful cultural connection, but the initiatives unveiled at IFFI represent the most comprehensive framework they have established so far.

According to Lange, the new partnerships signal a shared commitment to collaboration, exchange and long term creative growth. She highlighted the role of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and Mind Blowing Films in building pathways that support filmmakers, students, producers and storytellers in both countries.

Lange pointed to a wide range of initiatives that stem from the agreements, including expanded festival linkages, academic partnerships and increased distribution access. She credited Lord Mayor Reece, Sanjay Jaju, the National Film Development Corporation and IFFI for helping bring the framework to life.

The partnerships are being described as among the most ambitious India Australia film initiatives to date. By combining shared festivals, industry ties, education routes and broader distribution, the collaborations announced at IFFI aim to support the long term growth of the Indo Australian screen ecosystem.

The role of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in leading the delegation to India reinforces the use of cinema as a tool of cultural diplomacy. For storytellers, students, producers and audiences on both sides, the agreements open new avenues to work together, share stories and reach wider audiences across 2 interconnected markets.

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