Australia has been named the ‘Country of Focus’ at the 2024 International Film Festival of India (IFFI), taking place in Goa from November 20 to 28. Over 50 Australian delegates are attending the prestigious event, underscoring the deepening cultural and screen industry ties between India and Australia, as highlighted in a media release from Screen Australia.
The Australian delegation features key industry representatives from Screen Australia, Ausfilm, Screen Producers Australia (SPA), and numerous filmmakers, producers, and creatives. They are set to participate in the Film Bazaar and various IFFI screenings. A key highlight of the delegation’s participation is the ‘Co-Production Day’, organised by Screen Australia, which will spotlight opportunities emerging from the recent Australia-India audiovisual co-production agreement. The event aims to foster collaborations and create stories that resonate with diverse global audiences.
Screen Australia Chief Operating Officer Grainne Brunsdon commented on the growing partnership:
“We’re thrilled to celebrate the growing cultural and creative ties between India and Australia at IFFI 2024. Australian screen content is known for its bold, diverse and thought-provoking storytelling, and we are excited to see these stories reach new audiences in India.The increasing exchange of content between our two nations presents vast opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration, and we are proud to be part of this new era of storytelling. The co-production treaty marks an exciting step forward in strengthening the partnership between our countries and opening up even more opportunities for filmmakers to create content that speaks to both local and global audiences.”
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Australian cinema will be prominently featured at IFFI, with ‘Better Man’ chosen as the festival’s opening film. Seven additional Australian films will be screened, including ‘The Moogai’, ‘Runt’, ‘In Vitro’, ‘Force of Nature: The Dry 2’, ‘The Rooster’, ‘The Speedway Murders’, and ‘Addition’. Additionally, ‘Home Before Night’ has been officially selected for the Film Bazaar’s Co-Production Market. These films represent a rich spectrum of Australian storytelling, spanning intimate dramas, suspenseful thrillers, and family-focused narratives.
Nick McCaffrey, Australian Deputy High Commissioner to India, also emphasised the growing bond between the two nations:
“Today, Indians are woven into the contemporary Australian story, and Australia and India’s shared interests increasingly extend into cultural conversation and exchange. The more than one million Indian diaspora in Australia is a catalyst for this connection, fostering mutual understanding and creative collaboration. Given these linkages, the future of our film partnership is highly promising. We are excited to see growing collaboration in the coming years. This is just the beginning.”
With Australian and Indian filmmakers coming together at IFFI 2024, the festival promises to showcase the diversity of Australian cinema and provide a platform for future collaborations. As the creative ties between Australia and India deepen, the global screen industry stands to benefit from an increasingly vibrant and interconnected creative community.
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