Acclaimed Bollywood actor Vidya Balan will be the chief guest at the inaugural Indian Film Festival of Perth (IFFP), which will bring a celebration of Indian cinema to Western Australia from 22 to 24 January 2027.
Balan will officially open the three-day festival, marking a new milestone for Indian cinema in Australia and expanding the reach of a cultural event that has already established a presence in Melbourne and Sydney.
The festival 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).
Speaking about the announcement, festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM said bringing the festival to Perth was a significant milestone for the team.
“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.”
She said cinema had the ability to bring people together, transcend borders and foster a deeper understanding between cultures.
“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,” Lange said.
The Perth edition aims to showcase the diversity of Indian storytelling across languages, genres and perspectives, while creating opportunities for filmmakers, audiences and the wider creative community to connect.
The festival was announced during Western Australian Premier Roger Cook’s visit to India, highlighting the growing cultural and creative ties between India and Western Australia.
Balan, one of Indian cinema’s most acclaimed actors, is known for championing distinctive storytelling and female-led narratives through films that have challenged conventional portrayals of women on screen.
Her participation as chief guest is expected to add prominence to the inaugural event, which aims to bring Indian cinema to new audiences in Western Australia and encourage cultural exchange through film.
Organisers hope the Indian Film Festival of Perth will become a new destination for Indian cinema in Australia, bringing together audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals for screenings, conversations and potential collaborations.
The inaugural edition is scheduled for 22–24 January 2027.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
