National Indian Film Festival of Australia 2026: Tighee, Courage, Gottipua Beyond Borders and Khwabeeda win big
NIFFA 2026 concluded its landmark Australia edition with Tighee, Courage, Gottipua: Beyond Borders and Khwabeeda winning top honours, while NSW was announced as the festival's focus state for 2027.
The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) has wrapped up its landmark 2026 edition with a grand finale across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, further cementing its reputation as the world's largest national celebration of Indian cinema outside India. The festival once again showcased the richness of Indian storytelling while strengthening cultural and creative ties between India and Australia.
Held across more than 13 cities, NIFFA 2026 featured over 39 films in 15 Indian languages and hosted more than 200 screenings, red carpets, workshops, masterclasses and special presentations. From major Australian cities to regional centres and the outback, the festival took Indian cinema to audiences on an unprecedented scale.
This year's top honours recognised films that stood out for their storytelling and artistic excellence. Jeejivisha Kale's acclaimed Marathi drama Tighee (Motherhood) won the Best Indie Feature award, while Ankur Arun Kakatkar's Mumbai-set romance Courage received the Best International Indie Feature honour.
Chintan Kamlesh Parekh's world-premiere documentary Gottipua: Beyond Borders was named Best Documentary, and Khwabeeda, directed by Beybaar and Vishal Tiwari, won the Best Short Film award, presented in association with Pocket Films.
Adding a unique dimension to this year's winners, the producers of both award-winning feature films are graduates of Australian film schools. They represent a new generation of screen professionals trained in Australia who are making a significant contribution to independent Indian cinema, following the path of renowned filmmaker Vanga Reddy.
The festival was also a major gathering for film personalities and industry experts. Acclaimed filmmakers Anubhav Sinha and Leena Yadav received NIFFA's prestigious Nishtha Awards in person, while veteran trade analyst Komal Nahta travelled to Australia to receive the Vimarsh Samman.
Earlier during the festival, veteran actor Anupam Kher was honoured with the Indian International Cinema Icon Award.
The presence of leading industry figures also encouraged discussions on the future of India-Australia screen collaborations, especially the growing opportunities offered through the bilateral co-production treaty.
Festival Director Anupam Sharma said the event has grown into much more than a film festival.
“In a short time, NIFFA has become something much bigger—a national platform where cinema, culture, community and commerce between India and Australia meet in real time. This is especially important in the current environment, where anti-immigration and pro-monocultural narratives are increasingly being promoted.”
His remarks reflected the festival's broader mission of promoting cultural exchange through cinema while building stronger people-to-people connections between the two countries.
Queensland leaders also praised the festival's contribution to multiculturalism. Hon. John-Paul Langbroek MP, State Member for Surfers Paradise, Queensland, said:
“Festivals such as NIFFA play an important role in connecting communities, celebrating cultural exchange and showcasing the power of storytelling to bring people together. We are delighted to host a festival that strengthens the cultural and creative ties between Australia and India.”
NSW Named Focus State for 2027One of the biggest announcements during the festival was that New South Wales will serve as NIFFA's focus state for the 2027 edition.
Welcoming the announcement, NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism and Minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper, said: “NIFFA has grown into the largest national celebration of Indian cinema outside India, so we’re thrilled NSW has been named focus state for 2027.”
The decision is expected to further strengthen the festival's presence across Australia while creating new opportunities for filmmakers and audiences alike.
Strong Institutional SupportNIFFA 2026 received unprecedented support from both Australia and India. Australian partners included Screen Queensland, Screen NSW, the City of Perth, Creative Industries WA and the City of Brisbane, along with several established Indian community organisations.
The festival also secured a three-year commitment from Destination NSW and a two-year commitment from the Northern Territory Government through Tourism and Events NT and Screen Territory. Regional partners, including West Darling Arts in Broken Hill and the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs, helped expand the festival's reach into Australia's outback.
On the Indian side, NIFFA was supported by NFDC, ICCR and India's diplomatic missions across Australia, highlighting its growing role as a bridge between the Indian and Australian screen industries.
With record participation, award-winning films and increasing institutional backing, NIFFA 2026 has reinforced its status as one of the most important international platforms for Indian cinema. As preparations begin for its 2027 edition in New South Wales, the festival continues to strengthen creative partnerships while taking Indian stories to audiences across Australia.