Vidya Balan will attend the first edition of the Indian Film Festival of Perth as its chief guest. The festival is scheduled to run from January 22 to 24, 2027, in Australia.
The event aims to introduce audiences in Western Australia to the breadth of Indian cinema, showcasing its diverse narratives, cultural influences and storytelling traditions.
The Indian Film Festival of Perth is a new venture by the team behind the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) and the Indian Film Festival of Sydney (IFFS). The Melbourne festival is among the largest celebrations of Indian cinema held outside India, according to a release.
Speaking about the launch, festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM said the Perth edition would build on the team's efforts to create platforms for Indian cinema across Australia and reach a new audience in Western Australia.
She also highlighted cinema's ability to bridge cultural divides and foster understanding across communities, adding that Vidya Balan's presence as chief guest would be a welcome part of the festival's debut. The event aims to celebrate the diversity of Indian storytelling while strengthening cultural ties between India and Western Australia.
The festival was announced during the recent visit to India by Western Australia Premier Roger Cook, reflecting the growing cultural and creative connections between the two regions.