29 June 2026 | University of Western Australia, Perth
Western Australia’s creative future took a significant step forward on 29 June as the West Australian Indian Film Council (WAIFC), in partnership with the UWA Asia Centre, hosted the inaugural Western Australia–India Screen Industry Roundtable.
Bringing together leaders from government, industry, academia, screen production, business and the arts, the event marked the first time such a diverse group of stakeholders had assembled in Western Australia to explore the extraordinary opportunities emerging between WA and India’s rapidly growing creative economies.
At the heart of the discussion was a simple but powerful idea:
Film may be the catalyst, but the opportunity before us is far broader.
A Gateway to the World’s Largest Film Industry
Guest of Honour Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM, founder of Mind Blowing Films, Australia’s leading distributor of Indian cinema and Festival Director of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, captivated the audience with her vision for deeper collaboration between India and Western Australia.
She reminded the room of a powerful fact:
“Perth is the nearest western capital to the largest film industry in the world. Western Australia should be Australia’s gateway to India.”
Her message resonated strongly with attendees. As India continues to emerge as one of the world’s most influential creative economies, Western Australia is uniquely positioned to become a preferred destination for co-productions, cultural exchange, screen investment and talent collaboration.
The roundtable, expertly facilitated by Nashid Chowdhury, Director of Global Growth and Advocacy at UWA, explored opportunities spanning:
- Australia–India screen co-productions, supported by the bilateral co-production treaty and growing demand for authentic multicultural storytelling.
- The launch of the Indian Film Festival of Perth, creating a new platform to celebrate Indian cinema while fostering collaboration between filmmakers, distributors and creative industries across both countries.
- New partnerships and pathways for Australian stories to be distributed through India’s vast cinema network and stronger connections with international film festivals.
- The role of film in driving tourism, investment, education and cultural exchange, reinforcing that storytelling is also an economic development opportunity.
Soft Diplomacy in Action
One of the most memorable moments of the afternoon came when Mitu spoke about the extraordinary power of cinema to influence tourism and international perceptions.
“One selfie by a known artist in Cottesloe can generate millions of views online and inspire thousands of visitors to experience that exact place themselves.”
Her remarks highlighted how screen stories do far more than entertain. They build cultural understanding, attract visitors, strengthen educational links and open new trade opportunities.
As Mitu described it:
“This is soft diplomacy in action.”
The First Indian Film Festival of Perth
The room buzzed with excitement when Mitu announced plans for the first Indian Film Festival of Perth, scheduled for October 2026.
The festival will create an important platform connecting Indian and Western Australian filmmakers and audiences, encouraging authentic collaboration and opening new opportunities for local creatives to engage with one of the world’s largest film markets.
Mitu also expressed interest in developing a follow-up to her acclaimed multicultural feature My Melbourne, this time set in Western Australia and exploring the unique stories emerging from the State’s rapidly growing Indian community.
A Film-Friendly Future
Among the many stakeholders represented were local government leaders increasingly recognising the potential of the creative industries.
Mayor Tanya Richardson, City of Swan, shared an inspiring message about becoming a more film-friendly local government and expressed enthusiasm about the opportunities that stronger Australia–India screen connections could create for communities, tourism and economic development.
The roundtable reinforced a key message:
Relationships come first. Strong partnerships between government, universities, industry and communities will be the catalyst for future success.
Celebrating the Creatives Already Building the Bridge
The event also shone a spotlight on the remarkable talent already working to strengthen the creative relationship between Western Australia and India.
Filmmaker and multimedia artist Girija Jayarraj and producer, author and media personality Sarina Kamini are among a growing number of creatives who have spent years building cultural and screen connections between the two regions.
Their journeys served as an important reminder that while the opportunities between WA and India are immense, many independent and culturally diverse creatives continue to face significant challenges in accessing support, funding pathways and industry recognition.
Sarina’s work alone has reached millions of viewers internationally, with a significant audience in India engaging with stories showcasing Western Australia, its culture and its people.
Her experience highlights an important reality: some of Western Australia’s most effective cultural ambassadors and storytellers continue to pursue projects with limited local support, despite demonstrating global reach and audience engagement.
Their stories became an important theme of the afternoon:
Western Australia already possesses exceptional talent capable of building bridges with India. The opportunity now is to ensure that the systems surrounding our creative industries are equally equipped to support and nurture that talent.
The discussion highlighted a shared aspiration across the room—that future collaboration between WA and India should not only attract new productions and investment but also empower the talented storytellers already doing this work every day.
Indigenous Storytelling on a Global Stage
The roundtable also highlighted the importance of First Nations storytelling and its potential to connect with international audiences.
Indigenous filmmaker and cultural practitioner Karla Hart, founder of Kwarbah Djookian, shared her vision for deeper cultural exchange between Indigenous Australia and India through storytelling, dance and film.
Her contribution reinforced the growing international appetite for authentic First Nations stories and the unique role Western Australia can play in sharing these stories with the world.
Building a New Industry Opportunity
For WAIFC Chair Ian Hale, the significance of the event could not be clearer:
“The opportunity to share on this level and propel the WA–India opportunity is a vital catalyst. Opening Western Australia to the biggest film industry in the world, just as we have opened our own world-class studios, makes it obvious that we should be welcoming Indian filmmakers to our shores. There is a whole new sector of our film industry waiting to be built here.”
The strongest outcome from the afternoon was the remarkable alignment across the room.
There was clear recognition that Western Australia possesses the talent, institutions, world-class production facilities and international relationships needed to become a major partner in Australia’s creative engagement with India.
New relationships were formed. Ideas were exchanged. Partnerships began to take shape.
Most importantly, there was a genuine sense that the time is right.
This Is Only the Beginning
WAIFC was created to help fill that gap, as a facilitator, advocate and connector, bringing together government, industry and creatives to unlock opportunities that may otherwise remain unrealised.
The inaugural roundtable demonstrated that the appetite for collaboration is real, the opportunities are significant and the momentum is growing.
For local governments, economic development practitioners and industry leaders alike, the message was clear:
Creative industries are powerful drivers of jobs, tourism, innovation and international engagement.
The future of Western Australia’s screen industry is increasingly global, and India will undoubtedly be an important part of that story.
Together, we are not simply building a film council. We are building an enduring creative bridge between Western Australia and India, one that will create opportunities for our industries, our communities and the storytellers whose voices deserve to be seen and heard on the world stage.
