29 June 2026 | University of Western Australia, Perth
The West Australian Indian Film Council (WAIFC), in partnership with the UWA Asia Centre, convened an invitation-only Western Australia–India Screen Industry Roundtable at the University of Western Australia on 29 June 2026.
The roundtable brought together participants from the screen and creative industries, government, diplomacy, education, business, local government and cultural sectors. The purpose was to exchange perspectives and consider practical ways to strengthen screen and creative-industry engagement between Western Australia and India.
A practical Western Australian conversation
The discussion focused on Western Australia’s specific opportunities, capabilities and challenges when engaging with India’s diverse screen and creative sectors.
Participants considered the importance of long-term relationships, clear information and trusted local connections when exploring international collaboration.
WAIFC’s role is to convene conversations, facilitate introductions and help relevant stakeholders identify existing pathways. Decisions concerning productions, funding, investment, incentives and regulatory approvals remain with producers, investors, government agencies and the relevant industry bodies.
Themes discussed
The roundtable considered several areas of potential future engagement:
- Connections between Western Australian and Indian producers, filmmakers and creative practitioners.
- Practical pathways for screen collaboration and project development.
- Awareness of Western Australian locations, talent, production services and creative capabilities.
- Distribution and audience opportunities for Australian and Indian stories.
- Education, skills, research and talent-exchange opportunities.
- The contribution of multicultural and diaspora communities to international engagement.
- Respectful engagement with First Nations stories, practitioners and cultural knowledge.
- The role of screen and culture in strengthening people-to-people relationships.
These discussions were exploratory and did not constitute funding commitments, project approvals or guaranteed production outcomes.
Perspectives from Australia and India
Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM participated in the roundtable and shared perspectives informed by her experience in Indian film distribution, exhibition and festival delivery in Australia.
Ms Kajari Biswas, Consul General of India to Western Australia and the Northern Territory, also participated and contributed a diplomatic and cultural perspective to the discussion.
Participants considered how industry knowledge, institutional relationships and culturally informed engagement could support stronger long-term connections between Western Australia and India.
Future screen and cultural showcases
Participants discussed the value of future, distinctively branded screen and cultural showcases in Western Australia.
Any future WAIFC involvement in a festival, screening program or cultural showcase will be developed through appropriate partnerships, naming clearance and formal approvals. Confirmed activities will be announced separately once the responsible organisations, program, dates and delivery arrangements have been established.
Supporting Western Australian participation
The roundtable provided Western Australian filmmakers, creative practitioners and institutional representatives with an opportunity to contribute their perspectives on international engagement.
The discussion recognised that effective collaboration requires an understanding of production conditions, cultural expectations, commercial realities and the different industry structures operating in Australia and India.
Rather than promising immediate production or investment outcomes, participants emphasised the importance of building knowledge, trust and practical connections over time.
First Nations and multicultural perspectives
First Nations and multicultural storytelling formed part of the discussion, including the importance of cultural authority, respectful engagement and appropriate collaboration with storytellers and communities.
WAIFC recognises that First Nations participation must be guided by the relevant practitioners, communities and cultural protocols. WAIFC’s advisory structures do not replace direct consultation or cultural authority.
Organisations represented
The roundtable included representatives and participants connected with:
- The Consulate General of India in Perth.
- Investment and Trade Western Australia.
- Screenwest and Screen Australia.
- The Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport.
- The University of Western Australia.
- Local government.
- Tourism and business organisations.
- Independent screen producers, filmmakers and creative practitioners.
- First Nations and multicultural cultural practitioners.
Participation in the roundtable should not be interpreted as an endorsement of WAIFC, its future activities or any particular project by an individual, government agency or organisation.
Next steps
WAIFC will use the discussion to inform its Western Australia-specific engagement, including future industry conversations, introductions, education and cultural initiatives, and project-specific follow-up where appropriate.
Future activities will be developed according to available resources, partner agreements, relevant approvals and the responsibilities of established screen agencies and industry bodies.
About WAIFC
The West Australian Indian Film Council is an independent Western Australian not-for-profit focused on strengthening screen, creative, educational and cultural connections between Western Australia and India.
WAIFC acts as a connector, facilitator and advocate. It is not a government agency, film funding body, regulator, production approval authority or national peak body.
WAIFC is separate from Australia India Film Council Ltd and is not its branch, representative or affiliated entity.
