by FilmInk Staff
NEW WEST AUSTRALIAN INDIAN FILM COUNCIL LAUNCHED IN PERTH, BUILDING A NEW CREATIVE BRIDGE BETWEEN WA AND INDIA
Western Australia is strengthening its connections with one of the world’s largest and most influential screen industries with the official launch of the West Australian Indian Film Council (WAIFC) by the Hon. Roger Cook MLA, Premier of Western Australia, on Friday 11 September.
The relationship between Western Australia and Indian cinema has a remarkable history. Fearless Nadia, one of the pioneering stars of Indian cinema, was born Mary Ann Evans in Perth in 1908 before moving to India as a child, where she went on to become an iconic figure in Indian film. More than a century later, a newly established West Australian Indian Film Council is seeking to build on that connection and create new opportunities between WA and India’s screen and creative industries.
The independent not-for-profit Council has been established to build long-term connections between Western Australia and India across film, television, streaming, digital media and the broader creative industries.
The launch brought together senior government, diplomatic, screen industry, business and community representatives, highlighting the growing opportunities for Western Australia to engage with India through storytelling, creative collaboration, cultural exchange and industry development.
WAIFC Chair and Director Nilesh Makwana says the Council is about turning WA’s unique geographic and cultural position into practical opportunities for collaboration.
“WAIFC has been established around a simple proposition: that Western Australia has an opportunity to play a much greater role in the Australia-India creative relationship. Perth is geographically closer to Mumbai than Sydney, giving WA a unique position as a gateway between Australia and India and the broader Indian Ocean region.
“India has one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic screen industries, spanning film, television, streaming, animation, visual effects and digital content. We want to build meaningful connections between these two creative ecosystems and create practical opportunities for collaboration – from co-productions and location opportunities to talent exchange, education, investment, festivals and cultural partnerships.”
WAIFC will serve as a connector and catalyst for collaboration between Western Australia and India, bringing together producers, filmmakers, creative practitioners, businesses, educators, government, festivals and community organisations to create new opportunities across the screen and creative industries.
The Council will facilitate connections between Western Australian and Indian producers and creators, support industry delegations and networking, showcase WA’s screen capabilities internationally, foster talent and knowledge exchange and build strategic partnerships spanning the creative, education, tourism and business sectors.
Consul General of India to Western Australia and Northern Territory, Ms Kajari Biswas says the launch marks an exciting new chapter in the growing relationship between India and Western Australia.
“Film and storytelling have a unique ability to bring people together, deepen cultural understanding and create new opportunities for collaboration. With India’s vibrant and diverse film industry and Western Australia’s growing capabilities in film and creative industries, there is further potential for partnership. We welcome this important initiative and look forward to supporting greater engagement between our two creative communities.”
The opportunity for Western Australia is significant. India’s film and entertainment industry generated an estimated US$5.91 billion in 2025, with more than 2,000 films produced each year across more than 30 languages, making it one of the world’s largest and most diverse screen markets. At the same time, Western Australia’s cultural and creative industries contributed $6.2 billion to the State’s economy in 2024, while the WA Government has invested $290 million in Perth Film Studios and its operations, creating significant new capacity for screen production in the State.
WAIFC has been established to help connect these complementary strengths, creating pathways for collaboration, investment and production that can support jobs, retain graduates and skilled professionals, grow local talent and intellectual property, and showcase Western Australia to audiences and industry across India.
The Council’s launch marks the beginning of a longer-term program of industry engagement, partnerships, delegations and cultural initiatives designed to strengthen the relationship between Western Australia and India and establish new pathways for collaboration across the screen and creative industries.
Image: Simone McGurk, Nilesh Makwana, Roger Cook and Kajari Biswas. Photo by Liang Xu
