NIFFA opens with BAFTA winner Boong in Australia

A BAFTA-winning Indian film kicked off the second edition of Australia's National Indian Film Festival with a red-carpet premiere in Geelong.

NIFFA's opening night and festival scope

• BOONG, a BAFTA-winning Indian film, launched the festival.
• Geelong's Mayor hosted the red-carpet premiere event.
• NIFFA runs from March 18 through July 5 this year.
• Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth are all on tour.

Regional reach beyond the big cities

• Broken Hill and Alice Springs get screenings as well.
• Diverse programming spans galas and industry panel discussions.
• Metropolitan and outback audiences both get festival access.

Anupam Kher's lifetime-achievement honor

• Anupam Kher receives the International Indian Cinema Icon Award.
• His credits span The Big Sick and Silver Linings Playbook.
• Kher called Australia a deeply special place personally.
• Cultural bridge-building through cinema matters most, he stressed.