Winners
Winners
BEST FEATURE FILM
Superboys of Malegaon
by Reema Kagti
“I would like to thank the National Indian Film Festival of Australia for choosing Superboys of Malegaon as the Best Film and for showcasing it in cities across Australia, helping the film reach a wider audience. We are glad that festival audiences resonated with this story of dreams and determination.”
Reema Kagti
Director
BEST INDIE FEATURE FILM
WingMan (The Universal Irony of Love)
by Anuj Gulati
“I am deeply grateful to the NIFFA nomination council and directors for selecting WingMan (The Universal Irony of Love) and honouring it with the Best Indie Feature Film award.
From the moment I heard about NIFFA’s inaugural edition, it felt like an event destined to last – driven by a team truly committed to showcasing Indian cinema in all its forms. It has been a privilege to see WingMan play in theatres across Australia, and now, to have its craft recognised. This film is a true independent endeavour, brought to life by a passionate team of filmmakers dedicated to its story and themes.
NIFFA feels like the beginning of something that will grow fast, and I’m thrilled that WingMan has found a place in its ‘Roll of Honours’ – a milestone to look back on with pride. Thank you once again to Anupam and the team for making NIFFA happen. I look forward to seeing it evolve into a standout event for Indian filmmakers.”
Anuj Gulati
Director
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIAN FILM
Parikrama
by Goutam Ghose
“I am delighted to receive the award at NIFFA for best International Indian film. The entire process of judgment is unique in my opinion. An esteemed council members along with the directors have gone through a cerebral exercises in one hand. On the other hand cosmopolitan audience of seven cities in Australia also participated in the process. I don’t know any other festival in the world has this wonderful combination for assessing films. Looking forward to seeing or participating in the next edition.“
Goutam Ghose
Director
BEST DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)
Maa Oori Ramayanam
by Badrappa Gajula
“The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) 2025 is a remarkable initiative by the panel, bringing two nations together through cinema. With India’s diverse cultural and linguistic landscape, it’s often challenging to showcase all regional films under one umbrella as ‘Indian cinema.’ NIFFA has taken an incredible first step in uniting these voices on a single platform, and we are confident it will continue to grow, reaching even greater heights while bringing Indians across the globe together through film.”
Pradeep Maduri
Producer
“We are immensely proud to have been part of NIFFA’s inaugural edition with Maa Oori Ramayanam and are truly honored to receive the Best Documentary (Feature) award. This recognition not only celebrates our film but also reinforces the power of storytelling in connecting people across cultures. Thank you, NIFFA, for this incredible journey!”
Badrappa Gajula
Director
BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)
The Man Who Hurls News
by Ananth Narayan Mahadevan
“Winning the Best Documentary (Short) at the NIFFA for The Man Who Hurls News is a very special honour. The film unearths one of the oldest serving newspaper boys in the world[60 years] and analyses the world of newspaper reading and dissemination of news through his eyes. I am humbled that audiences in Australia related with this unusual character and even connected emotionally with his state. Kudos to the inaugural edition of the NIFFA on its specially curated plate of special Indian cinema for the world. Wishing it greater success in its future editions.”
Ananth Narayan Mahadevan
Director
BEST SHORT FILM & DISTRIBUTION OFFER BY POCKET FILMS
The Last Show
by Valavan Velmurugan
“We, the team behind “The Last Show” are grateful to NIFFA for this recognition from Australia. We are much glad to have our short film recognised in a continent 1000 miles away from us. This award is a great token of appreciation for our team and efforts. Thanks a lot.”
Valavan Velmurugan
Director
POST-PRODUCTION COMPLETION GRANT
Misty
by Raja Chatterjee
