New film festival to open trade opportunities for Kiwi food brands in India.
New Zealand food and beverage exporters are being invited to seize new commercial opportunities in one of the world's fastest-growing consumer markets by participating in The Indian Film Festival NZ (TIFFNZ).
This inaugural festival is a landmark event designed to strengthen trade, investment and cultural connections between the two countries. It will be held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from 23 to 25 October, and thereafter become an annual event.
The festival is expected to contribute around NZ$10 million annually to the New Zealand economy through tourism, screen production, creative services and associated commercial activity, while supporting the Government's ambition to grow two-way trade with India.
More than a celebration of Indian cinema, the festival is being positioned as a commercial platform connecting New Zealand exporters, filmmakers, tourism operators and business leaders with one of the world's largest and fastest-growing markets.
The initiative comes as New Zealand and India begin implementing the recently signed Free Trade Agreement, which Trade and Investment Minister, Todd McClay, says will create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in additional export opportunities.
Michael Daysh, Director of Brand Commercial Partnerships for the festival, said the event will give New Zealand brands a unique opportunity to build relationships with Indian consumers, distributors and commercial partners.
"This is much more than a film festival. It's a business platform that brings together culture, commerce and trade.
“We want New Zealand brands to use this opportunity to tell their stories, build relationships and grow their presence in one of the world's most exciting consumer markets."
He said premium New Zealand food and beverage brands were particularly well placed to benefit, with products such as wine, kiwifruit, apples, onions, beef, lamb, poultry, citrus and premium chocolate all enjoying growing interest among Indian consumers.
Alongside feature and short films, the festival will include industry forums, networking events, cultural celebrations, food experiences and business engagement activities designed to encourage new commercial partnerships and creative collaborations between India and New Zealand.
Festival organisers also see significant opportunities for New Zealand's screen industry.
Recent changes to New Zealand's international screen production incentives have made the country an even more attractive destination for Indian film productions. The festival is expected to encourage more Indian producers to film in New Zealand, creating additional work for local crews, production companies, tourism operators and supporting businesses.
Festival Founder and Director, Petrina D'Rozario, said the festival aims to become a long-term bridge between the two countries.
"We see TIFFNZ as a bridge between cultures, industries and communities. It is about creating a platform where stories travel, collaborations begin and meaningful partnerships grow."
Daysh said the festival would also celebrate the more than 300,000 people of Indian heritage who now call New Zealand home, while strengthening the people-to-people relationships that underpin successful trade.
"When people connect through culture they build trust. Trust creates relationships, and relationships create business opportunities. That's exactly what this festival is designed to do."
He uses a descriptive whakataukī: Ma tini, ma mano ka rapa te whai — when we move together, breakthrough becomes inevitable.
The Indian Film Festival NZ is expected to become an annual fixture on New Zealand's cultural and business calendar, showcasing Indian cinema while helping open new opportunities for exporters, the screen sector and the wider economy.
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