Ali Fazal And Richa Chadha To Host Special Screening Of Girls Will Be Girls In New Zealand

Indian cinema is all set to get a grand new stage thousands of kilometres away from home. In a major moment for cultural exchange and South Asian storytelling, New Zealand is preparing to host a landmark celebration dedicated entirely to Indian films later this year.

Actors and producers Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal will attend the official launch of the country’s first-ever Indian film festival, The Indian Film Festival of New Zealand (TIFFNZ), on June 2, 2026.

The duo will headline the launch event and will also host a special screening of their debut production venture, Girls Will Be Girls. The film has already received international recognition at major global platforms, including the Sundance Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards.

Scheduled to officially debut in October 2026, TIFFNZ is being introduced as New Zealand’s first dedicated Indian film festival. The initiative has been founded by Petrina D’Rozario and aims to strengthen creative and cultural ties between India and New Zealand through cinema.

Richa and Ali’s participation is expected to bring significant attention to the launch, especially given their growing reputation for supporting independent films and globally relevant storytelling alongside mainstream projects.

Sharing their thoughts on being associated with the festival, the couple said in a joint statement, “We’re very happy to be part of the launch of TIFFNZ. Film festivals play an important role in building dialogue and creating space for diverse stories. The idea of bringing Indian cinema to New Zealand in a structured, celebratory way feels both timely and meaningful. We’re looking forward to supporting this new chapter and engaging with audiences there.”

The upcoming festival is envisioned as a four-day celebration of Indian cinema and South Asian storytelling across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Along with film screenings, the event will feature workshops, cultural programmes and industry discussions aimed at connecting filmmakers, audiences and creative professionals from both countries.

Organisers are reportedly planning to showcase nearly 30 films in feature-length and short-film categories during the inaugural edition. The festival also hopes to spotlight the diversity of Indian cinema while creating a stronger platform for South Asian voices in Aotearoa, the Māori name for New Zealand.