Richa Chadha And Ali Fazal To Launch New Zealand’s First Indian Film Festival

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal will attend the launch of the Indian Film Festival of New Zealand (TIFFNZ) on June 2. Their production Girls Will Be Girls will also be screened at the event.

Actors and producers Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal are set to be part of the launch of the Indian Film Festival of New Zealand (TIFFNZ), which will take place on June 2, 2026. The event will also include a screening of Girls Will Be Girls, the first feature film produced by the couple.

TIFFNZ is being introduced as New Zealand’s first festival dedicated to Indian cinema. Founded by Petrina D’Rozario, the festival aims to create a platform for Indian films while encouraging collaborations between filmmakers and creative professionals from India and New Zealand.

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal have expanded their work beyond acting in recent years through film production. Their banner has backed projects that have travelled to film festivals and reached audiences outside India.

Speaking about the festival, the actors said in a joint statement that film festivals help create conversations around different stories and cultures. They added that bringing Indian cinema to New Zealand through a dedicated festival is an important step and said they are looking forward to interacting with audiences there.

The festival’s first edition is scheduled to take place in October 2026 across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Organisers plan to showcase around 30 films, including feature films and short films. The event will also include workshops, discussions and cultural programmes.

Girls Will Be Girls, directed by Shuchi Talati, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and later received recognition at the Independent Spirit Awards. The film marked the first feature production from Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal and played an important role in establishing their presence as producers.

With its first edition scheduled later this year, TIFFNZ is expected to serve as a platform for Indian cinema in New Zealand while creating opportunities for cultural exchange between the two countries.