AFFI (Australian Film Festival of India, 2011) Kick Starts on the 26th & 27th March at Mumbai

Online, March 27, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The first Australian Film Festival Kick Started on 26th & 27th March, 2011 at Cinemax, Versova Mumbai. The screenings will showcase the artwork by the Ace Australian Director Bill Bennett and some of the best movies made by the Australian film fraternity. The initiative is a brainchild of Sydney based film maker Mr. Anupam Sharma (Festival Director), Mr. Peter Castaldi (Renowned Film Critic & Festival Director), Mr. Shahnaab Alam (Film Industry Advisor) & Mr. Bill Bennett (Ace international Australian Director) and is a prequel to be followed by major announcements in the coming week between the two nations. The project is actively supported by the Media House "Viacom 18". Cinemax is the screening partner.

Australian Film Festival of India is a two-day festival organized by "An Australian Film Initiative", a recognized body, it will feature 20 films including Paperback Hero starring Hugh Jackman & Bennett's cult Kiss or Kill among others. AAFI (An Australian Film Initiative) is coming to India with a vision to promote Australian and Indian film collaborations. It will also promote highly acclaimed Australian films in India directly through its various initiatives, and is also geared up to promote Indian film content in Australia. This initiative is to strengthen the ties between the two countries and make the markets more accessible in the future.

Mr. Anupam Sharma, Festival Director, AAFI said "The initiative started with a single idea of Cinema Sharing Responsibilities between countries and India is our first Initiative solely due to its ever-growing popularity, wide reach and common emotional ties towards Cinema. The festival will give the Indian audience a glimpse of our cinematic sensibilities and we are proud to have this in India, a land where Cinema plays a pivotal role."

Mr. Shahnaab Alam, Film Advisor (India) AAFI "The market in India is ready for this association between the two countries and it only makes us proud to pioneer this association. The films showcased in the festival have been chosen keeping in mind the audience of India who are open to fresh ideas and novel concepts."

Peter Castaldi, Festival Co-Director said "This annual platform will provide Indian and Australian film industries to benefit from each other particularly on the cinematic front to initiate a mutual participation between the two nations"

Director Bill Bennett quoted "I am excited that the films that me and my crew has made will be viewed by the Indian audiences; India is a diverse nation even on the Cinematic front with choices varying from person to person but yet the audiences of India are matured with cinematic sensibilities. Therefore I am excited about the festival which will later lead into a full-fledged partnership between the two nations"

About AAFI:
An Australian Film Initiative was born of a single idea. To market, promote and distribute Australian screen culture in emerging and non-traditional markets. The Australian film industry has a great opportunity to benefit from the rich, vibrant and exponentially globalizing film and media sectors in these markets, from India to the Middle East, from South America to emerging parts of Europe. AAFI's Directors, Anupam Sharma and Peter Castaldi vision to take Australian film to the world is through showcasing our enormous creative talent and technical capacity in a series of annual film festivals. Together they lead a strong team of professionals dedicated to this project and are gathering momentum with the first initiative - INDIA. AAFI's goal of creating annual Australian film festivals across the world is beginning to be realized.