Inaugural Indian Film Festival of New Zealand to Open with Teesri Kasam and Close with Pakeezah
Veteran Indian cinema icon Waheeda Rehman is set to attend the opening night of the inaugural Indian Film Festival of New Zealand on October 22. The festival, which marks a significant cultural platform in a country where nearly five percent of the population is of Indian origin, will feature classic cinema restorations alongside contemporary titles across three cities over three days.
What Happened
The first edition of the Indian Film Festival of New Zealand (TIFFNZ) has unveiled its programming plans, featuring 30 screenings that include 10 feature films, 16 short films, and four special screenings. The event will also host industry panel discussions, post-screening audience Q&A sessions, networking gatherings, and an awards ceremony.
Opening the festival on October 22 is the newly restored classic Teesri Kasam, which stars Waheeda Rehman and Raj Kapoor. The festival will honor Rehman for her enduring contributions to Indian cinema. The event will conclude with a screening of the 1972 landmark film Pakeezah, making this festival only the second in the world to present the movie following its restoration.
Key Highlights
- Restored Classics: The inaugural festival places a special focus on restored cinematic works from the National Film Archive of India-National Film Development Corporation (NFAI-NFDC) and the Film Heritage Foundation.
- Opening and Closing Films: Teesri Kasam, restored by NFAI-NFDC, will open the festival, while Pakeezah, restored by the Film Heritage Foundation under founder-director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, will serve as the closing film.
- Multi-City and Multi-Language Scope: Held across three days in three New Zealand cities, the lineup incorporates a diverse mix of works in languages such as Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Nepali, Kashmiri, Kumaoni, English, French, Japanese, and even a silent film.
- Industry Exchange: Beyond screenings, the festival has programmed professional networking, panel sessions, and an awards evening to foster collaboration between the screen sectors of New Zealand and India.
Why This Matters
According to festival director Petrina D’Rozario, the event serves as a cultural and creative conduit between India and New Zealand. With people of Indian descent comprising nearly five percent of New Zealand’s population, the platform aims to introduce Indian storytelling and heritage cinema to broader audiences abroad while creating future opportunities for cross-border film production and creative partnerships.
Waheeda Rehman shared that cinema possesses the ability to unite diverse cultures and expressed appreciation that Teesri Kasam will be introduced to a new generation of overseas moviegoers in its restored format.
What to Watch Next
Festival organizers have noted that further announcements detailing the full roster of visiting directors, actors, and official film selections will be released in the coming weeks ahead of the October 22 commencement.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Indian Film Festival of New Zealand begin?
The festival’s opening night screening is scheduled for October 22, featuring Waheeda Rehman in attendance.
Which films are opening and closing the festival?
The event opens with the restored drama Teesri Kasam and closes with the restored 1972 classic Pakeezah.
Who restored the opening and closing titles?
Teesri Kasam was restored by NFAI-NFDC, while Pakeezah was restored by the Film Heritage Foundation headed by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur.
Source: Bollywood Hungama