Australia-India Film Partnership Unveiled at Cannes: A Bold Move to Back Major Features

VMPL

New Delhi [India], May 23: At Cannes today, a fresh Australian financial and production company named Southern Sitara was unveiled with plans to back and create a series of Australian-Indian feature films.

Established by the investment and strategic partnership of Roshni Pandey and Jagdish Sidhu—who oversee a diversified portfolio spanning Southeast Asia, London, and Australia—Southern Sitara will collaborate with an acclaimed production firm. TEMPLE , located at Disney Studios Australia in Sydney.

Developed by filmmaker Anupam Sharma (known for initiating the Australia India Film Fund), Southern Sitara will offer development funding, production investment, gap financing, and cash flow loans for qualifying projects. Aimed at movies with budgets ranging from AUD 5-11 million, this initiative employs a mixed-capital approach that blends proprietary funds with jointly raised capital, providing structured financial solutions along with short to medium-term support. working capital solutions .

Motivated by the India-Australia coproduction agreement and local benefits, this project has garnered support from notable members of the Indian community in Australia. This group includes Drs Pradnya and Tej Dugal (known for "Maasa" and "Farewell Amor") through their company Jhumka Films; internationally recognized media financier Jacqui Miller-Charlton (MBE), who is based in London; Chandru Tolani, an investor hailing from Sydney; along with angel investor Shallu Kundra—all of whom have previously invested in Australian-Indian cinema projects.

Southern Sitara has entered into first-look distribution agreements. ICON Film For English-language versions, and Forum Films for those in Indian languages.

Janine Pearce from JP Media Law will serve as legal counsel. Communications will be overseen by Victoria Buchan from The Lantern Group, and Hema Upadhya will manage PR activities in India.

The team has welcomed an impressive array of Australian producers and creatives for executive and crucial creative positions, featuring individuals such as Lisa Duff (known for "Last Cab to Darwin"), Jannine Barnes ("Downriver"), Cathy Rodda ("Bromley - Light After Dark"), Victoria McIntyre Wharfe ("The Flood"), Ben Ulm from "Shark Tank Australia," and Indigenous producer Jodie Bell who worked on "Doug the Human."

Sidhu will be responsible for finance and compliance, Pandey will head up strategy and investor relations, and Sharma will act as the public face of Southern Sitara.

From Cannes, Sharma stated: "Australia offers unparalleled backing to screen professionals. Southern Sitara expands upon this by facilitating genuine cultural narratives."

From the Gold Coast, Pandey commented, “We’ve been testing business strategies to minimize risks associated with film investments, and Australia’s treaties and incentives have assisted us in reshaping the story.”

Sidhu from Singapore commented: "The production incentives and agreements in Australia provide a distinctively low-risk route for international film investments, which matches our emphasis on adherence to regulations and high returns on investment."

The first projects include Anupam Kher's directorial thriller, shot extensively in Australia, and Shadows, a horror film blending First Nations and Indian mythologies.

Additionally featured is "The Indian Cowboy" — a tale inspired by Bobby Cash, India’s sole country music artist, who gained recognition in Australia.

The Southern Sitara will additionally secure funding for a series of projects such as Richard Jameson’s "Bidjara Kumari," which has received developmental support from both Screen Australia and Screen Queensland. Another project is "FRAMED," currently under development with contributions from Screen Australia, Screen NSW, and SBS. Additionally, they have plans for Dr. Sanjaya Senanayake's "Chilli Chicks" and "Heart Attacks." The latter two were penned by Victoria McIntyre and benefited from developmental backing provided by Screen Canberra.

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