NAB backs Indian cinema and community
Melbourne, 11 August 2026: National Australia Bank will return as the naming partner of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) Awards Night, reinforcing its support for Australia’s growing Indian community and the cultural influence of Indian cinema.
The NAB IFFM Awards Night will be held on 13 August as part of the 2026 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. NAB will present three awards recognising excellence in Indian storytelling: Best Female Actor, Best Male Actor and Best Short Story.
The festival is expected to attract prominent figures from Indian cinema, including Rekha, Rani Mukerji, Dulquer Salmaan, Rishab Shetty and Pankaj Tripathi.
The partnership comes as Australia’s Indian-born population approaches one million. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an estimated 971,020 Indian-born residents now live in Australia, making India the country’s largest overseas-born population for the first time.
The community has grown by more than 522,000 people over the past decade, reflecting the strengthening economic, social and cultural ties between Australia and India.
Migrants focused on long-term goals
Research conducted for NAB by RFI Global found that saving for the future, building wealth and owning property are among the leading financial priorities for recent migrants.
The research showed that 84 per cent of recent migrants regarded saving money for the future as a key financial goal, highlighting the long-term ambitions associated with building a new life in Australia.
NAB Executive, Personal Everyday Banking, Sweta Mehra, said the bank’s partnership with IFFM, now in its second year, reflected its longstanding commitment to Australia’s Indian community.
“IFFM is one of Australia’s most significant celebrations of Indian cinema, bringing audiences together through stories from India and around the world,” Ms Mehra said.
“Australia’s Indian community continues to make an important contribution across business, education, innovation and the arts, and we’re proud to support a festival that recognises the richness of Indian storytelling and culture.”
Indian migrants are contributing to Australia across business, healthcare, education and local communities. Many have established businesses, pursued professional careers, bought homes and supported families while helping shape the country’s economic and cultural future.
“Every new arrival brings their own story of ambition – whether that is pursuing an education, building a career, supporting family, buying a home or starting a business,” Ms Mehra said.
“At NAB, we’re committed to helping customers through the important milestones that come with building a life in Australia.”
Migrant success story
The partnership also highlights the journey of Ramneek Wayne, co-founder of Aunty Jenny Spices.
After arriving in Australia, Mr Wayne began developing a business based on family recipes and preservative-free Indian spices. What started as an effort to cook for his in-laws has grown into a national brand sourcing ingredients directly from farms.
Aunty Jenny Spices products are now stocked in more than 200 stores across Australia, with the company planning to expand to about 800 stores by the end of the year.
“Like many migrants, we came to Australia in pursuit of an opportunity and to build a better future rather than wait for one,” Mr Wayne said.
“Aunty Jenny Spices came out of our culture, our family and the flavours we grew up with. What started as a small idea is now a business we’re proud of, connecting with customers right across Australia.”
He said migration was about determination, hard work and building something that could last.
The 2026 IFFM Awards Night will celebrate the contribution of Indian cinema while recognising the broader role of Australia’s Indian community in the nation’s social, cultural and economic life.
