Oz fest in India

Melbourne’s Pallavi Sharda is Oz Fest’s ambassador along with cricketer Brett Lee

Foreign Minister Bob Carr welcomed the commencement of India’s “Oz Fest,” a four-month celebration of contemporary Australian culture in 18 Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur.

“Oz Fest offers hundreds of thousands of Indians a chance to experience Australian films, literature and artistic performances,”   Senator Carr said.

“With support from the Australian Government, Oz Fest is a great opportunity to promote Australia’s links with India and to market Australian talent overseas.”

Senator Bob Carr with PM Julia Gillard

Oz Fest will open on October 16, 2012 in New Delhi with performances by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, didgeridoo virtuoso Mark Atkins and Indian artist Anoushka Shankar.

Later events include:

  • Performances by youth bands Karnivool and Sheppard in Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi;
  • A match between the Jaipur and West Australian polo teams in Jaipur;
  • A roadshow by the  Melbourne International Comedy Festival;
  • A tour of Indian cities two of the judges from MasterChef Australia;
  • The premiere of Australian feature film Save Your Legs! at the Mumbai Film Festival; and
  • Appearances by Australian children’s author and illustrator Frané Lessac at the Bookaroo Children’s Literature Festival in Delhi.

Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris, household names in India through MasterChef Australia, have been named Oz Fest Ambassadors together with Australian Bollywood star Pallavi Sharda and cricket great Brett Lee.

Oz Fest is supported by a Federal contribution of around $1 million from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and over $2 million from Federal, state, university, institutional and corporate partners. The Fest will conclude on February 5, 2013. For details visit website www.ozfestindia.com

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