Australia-India Financing Venture Southern Sitara Bows at Cannes Market With Cross-Cultural Slate (EXCLUSIVE)
Southern Sitara, unveiled at the Cannes Film Market, represents the latest effort to capitalize on the bilateral co-production treaty between the two countries, targeting features in the AUD5-11 million ($3.2-7 million) range through a hybrid capital model that combines proprietary funds with co-raised investment.
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The venture brings together investment duo Roshni Pandey and Jagdish Sidhu — who oversee portfolios spanning Southeast Asia, London and Australia — with filmmaker Anupam Sharma, architect of the Australia India Film Fund. The trio will partner with production house Temple, which operates from Disney Studios Australia in Sydney.
'Australia provides unprecedented support to screen professionals,' said Sharma. 'Southern Sitara builds on this to enable authentic cultural storytelling.'
The financing structure addresses familiar pain points in cross-border production, offering development funding, production investment, gap financing and cash flow loans. Pandey emphasized the de-risking approach: 'We've been piloting business models to de-risk film investment, and Australia's treaties and incentives have helped us transform the narrative.'
Southern Sitara has assembled backing from established players in the Australia-India space, including Pradnya and Tej Dugal of Jhumka Films ('Maasa,' 'Farewell Amor'), London-based media investor Jacqui Miller-Charlton, Sydney investor Chandru Tolani and angel investor Shallu Kundra.
Distribution is handled through first-look deals with Icon Film for English-language titles and Forum Films for Indian-language releases.
The initial slate reflects the cultural bridge the entity aims to build. Projects include 'The Return,' a thriller from actor-director Anupam Kher shot extensively in Australia, horror film 'Shadows' that blends First Nations and Indian mythologies, and 'The Indian Cowboy,' inspired by India's sole country music performer Bobby Cash, who was discovered Down Under.
Additional titles in development include Richard Jameson's 'Bidjara Kumari,' which has received backing from Screen Australia and Screen Queensland, and 'Framed,' supported by Screen Australia, Screen NSW and SBS.
The venture has recruited Australian producers Lisa Duff ('Last Cab to Darwin'), Jannine Barnes ('Downriver'), Cathy Rodda ('Bromley – Light After Dark') and Victoria McIntyre Wharfe ('The Flood') for key creative roles, alongside 'Shark Tank Australia's' Ben Ulm and First Nations producer Jodie Bell ('Doug the Human').
Singapore-based Sidhu will handle finance and compliance while Pandey leads strategy and investor relations. 'Australia's production incentives and treaties offer a uniquely de-risked path to global film investment,' Sidhu noted, 'aligning with our focus on compliance and strong ROI.'
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