Following its world premiere in the international competition section of the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), Australian documentary Shared Table: Local Heroes has been acquired by Cinepolis India for limited theatrical release later this year.
Directed by Melbourne-based Indian-Australian filmmaker Nandita Chakraborty, the documentary follows a group of filmmakers on an impromptu road trip through regional Victoria, tracing the lives of four immigrant communities as they open up their homes and kitchens to explore issues of identity, displacement and cultural memory through food. This is the only Australian film selected for MIFF 2026.
Since Cinepolis is the distributor, the release will not be limited to the company’s screens.
“We are delighted to partner with Indian-Australian director Nandita Chakaborty and producer Niru Tripathi’s documentary ‘Shared Table: Local Heroes’ for theatrical release in India following its world premiere in competition at MIFF,” said Devan Sampat, Managing Director, Cinepolis India. “Shared Table: Local Heroes is a deeply human documentary that celebrates community, identity, diversity, inclusion, and the universal language of food.”
The film was produced by CALD Community Voices and Tripathi with support from the Victorian Government. Chakraborty, who was born in Kolkata and moved to Australia in 2000, is a recipient of the Victorian Multicultural Arts Award for Excellence (2023). Her previous documentary Piquancy: Silent Heroes was also supported by the Victorian Government.
“As an Indian-Australian filmmaker, I am thrilled that ‘Shared Table: Local Heroes’ will be released theatrically in India, the country of my birth,” said director Chakraborty. “This film highlights the inspiring stories of regional Victoria, which are often overlooked in a conversation dominated by Australia’s major cities.”
Director Tripathi added, “This film is a reminder that every community is strengthened by the diversity of its people. I hope audiences will take inspiration from these amazing people and come away with a greater appreciation for the human connections that unite us across cultures, backgrounds and generations.”
Australian Deputy Consul General Christian Jacques was the guest of honor at the MIFF premiere. Following its screening in India, the documentary will make its Australian debut at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.
