IIFA 2028 USA: Andre Timmins Reveals Expansion Plans
The International Indian Film Academy is preparing to expand its global presence, with co-founder Andre Timmins announcing plans for an international IIFA platform in the United States in 2028, bringing Indian cinema and Hollywood closer through entertainment and industry collaboration.
Swati Bhat
In an interview with Times of Oman, Timmins described the proposed initiative as an English-language event recognising Indian and Hollywood cinema. “We are launching IIFA America in 2028, which is going to be fully English,” he said.
IIFA 2028 USA: Connecting Creativity and Business
According to the announcement details shared for this report, the founders Andre Timmins, Sabbas Joseph and Viraf Sarkari see closer engagement between the Indian film industry and Hollywood as an opportunity to combine creative strengths while developing business relationships.
The ambition extends beyond bringing international celebrities onto one stage. A platform connecting the two industries could encourage conversations around storytelling, production partnerships, music and access to wider audiences. These remain potential opportunities rather than announced commercial agreements.
Timmins has outlined possible collaborations involving Indian and international entertainers in published interviews. Those examples illustrate the proposed format; they do not constitute confirmed appearances or performances. The American initiative has also been described as a separate international event within IIFA’s wider expansion plans.
“We are launching IIFA America in 2028, which is going to be fully English,” Timmins said, outlining his vision for a global entertainment platform bringing together leading names from the Indian and American entertainment industries.
Illustrating the creative possibilities, he said, “The content is going to be like for example say a Shah Rukh and Kevin Hart hosting. It’s like Billie Eilish and A.R. Rahman performing. It’s like Hrithik and Jennifer Lopez.” These examples reflect the collaborations Timmins envisages for the platform, rather than confirmed appearances. “So we are launching an international version in 2028, which the world is waiting for. That will be a different event. But it’s again honouring Hollywood and Indian cinema.” Timmins emphasised that the expansion aims to strengthen connections between the two film industries while preserving IIFA’s Indian identity and its commitment to recognising talent from India. “We are not leaving our roots from here,” he said. “I’m still honouring people from India.”
Gujarati and Marathi Cinema Feature in Regional Plans
Alongside its international ambitions, IIFA is developing platforms for regional Indian cinema.
IIFA Rangilo, dedicated to Gujarati cinema, culture and creative talent, has been announced with a planned launch in 2027. Timmins also met Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to discuss the initiative and its vision for giving Gujarati filmmaking a broader platform.
The announcement details supplied for this report also indicate plans for an IIFA platform celebrating the Marathi film industry in the near future. A launch date, venue and awards structure were not specified in those details.
Together, the proposed American platform and regional initiatives point towards a wider ambition: creating more opportunities for Indian cinema’s different languages, talent and stories to connect with audiences and industry partners internationally.
