MUMBAI: For the first time in the history of the capital city of Uttarakhand, Dehradun play host to the Australian Film Festival of India (AFFI) that kicked off today.

A total number of 17 films including a retrospective on filmmaker Baz Luhrman and a documentary on anti-corruption activist Kiran Bedi will be screened.

"Federation of Film Societies of India taking our Australian films to various cities across India is exactly the exposure Aussie cinema needs in India, a film market Australia has yet to tap, we are humbled by the huge response," said the festival‘s founding director Peter Castaldi in a statement.

The festival which is the result of a tie-up between Zee News and An Australian Film Initiative (AAFI) will be screened in three cities followed by a 17 city tour through the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI).

"Federation of Film Societies of India taking our Australian films to various cities across India is exactly the exposure Aussie cinema needs in India, a film market Australia has yet to tap, we are humbled by the huge response," continued Castaldi.

AFFI is also using online registration, as well as social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to increase awareness and generate interest in the festival.