IFFM-2014 nominations announcement in Mumbai. PHOTO: Mind Blowing Films
By our reporter
Mumbai, 05 March: The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will be back this year, with a new international awards program and a packed program of films to showcase the diversity of Indian cinema to Australia. Becoming a competition festival is a feather in its cap and an honour to Melbourne which is hosting the 2014 Festival (May 1-11).
This milestone has been achieved with the announcement of nominations for the five international awards which have been instituted by the festival for the first time this year. The new international awards will form part of the packed program of films to showcase the diversity of Indian cinema to Australia.
The inaugural IFFM was opened on May 2012 at Hoyts Melbourne Central by Ted Baillieu, Louise Asher and a host of India’s biggest stars and filmmakers, including IFFM Ambassador Vidya Balan, India’s reigning leading lady. She is also the Brand Ambassador for the 2014 festival. Her new movie ‘Shadi Ke Side Effects’ has just hit the big screen globally.
Vidya Balan will visit Melbourne in late March to officially launch the 2014 festival program.
Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, Louise Asher, who is leading a Super Trade Mission of more than 100 organisations to India, today, announced the nominations for the five international awards in Mumbai.
Joining Festival Ambassador and renowned Indian actress, Vidya Balan and festival director Mitu Bhowmick-Lange at the Taj Lands End in Bandra, Ms Asher said a new program of international awards would add a new dimension to the festival.
“Five international awards – Best Performance Male Award, Best Performance Female Award, Best Director Award, Best Film Award and Best Indie Film Award will be judged by a prominent jury comprising of Phillip Noyce, Raju Hirani, Suhasini Maniratnam, Jill Bilcock, Simi Garewal and Rajeev Masand,” Ms Asher said.
“I’m pleased to announce the nominations are:
BEST PERFORMANCE: MALE
• Irrfan Khan – The Lunch Box
• Farhan Akhtar – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
• Raj Kumar Yadav – Shahid
BEST PERFORMANCE: FEMALE
• Deepika Padukone – Goliyon ki Rasleela Ram-Leela
• Sonakshi Sinha – Lootera
• Nimrit Kaur – The Lunch Box
BEST DIRECTOR
• Rakeysh Mehra – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
• Ritesh Batra – The Lunch Box
• Anup Singh – Qissa
• Anand Gandhi – Ship of Theseus
BEST FILM
• Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
• The Lunch Box
• Lootera
• Goliyon ki Rasleela Ram-Leela
BEST INDIE FILM
• Filmistaan
• Fandry
• Ship of Theseus
In addition to the jury awards, the festival will give the first IFFM People’s Choice Award to the Indian film with highest box office takings in Australia.
Ms Asher said the Victorian Government has funded this festival since it began in 2012 and has committed to take the festival through to 2015.
“From 1 to 11 May, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will celebrate Indian cinema, host prominent Indian filmmakers and screen professionals, and provide an interactive program of master classes,” Ms Asher said.
– SAT News Service
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