By Neeraj Nanda
MELBOURNE, 13 June: Indian movie superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be the chief guest at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne-2019 (IFFM-2019), 8 to 17 August 2019. This will be the coveted festival’s 10th year, showcasing the best of Indian cinema.
From a grassroots festival to a state government-backed festival and an awardee of several global awards, the IFFM is the biggest Indian film festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
This year the festival is set to celebrate the central theme of ‘courage’, which is engraved in the inclusivity and diversity of the Indian film business.
Commenting about the festival, the Victorian Premier Hon. Daniel Andrews says: “The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is a much-loved event that celebrates the strong relationship between Victoria and India and our own vibrant Indian community. This event has grown significantly over the past decade and with the extraordinary Shah Rukh Khan here, this year’s festival is shaping up to be the biggest and most exciting yet.”
Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley says: “A celebration of film, community and culture, the Indian Film Festival puts Melbourne in the spotlight and attracts more than 35,000 people each year. The Bollywood and Indian film industry is the biggest in the world and in addition to supporting this festival, we’ve announced a new Bollywood and Indian Cinema Attraction Fund to bring more film productions from India and the subcontinent to Victoria. Perhaps we’ll even lure Shah Rukh Khan back to our shores again!”
King Khan as he’s admirably referred to globally will be opening the festival officially on the 8th of August, 2019 along with the other festival guests and in the company of the ‘Premiere of Victoria’ Hon. Daniel Andrews and Mitu Bhowmick Lange, the director of the esteemed festival.
A Mind Blowing Films media release quotes, Shah Rukh Khan, saying, “I’m honoured and delighted to accept the invitation from the Victorian government and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne to open their festival as their chief guest.
An industry of our magnitude and diversity deserves to be celebrated with great passion and fervor, which is what the festival embodies. I’m particularly pleased with the theme of the festival this year which is courage, an emotion that resonates with storytellers who really have the might to change the society and the world. I have had great memories of shooting for Chak De India in Melbourne and look forward to being back again, this time to celebrate Indian cinema”.
Director of the festival, Mitu Bhowmick Lange says, “We are so elated with the news of Mr. Khan joining us to be our chief guest. He’s truly an icon of Indian cinema internationally, a global icon, who millions and millions follow and look up to. The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has always strived to bring the best Indian cinema here in Melbourne and bridge a gap between the fans and the actors whom people love and admire. We are looking forward to hosting Mr. Khan in Melbourne.”
The festival has films like Andhadhun (Hindi), Gully Boy (Hindi), Super Delux (Tamil), Chuskit (Ladakhi), Chippa (Hindi), Ahaa Re (Bengali) among others. A few films will be shown free at the Federation Square and the Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition will enthrall the audience.
Full details of the ten days’ festival’s movies, guests, opening, other and closing events and masterclasses, etc. will be announced soon. More information can be accessed at www.iffm.com.au.
