MELBOURNE, 13 & 14 August 2026: The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne opened in Melbourne on Thursday, 13 August, with a star-studded morning press conference and the NAB IFFM Awards Night celebrating Indian cinema’s established icons and emerging voices.
The IFFM 2026 demonstrates it’s dual identity: a major Indian cinema awards platform under the leadership of Mitu Bhowmick Lange and led by icons such as Rekha and Rani Mukerji, and an international showcase for new, regional and independent voices represented by artists including Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan and the Lala and Poppy team.
Minister for Creative Industries Vicki Ward has announced a $600,000 election commitment to continue the largest celebration of Indian cinema in the Southern Hemisphere. And, with the Leader of opposition announced it will make it $700,000 for four years.
The Minister said, “A strong Victoria is a state where everyone can contribute, belong and see their stories reflected.”
“Labor is proud to back the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, celebrating the contribution of Victoria’s strong multiculturalism, and strengthening our place as a global screen destination.”
Shared Stories, Shared Humanity
This year’s IFFM theme is “Shared Stories, Shared Humanity.” The festival is presenting more than 130 films across numerous Indian languages, alongside documentaries, independent cinema, short films and streaming content. Its opening events combined celebrity recognition with a broader focus on inclusion, regional voices and the global reach of South Asian storytelling
The opening press conference featured actors Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma, Manushi Chhillar, Nikhita Gandhi and Dolly Singh, along with filmmakers Nikkhil Advani, Vikram Phadnis, R. Gowtham, Kaizad Gustad and R.S. Prasanna.
Members of the cast of Lala and Poppy also attended the event, which highlighted the diversity of India’s film industries and the growing international audience for Indian stories.
Discussions at the press conference centred on the changing landscape of Indian cinema, the rising global reach of regional films and the importance of representing India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
The day’s events culminated in the NAB IFFM Awards Night at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre.
Rekha and Rani steal the IFFM opening awards night
Veteran actor Rekha was honoured with the Excellence in Cinema award for her decades-long contribution to Indian cinema and her continuing influence across generations.
Rani Mukerji were recognised as part of IFFM’s celebration of her 30 years in Hindi cinema. The actor is also scheduled to appear at the “30 Years of Rani Mukerji” event at The Edge, Federation Square, on Friday, 14 August.
The festival’s major award winners included Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, which was named Best Film, while Rishab Shetty won Best Director for Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1.
Dulquer Salmaan received the Best Actor award for Kaantha, while Kirti Kulhari won Best Actress for Full Plate. Vijay Varma and Rasika Dugal were recognised for their performances in streaming productions.
Rishab Shetty also received the Leadership in Cinema award, while Rekha’s Excellence in Cinema honour was among the most anticipated tributes of the evening.
IFFM 2026 is presenting more than 130 films across a wide range of Indian languages, including feature films, documentaries, independent productions, short films and streaming content.
The festival runs in Melbourne and regional Victoria until 23 August under the theme “Shared Stories, Shared Humanity.”
Rekha is scheduled to participate in IFFM’s Independence Day celebrations at Federation Square on Saturday, 15 August, including the ceremonial hoisting of the Indian national flag.
Major award winners
The principal winners announced after the ceremony included:
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Best Film: Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
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Best Director: Rishab Shetty for Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1
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Best Actor: Dulquer Salmaan for Kaantha
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Best Actress: Kirti Kulhari for Full Plate
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Best Film from the Subcontinent: No Good Men, directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat
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Best Documentary: Flying Tigers, directed by Madhushree Dutta
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Best Indie Film: Not a Hero, directed by Rima Das
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Artist of Distinction: Pankaj Tripathi
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Best Actor in a Series: Vijay Varma for Matka King
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Best Actress in a Series: Rasika Dugal for Delhi Crime 3
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Best Series: Freedom at Midnight, Season 2
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Leadership in Cinema: Rishab Shetty
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Excellence in Cinema: Rekha
IFFM is more than a film festival—it is a celebration of Indian cinema, culture, diversity and shared stories in Australia. It delivers a vibrant celebration of Indian cinema by bringing together legendary actors, emerging talent, regional voices and diverse stories for audiences in Melbourne and across Australia.
IFFM 2026 shows that the India–Australia relationship is a partnership of shared stories, mutual respect and cultural understanding. Through cinema, both countries are building stronger people-to-people ties and creating a more connected, inclusive and confident future together.
Inputs by – Siddarth Maitrak, Shobhit Nanda, Pramila Tandon, among others.
NOTE: Reports on IFFM in video will be out soon at – @satimesSAT
