Global stars headline massive celebration of Indian cinema across Melbourne this August
Picture this: you’re standing in Federation Square on a crisp August day, watching one of India’s biggest movie stars hoist the national flag while thousands of film fans cheer around you. Welcome to the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, far from your average film festival, where Bollywood glamour meets Melbourne’s cultural heartbeat in the most spectacular way possible.
Now in its 16th year, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has grown into something truly extraordinary. What started as a celebration of Indian cinema has become one of Melbourne’s most anticipated August events, drawing 75 films in 31 languages, global superstars, red carpet premieres and audiences hungry for stories that span continents and cultures. This year’s festival promises to be the biggest yet, with legendary actor Aamir Khan serving as chief guest alongside internationally acclaimed comedian Vir Das.
Running from 14-24 August, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will screen more than 75 films in 31 languages across venues throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria. From opening night premieres to intimate retrospectives, dance competitions to pride celebrations, this festival transforms the city into a vibrant showcase of South Asian storytelling at its finest.
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
- When: 14-24 August
- Where: Multiple venues across Melbourne and regional Victoria
- Tickets: Available at iffm.com.au
Nine unmissable events
Aamir Khan retrospective and Sitaare Zameen Par screening
When: Various dates throughout festival
- Where: Multiple venues
The festival’s biggest drawcard sees one of India’s most influential actors celebrated with a comprehensive retrospective. Aamir Khan’s four-decade career has delivered landmark films including the Oscar-nominated Lagaan, wrestling drama Dangal and education-focused Taare Zameen Par. The retrospective culminates with a screening of his latest film Sitaare Zameen Par, which follows a basketball coach assigned to community service who discovers new purpose mentoring a team of neurodivergent adults. Khan will appear for a live conversation following the screening, offering rare insight into his creative process and commitment to inclusive storytelling.
Vir Das: In conversation
- When: 17 August
- Where: The Edge
India’s most internationally recognised comedian brings his razor-sharp wit to Melbourne for an exclusive conversation event. The Emmy-winning performer, currently touring his record-breaking Mind Fool world tour, has sold more than three million tickets across 36 countries. With four Netflix specials under his belt and appearances on HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls, Das represents the new wave of Indian talent conquering global stages. This intimate session promises to explore his journey from Mumbai comedy clubs to international stardom.
Also on the 17th, there will be talks with actress and dancer Malaika Arora, legendary actor Arvind Swami, casting director Mukesh Chhabra, and an exciting panel of film directors discussing accessibility in filmmaking. Find out more here.
Opening night: Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox)
- When: 14 August
- Where: HOYTS District Docklands
The festival launches with the Australian premiere of this Berlin International Film Festival standout. Directed by Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi, Baksho Bondi follows Maya, a working-class woman juggling three jobs to support her family who faces her deepest fears when her husband suddenly disappears. Tanushree Das is attending along with producer Jim Sarbh and lead actress Tillotama Shome, setting the tone for a festival that celebrates both artistic excellence and social consciousness.
Closing night: Homebound
- When: 24 August
- Where: HOYTS District Docklands
The festival concludes with Neeraj Ghaywan’s latest feature, produced by Karan Johar and executive produced by Martin Scorsese. This powerful drama about two childhood friends from northern India aspiring to join the police force received a nine-minute standing ovation at its Cannes world premiere. Director Ghaywan and producer Johar will present the film, offering audiences a chance to experience one of the year’s most celebrated Indian films alongside its creators.
Flag hoisting ceremony and dance competition
View this post on Instagram
- When: 16 August
- Where: Federation Square
Federation Square transforms into a celebration of Indian culture and national pride as chief guest Aamir Khan leads the annual flag hoisting ceremony marking India’s Independence Day. The ceremony brings together film fans, families and the broader community for an afternoon of music, dance and cultural exchange. Immediately following, the square erupts into colour and movement with the Remitly IFFM Dance Competition, a high-energy public event showcasing choreography, creativity and cultural fusion.
IFFM Pride Day
View this post on Instagram
- When: 22 August
- Where: Various venues
A dedicated day of screenings and celebrations amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices in Indian cinema. The program includes the historic Badnam Basti from 1971, India’s first queer film that was thought lost until a print was discovered in archives in 2020. Also screening is contemporary romance We Are Faheem and Karun, set in Kashmir by queer filmmaker Onir. The day culminates in a Bollywood Pride Party complete with drag performances and dancefloor anthems, creating space for joy and visibility within South Asian cinema.
Centrepiece: Boong
- When: 18 August
- Where: Village Cinema Crown
This Toronto-premiered gem serves as the festival’s centrepiece, following a schoolboy’s journey across borders to find his missing father. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi (who will be in attendance with star Gugun Kipgen), Boong delivers a vibrant story of friendship, music and hope set against the backdrop of conflict-torn Manipur. The film represents the kind of bold, regionally-specific storytelling that defines contemporary Indian cinema, offering audiences intimate access to communities and stories rarely seen on international screens.
100 Years of Guru Dutt retrospective
- When: 21, 23 August
- Where: Village Cinemas Crown, HOYTS Chadstone (respectively)
The festival pays tribute to one of Indian cinema’s greatest auteurs with screenings of two landmark films. Kaagaz Ke Phool from 1959 presents a haunting tale of love and artistic decline, while Pyaasa from 1957 offers a semi-autobiographical portrait of a struggling poet searching for meaning. These restored prints showcase Guru Dutt’s poetic visual style and deeply humanist storytelling, providing essential context for understanding the artistic traditions that continue to influence Indian filmmakers today.
Regional Rhapsody
- Screening: From All Sides, Shook, Bad Girl, Angammal, Humans in the Loop, Dui Shaw and Gharat Ganpati
- When: 23-24 August
- Where: Geelong, Bendigo and Shepparton
The festival extends beyond Melbourne with curated screenings across regional Victoria. This initiative connects communities throughout the state with stories from the subcontinent, ensuring that the celebration of Indian cinema reaches audiences across diverse geographical and cultural landscapes.
For more information, head here
This article was made in partnership with Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
