The 14th annual Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) will take place in a few short weeks.
Featuring live performances, talks and workshops, an awards night ceremony and dozens of film screenings, IFFM is the biggest and brightest celebration of Indian cinema outside of India.
Running from August 11 to 19, the festival will bring together shining stars and dedicated fans to showcase the joys of south Asian film.
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The theme of this year’s event is identity: exploring the essence of our humanity and ourselves. Set to show at HOTYS Docklands, the selected films include Ghoomer, a Bollywood story of a female cricketer who loses her hand in a tragic accident, Butterfly on a Windowpane, a Nepalese feature following a boy who searches for his dreams in a magazine, and Against The Tide, a documentary about two indigenous fishermen at odds with the changing ocean.
There will also be a separate selection of films streaming online for those who can’t make it out to the cinema, including some highly-anticipated local premieres.
Fans will have a chance to get up close and personal with their favourite actors, director and filmmakers in the during the IFFM Chats talk series, where the stars will discuss the influences behind their work and the role of film in the cultural sphere. There will also be special Q&A screenings taking part across the week – check out the schedule to find out more.
On August 12, the Indian film festival will be throwing a massize Inependence Day party on the Peppercorn Lawn at Alexandra Gardens. Film legend Shabana Azmi will lead the crowd through the official ceremony before live music and dance performances ensue, including the annual IFFM Dance Competition.
To kick off the festival on August 11, Hamer Hall will play host to an elegant awards night. This year’s star-studded cast of guests includes cinema giants such as Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar, Rana Daggubati and many more. Judged by a panel of local and international experts, it’s sure to be a evening of heartfelt storytelling and emotional wins.
For more information on the 2023 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and to pick up your tickets, head here.
