Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) is an annual festival based in Melbourne founded in 2010. It was previously funded by Victoria State Government. It is presented by Film Victoria, and the provider is chosen through a tender process. The current tender provider is Mind Blowing Films, run by Mitu Bhowmick Lange who is the Festival Director of IFFM. The festival has currently been provided with State Government funding until 2018. The goal of the film festival is to showcase Indian cinema to the Australian audience. The festival has streamed Bollywood films, Indie movies, documentaries, regional cinema from India etc. It also organizes short film competitions, dance competitions and a flag hoisting ceremony since it is during the time of Indian Independence day celebrations in Melbourne.
It was founded in 2010. The State Government of Victoria started funding the festival since 2012. It was result of the Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)’s policy "to strengthen Victoria's ties with the Indian film industries". The policy was first released in October 2006, was funded in November 2010, and implemented in March 2012 through a tender process.
Mind Blowing Films, owned by Mitu Bhowmick Lange, won the tender in March 2012 for three years until 2014, and was given one year extensions by the Liberal National Coalition Government for 2015 and 2016. In May 2012, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the company behind the Festival was recycling films already released, and so appeared to be using government money to rebadge a festival it had already been running as a commercial enterprise. In August 2017, South Indian film actress/producer Khushbu accused the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne of discriminating against non-Hindi films and film stars. Mitu Bhowmick Lange responded with "I am very surprised to be honest because we have 60 films in 20 languages. The film festival has always always been about diversity," stating that some of the South Indian actors invited had not been able to attend due to busy schedules.
Mind Blowing Films was again awarded the contract for 2017 and 2018 by the new State Government in November 2016.
The film festival also facilitated a film project ‘My Melbourne’ where India's notable film makers worked with Victorian filmmakers to create short films on race, disability, sexuality, and gender.
This award is given at the Festival for Outstanding Achievement of an Indian film in terms of box office revenue and critical appreciation for an Indian film released in that year. The award was instituted in 2014.
The first edition of the festival was held in 2010 and featured the work of actress Rani Mukerji such as Bunty Aur Babli, Black, Hum Tum, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Paheli, and Saathiya. The festival showcased several other Hindi films such as 3 Idiots, Dev.D, Dil Bole Hadippa, Dostana, Ghajini, Kaminey, Love Aaj Kal, Luck by Chance, New York, Paa, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, and Wake Up Sid.
The 2011 edition of the festival featured over 30 films, including 15 Australian premieres. Notable attendees included actors Vidya Balan, Malaika Arora, Ali Zafar, Juhi Chawla, and directors Kabir Khan, Raj Kumar Gupta, Leslee Udwin, Onir, and Arbaaz Khan. In 2011, the festival set a new Guinness World Record for the 'Largest Bollywood Dance' with 1500 participants.
In 2012, the IFFM curated and showed 40 films modern Indian cinema, Bengali films and popular Indian films.
IFFM in 2013 consisted of Bollywood dance competition. The festival went on for 20 days on 5 screens in Melbourne and opened with India's first silent film ‘Raja Harish Chandra’ accompanied by a live band playing the background score along with the colored ‘Mughal-E-Azam’. Some of the more contemporary films included Bombay Talkies, Sholay and Talaash. Some of the guests included Pamela Chopra, Vidya Balan Prabhudeva, Farah Khan, Simi Garewal, Kabir Khan, Onir; and Avtar Panesar.
IFFM International Screen Icon Award : Amitabh Bachchan (attended in person)
Best Film : Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Indie Film : The Lunchbox
Telstra's People's Choice Award : Dhoom 3
Best Actress : Kangna Ranaut for Queen
Best Actor : Farhan Akhtar for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Irfan Khan for The Lunchbox
Special Jury Commendation : Anand Gandhi for The Ship of Theseus
Wester Union Best Director : Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
In 2015, IFFM was a two weeks festival and had a theme of equality. The festival also incorporated interactive master classes, Awards Night, short film competition and Bollywood dance competition. Indian Independence day celebrations were included in IFFM from this year onwards.
The festival was launched by Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley with Anil Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. The winners were awarded at National Gallery of Victoria.
Other guests included Rajkumar Hirani, Simi Garewal, Imran Khan, Shonali Bose, Nagesh Kukunoor and Elahé Hiptoola.
IIFM Award for Cinematic Excellence : Anil Kapoor,
Best Film: Piku Best Director:
Shoojit Sircar for Piku
Best Indie Film: Kaaka Muttai ( Crows Eggs)
Telstra's People Choice Award: PK
Western Union Short Film Award: Rape- It's Your Fault (India) and Road to Grand Final (Aus)
Best Actor : Irrfan Khan for Piku and Shahid Kapoor for Haider
Best Actress: Bhumi Padnekar for Dum Lagake Haisha
The IFFM in 2016 opened with film parched and closed with Angry Indian Goddesses. The festival also included panel discussions about women in cinema and had guests Sue Maslin, Leena Yadav and Richa Chadha, who gave a master class on Bollywood and body positivity
Westpac Excellence In Cinema Award: Rishi Kapoor
Telstra Best Film: Kapoor & Sons
Westpac Best Indie Film Award: Parched
Westpac Best Director Award: Leena Yadav
Best Actor: Nawazuddin Siddiqi for Raman Ragav 2.0
Best Actress: Sonam Kapoor for Neerja
Western Union Short Film Festival Best Film Award: Josh Walker for Out on a Lim.
The Westpac IFFM Excellence in Global Cinema Award: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Best Indie Film: Lipstick Under My Burkha
Best Director: Nitesh Tiwari for Dangal
Equality in Cinema Award: Director/Actor Rahul Bose for Poorna
Best Actress : Konkona Sen Sharma for Lipstick Under my Burkha
Best Actor : Sushant Singh Rajput for Dhoni
Best Actor (Special Mention) : Raj Kumar Rao for Trapped,
Best Film : Pin People's Choice Award : Dangal & Bahubali 2,
Leadership in cinema: Karan Johar
IFFM 2019 was organized at Palais Theatre. Guests included Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Tabu, Sriram Raghavan, Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor. IFFM in 2019 was hosted by Karan Tacker.
2019 Award:
Best Short Film - Be my Brother, My name is Mohamad and Ragdad, We don't exist here anymore
Best Actor - Vijay Sethupathi for Super Deluxe
Best Actress - Tabu for Andhadhun
Best Director - Sriram Raghavan for Andhadhun
Best Film - Gully Boy
Best Indie Film - Bulbul Can Sing
IFFM Diversity Award: Onir
Telstra People's Choice Award: Simmba
PWC Equality in Cinema award an honorary award: Chuksit and Super Deluxe
IFFM Excellence in Cinema: Shah Rukh Khan
The festival in 2020 was delayed from its usual time in August to October because the pandemic. It included approximately 50 films in 17 languages.
The 2021 IFFM had 127 films in 27 languages including films by 34 film directors.
Best Feature Film: Soorarai Pottru
Best Performance Male (Feature): Suriya Sivakumar (Soorarai Pottru)
Best Performance Female (Feature): Vidya Balan (Sherni) & Honourable mention to Nimisha Sajayan (The Great Indian Kitchen)
Best Director: Anurag Basu (Ludo) & Honorary Mention Prithvi Konanur (Pinki Elli?)
Best Series: Mirzapur Season 2
Best Actress in a Series: Samantha Ruth Prabhu (The Family Man 2)
Best Actor in a Series: Manoj Bajpayee (The Family Man 2)
Equality in Cinema (Short Film): Sheer Qorma
Equality in Cinema Award (Feature Film): The Great Indian Kitchen
Best Indie Film: Fire in the Mountains
Diversity in Cinema Award: Pankaj Tripathi
Disruptor Award: Sanal Kumar Sasidharan
Best Documentary Film: Shut Up Sona
The 2022 IFFM was held from 12 August to 30 August.
The 2023 IFFM award ceremony was held on 11 August.
The 2024 IFFM award ceremony was held on 16 August.