Indian Festival of Melbourne

Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne Reveals 2018 Program

The southern hemisphere's largest annual celebration of Indian cinema, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), is delighted to announce details of its expansive and ambitious 2018 program. Taking place from 10-22 August with 'Inclusion' as its unifying theme, this year's festival explores the richness of contemporary cinema from India and the sub-continent, from Bollywood extravaganzas, to studio and non-studio dramas exploring the new face of modern Indian society, documentaries, and for the first time, a program of films for children. 60 films in 22 different languages will screen over 12 days.

The opening week coincides with the Indian Independence Day celebrations and the festival is thrilled to commemorate this event through ceremony, dance and the recognition of excellence in India's film culture. Celebrations will include the raising of the Indian flag on Saturday 11 August at Federation Square, hosted by 'the reigning queen of Bollywood' Rani Mukherjee, followed by the Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition in the afternoon and the star-studded Westpac Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards at The Palais Theatre on Sunday 12 August.

The Festival opens with the Australian premiere of Love Sonia (dir. Tabrez Noorani), with stars Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Richa Chadha (Gangs of Wasseypur and Masaan) and Mrunal Thakur joining Noorani on the Red Carpet.

Closing the Festival is Sir (dir. Rohena Gera), arriving direct from Cannes 2018 Critics Week for its Australian premiere, the film is about a transgressive romance between a wealthy young Mumbai businessman and a countrywoman who comes to work as his maid.

Festival highlights include Australian premieres of Haami, Nandita Roy and Shiboprasad Mukherjee's delightful film about two best friends; Village Rockstars (dir. Rima Das), the story of a tenacious 10-year-old girl living in a remote village in Northeast India who fights against stereotypes and poverty to pursue her dream of owning a guitar and forming a rock band (Toronto and Cannes Film Festivals); Garbage (dir. Quashiq Mukherjee), a furious thriller about violence to women (Berlin Film Festival); Chumbak (dir Sandeep Modi), coming of age story about a table-cleaning-waiter-boy; Gali Guliyan (In the Shadows, (dir. Dipesh Jain), a tense psychological thriller (New York International Film Festival); the romantic drama White (dir. Aneek Chaudhury, (Cannes Film Festival); and the multiple award winning Tikli and Laxmi Bomb (dir Aditya Kripilani), about two Mumbai based sex workers who decide to kick men out of the business and start a cooperative run by and for women.

IFFM is excited to present the Australian premiere of Anushka Meenakshi and Iswar Srikumar's documentary Up, Down & Sideways, about the rice cultivators of Phek and their incredible love of singing, and for its first Children's program, the award winning Ishu (dir Utpal Borpuiar); The Cake Story, Rukshana Tabbassum's heart-warming tale about Monu and his father, who are left to spend the day with each other on his birthday; and The Summer of Miracles (dir. Prasanth Vijay), about a 9-year old's obsession with becoming invisible.

Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne Special Guests

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is delighted to announce a who's who of India's leading filmmakers and stars as special guests for 2018. The stellar list includes Love Sonia filmmaker Tabrez Noorani, and the film's stars Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Richa Chadha (Gangs of Wasseypur and Masaan), and Mrunal Thakur; acclaimed actors Ali Fazel, (Victoria and Abdul screening at Federation Square for IFFM) and Rani Mukherji; writer, TV producer and director Siddharth P Malhorta, whose film Hichikii, about a person suffering from Tourette syndrome screens at IFFM; Raj Kumar Hirani, director of the record-breaking blockbuster Sanju, and widely regarded as one of the most successful and critically acclaimed filmmakers of the 21st century Hindi cinema; actor Vicky Kaushal (Masaan); screenwriter Abhijat Joshi; and renowned Indian film critic and entertainment reporter Rajeev Masand.

IFFM Programs • Beyond Bollywood • Documentaries • Children's Films • Hurrah Bollywood • From the Subcontinent
Festival Locations • HOYTS Melbourne Central, Highpoint, Chadstone, Broadmeadows, Forest Hill • Federation Square • The Palais Theatre, St Kilda
IFFM Opening Night • Friday 10 August, 7:00pm • HOYTS Melbourne Central
Westpac IFFM Awards Night • Sunday 12 August, 6:30pm • The Palais Theatre
Indian Independence Day Hoisting of the Flag • Saturday 11 August, 11:00am • Federation Square
Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition • Saturday 11 August, 12:00pm – Federation Square
Bookings and program information • www.iffm.com.au