2021 INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MELBOURNE – FULL PROGRAM REVEALED! PLUS SATYAJIT RAY CENTENARY CELEBRATION

Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Physical Festival • August 12-21 • Venues across Melbourne
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Opening Night • Thursday August 12 • HOYTS Melbourne Central
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Virtual Festival • August 15-30 • Online
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) has unveiled its 2021 program as a hybrid festival – screening over 100 films in 24 languages, including 7 world premieres, 76 Australian premieres and a record high 32 films by female directors – with both cinema and
virtual screenings this August, in the 75th year of Indian independence.
Mitu Bhowmick Lange, IFFM Director: “This year’s festival showcases an astonishing range of cinematic styles and subjects, with extra
space in the program given over to exciting young talents and independent voices, who are conEnuing to present extraordinary films
despite the pressures of the last 18 months. Whether in cinemas or at home, IFFM is evolving to bring audiences together safely.”
In 2021, IFFM is delighted to present a rich and rewarding program of ficEon features, shorts and documentaries from India and the
subcontinent – the largest festival of its kind in the southern hemisphere – which spans the best mainstream Hindi cinema from the last
year to arthouse films in regional Indian languages and movies that cross international borders.
The 2021 Festival features five dynamic program streams of new and classic films, kicking off with two thought-provoking films, Bi#u by
Karishma Dube and WOMB – Women of My Billion by Ajitesh Sharma, as a part of IFFM’s Opening Night Gala. Program highlights include
the Australian premieres of Shut up Sona, DeepE Gupta’s documentary following the unapologeEcally outspoken singer Sona Mohapatra, one of the voices of the Indian #MeToo movement, as she fights for gender equality in the Indian music industry; Arun Karthick’s
Roaerdam award-winning Nasir, about an Indian Muslim in an intolerant society, “a superb example of what can be done on a Eny budget when the vision is strong” (Variety), that went on to screen at the presEgious New Directors/New Films fesEval in New York in 2020,
alongside Pushpendra Singh’s Laila Aur Sa# Geet (The Shepherdess and the Seven Songs), a “small but splendid” fable (Hollywood Reporter) about a nomadic young bride, set against the spectacular peaks of the Himalayas; Bhutan’s official entry to the 2021 Academy
Awards, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, a beauEfully shot, award-winning drama about a young teacher who is assigned to work at the
world’s most remote school and dreams of moving to Australia; Berlinale favourite Sthalpuran (Chronicle of Space), a suggesEve family
drama from the perspecEve of an eight-year-old, directed by Akshay Indikar: and Ajitpal Singh’s Fire In The Mountains, a powerful feminist tale told by a male who learnt to face down his prejudices. and IFFM’s Closing Night Film.
IFFM is delighted to present 3 special tributes to hugely beloved insEtuEons of Indian cinema: a not to be missed program honouring
world-renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray as part of global celebraEons marking his centenary birth year, including 4 features – landmark
debut Pather Panchali (1955); philosophical love triangle Ghare Baire (The Home and the World, 1984); Ibsen adaptaEon Ganashatru
(An Enemy of the People, 1989); final film Agantuk (The Stranger, 1991); a tribute to the work of Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar, one of
India’s most respected actors, who passed away earlier this month, and to music legend SP Balasubrahmanyam, a playback singer who
lent his voice to more than 40,000 songs in 50 years, and who died in 2020 following a Covid-19 diagnosis.
Acclaimed independent director Onir and producer, actor and acEvist Richa Chadha will judge the 2020 IFFM Short Film Festival Competition. A selection of the best submiaed films, addressing this year’s theme of ‘modern slavery and equality’, will be available for viewing
during the Festival, with the winner announced August 30.
In 2021, IFFM takes over five key venues in Melbourne’s CBD and suburbs, while an extended virtual season will see films stream free of
charge across Australia via the festival’s website, iffm.com.au. IFFM has partnered with the Mental Health Foundation Australia and
Royal Children’s Hospital and encourages festival participants to donate to MHFA when booking.
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is the southern hemisphere’s greatest annual celebration of Indian cinema and films from the
Indian sub-continent. Established in 2010, it is recognised as an important feature of the State’s cultural calendar. IFFM is proudly supported by the Victorian Government via Film Victoria – principal partner of the festival.

Festival Locations • HOYTS Melbourne Central, HOYTS District Docklands, HOYTS Chadstone,
HOYTS Highpoint • FederaEon Square