IFFM 2023: A Celebration of Boundless Creativity, Diversity, and Talent

From the glamorous Awards Night to inspiring IFFM Chats, and the vibrant Independence Day Celebrations to the exciting Dance Competition, IFFM 2023 was a celebration of boundless creativity and energy.

This year’s program showcased an array of exceptional films that spanned genres, languages, and perspectives.

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) was back with much more spark, painting the city yet again with a starry affair.

IFFM Festival Director, Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM said, “As we celebrate our 14th year of bringing the best of Indian cinema to Australia, it is our firm belief that the essence of storytelling transcends boundaries and connects us all. Our carefully curated line-up celebrates diversity, creativity, and ingenuity. From thought-provoking documentaries to captivating narratives and entertaining short films, our festival showcases the incredible talent and vision of filmmakers from the Indian subcontinent.”

This year, IFFM’s 14th edition ran from the 11^th to 20^th August and continued as a hybrid festival incorporating in-person screenings, much-loved IFFM events, special screenings and an online program.

The much awaited IFFM’s Opening Night featured the world premiere of the much-anticipated Hindi film, Ghoomer directed by prominent filmmaker R Balki, starring Indian cinema icon Shabana Azmi as well as Abhishek Bachchan and rising stars Saiyami Kher and Angad Bedi. The film is inspired by the incredible achievements of Hungarian athlete Karoly Takacs, who was the first athlete with a disability to reach the podium in shooting at the Olympic Games.

Another key highlight of the festival was that this year the Independence Day celebrations took place at the scenic Alexandra Gardens, on Peppercorn Lawn.

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi hoisted the Indian flag at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023.

As the Tricolour fluttered against the Melbourne skyline, the shared emotions of patriotism and unity resonated strongly with attendees.

Commenting on the ceremony, Shabana said: “To be having this honour to hoist the Indian flag, the flag that I’m so proud of, the flag all of us present today are proud of in Melbourne is an honour I never believed I could have.”

“I would like to reiterate that we are here to celebrate Indian cinema in Melbourne, and I truly believe that art knows no boundaries and cinema can be an instrument for social change.”

In 2023, the Festival presented over 120 films in more than 20 languages including 100 Australian Premieres, bringing together South Asian stories from across the globe. This years’ program comprised feature films, including prestigious international festival prize-winners, and hard-hitting documentaries tackling crucial contemporary issues from established and upcoming documentarians – all sitting within its usual dynamic program streams: Beyond Bollywood, Hurrah Bollywood, Documentaries, Short Films (Official Selection), Film India World, Films from the Subcontinent and Made in Melbourne.

Other program highlights included the Award-winning Indian filmmaker Rima Das’s drama, Tora’s Husband, which was the first Indian film to be included in the prestigious Platform section of TIFF in 2022. Direct from its successful premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival this year, accomplished director, Kanu Behl’s feature film, Agra made its Australian premiere. Fresh from Berlin International Film Festival, Marathi feature film, Aatmapamphlet (Autobio-Pamphlet) and Hindi feature film, All India Rank, also premiered at the gala event.

After acclaimed inclusions at both Busan International Film Festival 2022 and International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2022, director Prithvi Konanur’s feature film, Hadinelentu (Seventeeners), the award-winning documentary While We Watched, directed by Vinay Shukla, and Devashish Makhija’s thriller Joram, starring Manoj Bajpayee also made its Victorian debut.

The other prominent takeaway form the festival was the IFFM Chats that took place at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Immigration Museum from 11-13th August. This year’s line-up included some of the most influential and exciting personalities in Indian cinema including a look at the widespread success of the Telugu romantic period drama Sita Ramam and a revival in epic Indian love stories; an in depth look at 25-year career of Hindi director, Karan Johar; and finally, a look at cinema’s role in sustainability with actress and climate change champion Bhumi Pednekar.

While IFFM paid a tribute to Karan Johar, one of India’s most celebrated filmmakers, as he completes 25 remarkable years in the industry, the festival showcased Karan Johar’s exceptional contribution to Indian cinema by hosting a series of events and special screenings in his honor. Commenting on this, and his attendance at the festival, Karan said, “I am deeply honored to be a part of the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. This year holds a special significance for me as I celebrate 25 years as a filmmaker, and I can’t think of a better platform than this festival to commemorate this milestone in my career. Returning for the third time at the festival, I am overwhelmed by the love and support I have received from the Australian audience. The festival’s curation of a special experience and celebrations to mark this momentous landmark in my journey fills me with a sense of joy and gratitude. It is an opportunity for me to reflect upon the last 25 years as a filmmaker, the challenges, the triumphs, and the learnings that have shaped my artistic vision.”

Another key feature of this year included Actor Kartik Aaryan being honoured with The Rising Global Superstar of Indian Cinema award at the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.

Speaking of his participation with IFFM 2023, Kartik said, “I am deeply honored and grateful to the Victorian Government and the festival for this prestigious award and humbled to be celebrated at the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. It is a tremendous privilege to receive this recognition for my work in Indian cinema. I have always believed in the power of storytelling and the ability of films to touch hearts and inspire minds. I look forward to celebrating the magic of cinema together.”

With its finger on the pulse of the industry, the festival has embraced the changing landscape of film consumption by introducing the OTT Awards in 2021. Now in its third year, the OTT Awards honored outstanding achievements in three categories, including Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

The festival remains one of the most popular Indian Film Festivals outside of India and continues to celebrate diversity through cinema.

As ever, IFFM showcased the best of cinema from this enormous industry that encompasses not only Bollywood, but a mosaic of different regions, tastes, and cultures. The festival continued to provide a platform to upcoming film makers through its World Remit Short Film Competition, as well as brought all the glamour and excitement of Indian cinema’s most talked about talent to Melbourne at its red-carpet event, the ANZ Plus IFFM Awards night.

The closing night was a star-studded extravaganza, as Indian and Australian crowd gathered to witness the culmination of this cinematic celebration.

Actors Sunny Leone, Anurag Kashyap and Rahul Bhat brought down the 14th edition of International Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) with their film ‘Kennedy’, which premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

At the closing night, Sunny expressed: “First of all I’m grateful to be here. It really means a lot when we can present films to every community and Melbourne is one very important stop for us for Kennedy. And we are so proud to be part of IFFM and for creating this platform.”

The lead pair of the film Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhat, of ‘Kennedy’, took centre stage with their exceptional performance, captivating the audience both on and off the screen.

Kennedy follows the enthralling tale of a long-thought-to-be-dead, insomniac ex-cop, who finds himself entangled in a corrupt system while seeking redemption. Alongside Anurag, the incredibly talented lead cast of Kennedy, shared their experiences in the making of the film and insights into their roles, in an exclusive in conversation session with the audience.

That is not all! This year, the festival welcomed a new addition to its esteemed jury panel, the Oscar-winning Australian filmmaker Bruce Beresford, renowned for directing acclaimed films such as “Driving Miss Daisy” and “The Contract.”

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has consistently pushed boundaries and showcased the best of Indian cinema to a global audience. With the support of its dedicated jury and industry professionals, the festival continues to champion innovation, creativity, and cultural diversity and inclusivity.