2 weeks ago
IFFM 2026 Opens in Melbourne with Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan
A big movie festival in Melbourne, Australia, started on August 13.
It is called the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, and this year is its 17th edition.
Many famous actors and movie makers from India came to the opening event.
Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, and Vijay Varma were some of the actors there.
Rishab Shetty came to represent Kannada movies, which are made in the Kannada language in India.
He felt very proud that Kannada cinema is getting recognized around the world.
Dulquer Salmaan brought his movie Lokah, which mixes Kerala folklore with a superhero story.
It was his first time visiting Australia.
The festival will show movies, hold discussions, and give out awards until August 23.
A famous Hindi cinema star named Rekha will also receive an award at the festival.
The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) opened in Melbourne on August 13 with a star-studded press conference.
Attendees included Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma, Manushi Chhillar, singer Nikhita Gandhi and Dolly Singh.
Rishab Shetty, set to receive the Leadership in Cinema Award, called Kannada cinema's international recognition 'marvellous.'
Dulquer Salmaan, at his first Australian film festival, attended with his film 'Lokah,' which blends Kerala folklore with a superhero story.
Rekha will receive the Excellence in Cinema Award, and the festival, running through August 23, features premieres, panel discussions and masterclasses.
- Who
- Indian actors, filmmakers and artistes including Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma, Manushi Chhillar, Nikhita Gandhi, Dolly Singh, and filmmakers Nikkhil Advani, Vikram Phadnis, R. Gowtham, Kaizad Gustad and RS Prasanna
- What
- Opening press conference of the 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)
- Where
- Melbourne, Australia
- When
- August 13, 2026 (Thursday); festival runs through August 23
- Why
- To mark the beginning of the largest celebration of Indian cinema outside India, spotlighting the diversity, scale and global reach of Indian storytelling
Key facts
- Festival
- Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)
- Edition
- 17th
- Dates
- August 13-23
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- Leading actors
- Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma, Manushi Chhillar
- Rishab Shetty's award
- Leadership in Cinema Award
- Rekha's award
- Excellence in Cinema Award; her 1981 film 'Umrao Jaan' will be screened
- Dulquer Salmaan's film
- Lokah (Kerala folklore mixed with a superhero story)
Quotes
Dulquer Salmaan
Malayalam actor and producer
“"I feel proud to be here. They’ve invited me here to represent Kannada cinema, and I’m very proud of it. To see Kannada cinema get such recognition on an international stage is simply marvellous. To be with literally the entire Indian cinema representatives and so many people here from the Indian film industry. I wish all the best to all the filmmakers at the festival."”
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
“"It’s my first time here in Australia. I’m glad that the start is with the Indian film festival of Melbourne. I’m happy to be here with my film Lokah, celebrating Kerala’s folklore mixed with a superhero story. I’m the glad has traveled so much, more than we could have ever imagined."”
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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