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IFFM 2026 Awards: Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan lead winners
In Australia there is a big movie celebration called the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
Every year it gives awards to the best Indian movies and TV shows.
This year, the 17th time the festival was held, the awards were announced in August.
A movie called Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra won the prize for Best Film.
Rishab Shetty won two awards, one for directing Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1 and one for being a great leader in cinema.
Dulquer Salmaan won Best Actor for his movie Kaantha, and Kirti Kulhari won Best Actress for Full Plate.
TV shows got awards too, with Freedom at Midnight Season 2 winning Best Series.
Some very famous actors received special honour awards, including Rekha, Pankaj Tripathi and Rani Mukerji.
The festival helps people in Australia enjoy Indian movies and stories.
Rishab Shetty won Best Director for Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1 and also received the Leadership in Cinema award at IFFM.
Dulquer Salmaan won Best Actor for Kaantha, while Kirti Kulhari won Best Actress for Full Plate.
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra was named Best Film, and The Great Shamshuddin Family received a Special Mention.
Vijay Varma (Matka King) and Rasika Dugal (Delhi Crime 3) won Best Actor and Best Actress (Series), and Freedom at Midnight Season 2 won Best Series.
Rekha received the Excellence in Cinema award, Pankaj Tripathi the Artist of Distinction honour, and 30 years of Rani Mukerji's career were celebrated.
- Who
- The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), honouring winners including Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Kirti Kulhari, Vijay Varma, Rasika Dugal, Rekha and Pankaj Tripathi
- What
- Announced the winners of its 17th edition awards, with Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra named Best Film
- Where
- Melbourne, Australia
- When
- Thursday, August 13, 2026; the festival runs until August 23
- Why
- To celebrate cinematic excellence, diversity, equality and cultural exchange, connecting Australian audiences with Indian cinema
Key facts
- Festival
- Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)
- Edition
- 17th
- Dates
- August 13-23, 2026
- Best Film
- Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
- Best Director
- Rishab Shetty - Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1
- Best Actor
- Dulquer Salmaan - Kaantha
- Best Actress
- Kirti Kulhari - Full Plate
- Best Series
- Freedom at Midnight, Season 2
Sources
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