Every August, Melbourne transforms into a vibrant, living festival of cinema, and not just any cinema. The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) has grown into a lively hub for cultural exchange of Indian cinema, bringing the heart, soul, and stories of India to Australian shores.
Bridging Two Worlds with Film
In Melbourne, IFFM isn't just a movie fest, it's a Melbourne Indian cultural event in its own right. There’s the Indian flag raised with pride, Bollywood dance competitions at Federation Square, and starry red carpets filled with Indian and Australian talent alike. It honors traditions like flag-hoisting on India's Independence Day (Aamir Khan will do the honors in 2025), and also throws open its doors to dialogue and performance.
But more than spectacle, the festival fosters something deeper: IFFM cultural ties that run between Melbourne's multicultural communities and the broader Indian diaspora. It's about shared histories, shared identities, and shared art forming a bond beyond mere ticket sales.
Films as Conversation
IFFM frames films as conversations. That's literal in the panel discussions, think East meets West talks with actors like Ali Fazal and Freida Pinto, or masterclasses led by the likes of Onir, Rima Das, Imtiaz Ali, and Kabir Khan live in front of Melbourne audiences. It's more than a celebrity; it's an opportunity for cultural exchange, Indian cinema in real time.
An especially iconic moment was the anthology My Melbourne: four Indian directors telling stories of identity, race, disability, sexuality, and belonging in modern Melbourne. It premiered at IFFM before releasing across Australia and India, a perfect example of cinema that bridges cultures, not just screens.
Honouring Heritage and Breaking Ground
IFFM doesn't turn away from history; it embraces it. In 2025, the festival will pay tribute to the centenary of Guru Dutt, with restored classics screened for new audiences, reminding viewers of Indian cinema's rich legacy. At the same time, it's spotlighting reclaimed queer history: Badnam Basti, India's first-ever LGBTQ-themed film, has been restored and chosen to lead the festival's lineup in 2025. Through this duality, IFFM nurtures IFFM cultural ties-linking past and future, tradition and progress.
Why It Matters
For Melbourne: IFFM is a fixture in the cultural calendar, a Melbourne Indian cultural event that helps shape the city’s identity as a global crossroads.
For Indian cinema: It offers exposure far beyond Mumbai or Delhi. The stories shown here across more than 75 films in over 30 languages in 2025 reach diverse audiences across regional Victoria, building fresh fandom and sympathy.
For cultural diplomacy: It's a form of soft power, a real handshake between Australia and India. The festival is officially supported by the Victorian government, strengthening ties between the two nations through shared narrative experiences.
Pulling It All Together
IFFM does way more than screen films; it creates a living, breathing space of cultural exchange in Indian cinema, where audiences from Melbourne and India meet in stories, identities, and emotions. It's a Melbourne Indian cultural event designed not just for spectators, but participants. And by constantly weaving IFFM cultural ties through retrospectives, short films, community days, and creative collaborations, it turns cinema into something that spans oceans, generations, and hearts.
