IFFM 2026 Opens In Melbourne With Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma

The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) opened in Melbourne on Thursday, bringing together leading names from Indian cinema, including Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan and Vijay Varma. The festival will run from August 13 to 23 and will celebrate films, filmmakers and stories from across India.

The opening event was also attended by actor Manushi Chhillar, singer Nikhita Gandhi, filmmaker Nikkhil Advani, R S Prasanna, Tamil director R Gowtham and filmmaker and fashion designer Vikram Phadnis. Kaizad Gustad was present with the cast of his Hindi film Lala and Poppy.

Rishab Shetty, who became a global name with Kantara, is among the festival's major guests. He will receive the Leadership in Cinema Award for his work as an actor, writer and filmmaker and for taking stories rooted in the folklore and traditions of coastal Karnataka to audiences around the world.

“They invited me to represent Kannada cinema, and I’m very proud of it. To see Kannada cinema get such recognition on an international stage is simply marvelous,” Shetty said.

Dulquer Salmaan attended the festival with his film Lokah, which blends Kerala folklore with a superhero story. “It’s my first time in Australia. I’m glad that it starts with the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne,” he said, adding that he was happy to see how far the film had travelled.

The festival's 2026 awards have nominations across several Indian languages and include both theatrical films and streaming titles. Shetty's Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 is in the Best Film race, while Shetty has also been nominated for Best Actor.

A major highlight will be veteran actor Rekha, who will attend as Guest of Honour and receive the Excellence in Cinema Award. IFFM will also screen her 1981 classic Umrao Jaan, directed by Muzaffar Ali. The film completed 45 years this year. Rekha is also scheduled to hoist the Indian flag in Melbourne on Independence Day.

The festival will feature film premieres, screenings, panel discussions, masterclasses and the annual IFFM Awards, continuing its focus on the reach and diversity of Indian cinema.