IFFM 2026 begins; Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Verma, Rishab Shetty attend opening ceremony
Melbourne, August 13
The 17th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has officially begun, with a press conference held on Thursday in the presence of several prominent members of the Indian film industry, including Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma and Rishab Shetty.
The gathering also saw the presence of acclaimed filmmakers Nikkhil Advani, Vikram Phadnis, R. Gowtham, Kaizad Gustad and RS Prasanna, along with the cast of Lala and Poppy.
The artistes and filmmakers came together to speak about their work, their association with IFFM, the changing landscape of Indian cinema and the growing international interest in Indian stories. The diverse line-up of talent also reflected IFFM's continued focus on bringing together voices from across India's many film industries and creative disciplines.
Rishab Shetty spoke about the growing global recognition of Indian cinema and the significance of platforms such as IFFM in taking Indian stories and regional voices to audiences across the world.
Rishab Shetty said, "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."
Dulquer Salmaan shared his thoughts on the changing landscape of Indian cinema and the growing appreciation for Indian films and artistes among international audiences.
Dulquer Salmaan said, "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."
Legendary Rekha will also attend the film festival.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Rishab Shetty's words hit home. He's taking Kannada cinema global with such pride. IFFM is such a wonderful bridge between our stories and the world. Wish I could be there!
As an Australian, it's heartening to see such vibrant cultural exchange. The Indian film industry's growth in global markets like ours is impressive. Looking forward to catching some of these films at the festival! 🇮🇳🇦🇺
Incredible lineup! I'm particularly excited about Dulquer's 'Lokah'—blending Kerala folklore with a superhero concept is so bold. Also, Rekha ji attending is a massive bonus. What a time for Indian cinema!
Good to see regional cinema getting its due. But I wonder if Bollywood still overshadows others in such events. Hope IFFM truly represents all industries equally. That said, wish all participants a great festival! 🎬
This is what soft power looks like—bringing diverse cultures together through storytelling. And having legends like Rekha ji at IFFM is a fantastic nod to the past and future of Indian cinema. Bravo!
As someone from Melbourne, seeing IFF
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