Pranav Birje | Senior Correspondent
The 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2024 officially kicked off with great fanfare, marking the start of a 11 days of celebration of Indian cinema and culture in Australia. The event was inaugurated with an official press conference attended by an illustrious lineup of stars and filmmakers, including heartthrob Kartik Aaryan, acclaimed filmmakers Imtiaz Ali, Karan Johar, Kabir Khan, Shoojit Sircar, Rima Das and other guests in doing Adarsh Gourav, Lakshya, Sona Mohapatra.
The festival was officially kicked off with keynote words by Caroline Pitcher from VicScreen as well as festival director and founder Mitu Bhowmik Lange.
Scheduled to take place from August 15 to August 25, 2024, in Melbourne, the festival will celebrate the diversity of Indian cinema with screenings across various Indian languages, as well as cultural programs that highlight the rich heritage shared by the two countries.
Speaking at the press conference, Mitu Bhowmik Lange, the festival’s director and founder, expressed her excitement about this year’s edition: “It fills me with immense pride and joy to see the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne grow into such a grand celebration of Indian cinema and culture. This year, as we mark the 15th edition of the festival, we are thrilled to bring together some of the most respected names in Indian cinema to Melbourne. The festival has always been about building bridges between cultures, and it’s heartwarming to see the support we have received from both the Indian film fraternity and the Victorian Government.”
Karan Johar added, “I’m extremely excited about watching the opening night film. What sets IFFM part from other festivals is its true standing for diversity. It’s one of those festivals that truly champions inclusivity in every regard”.
Kartik Aaryan said, “This is my second time at IFFM. Really looking forward to the festival this year. And also excited to see the films that are part of the festival this year”.
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024 promises to be a vibrant celebration of storytelling, cultural exchange, and artistic collaboration, featuring a packed schedule of film screenings, panel discussions and several other special events.
