The
15th
Indian
Film
Festival
Melbourne
has
just
been
announced
by
the
Governor
of
Victoria,
Her
Excellency
Professor,
the
Honourable
Margaret
Gardner
AC,
at
an
IFFM
industry
event
held
in
Mumbai.
In
attendance
was
Mitu
Bhowmick
Lange
AM,
IFFM
Festival
Director,
along
with
various
leading
films
makers,
studio
heads,
stars
and
stakeholders
of
the
Indian
film
industry.
The
evening
marked
a
pivotal
moment
for
IFFM
as
it
unveiled
plans
for
its
landmark
15th-year
celebrations,
set
to
unfold
in
August
2024.
IFFM
2024
will
open
on
August
15,
and
will
feature
all
the
festival
favourites
including
the
Indian
Independence
Day
Celebrations
(flag
hoisting),
IFFM
Awards
night,
IFFM
Dance
Competition
and
IFFM
Closing
Night.
This
year
the
festival
is
also
excited
to
announce
a
new
festival
initiative
called
IFFM
Baari,
which
means
"House" in
Bengali.
IFFM
Baari
will
be
an
inclusive
space
for
founders
and
leaders
from
diverse
creative
industries
to
engage
with
emerging
creative
voices
especially
from
the
south
Asian
communities.
The
IFFM
Baari
will
be
a
hub
to
support,
empower
and
grow
exciting
and
diverse
creative
narratives,
with
a
variety
of
events,
including
a
keynote
speaker,
panel
discussions,
networking
events
and
comedy.
Also
at
the
event,
celebrated
Indian
actress,
Shabana
Azmi
was
given
the
IFFM
Excellence
Award,
which
was
confirmed
for
the
2023
festival,
but
Azmi
was
unable
to
accept
the
award
at
the
time.
Renowned
for
her
powerful
and
versatile
performances
in
Indian
cinema,
Azmi
has
received
multiple
accolades
including
five
National
Film
Awards
during
her
four-decade
career.
Speaking
of
the
event
and
the
developments,
the
governor
said,
"Founded
in
2010,
the
Indian
Film
Festival
of
Melbourne
brings
Victorians
together
to
experience
the
best
of
Indian
Filmmaking,
including
the
recent
screen
initiative,
known
as
'My
Melbourne.'
This
project
has
seen
the
Festival
partner
with
renowned
Indian
filmmakers
to
create
films
reflecting
the
lived
experience
of
the
Indian
Diaspora
in
Melbourne
and
highlight
the
diversity
of
those
experiences.
We
are
indeed
fortunate
to
have
this
rich
cultural
event
in
Victoria.
"
Shabana
Azmi
expressed
of
the
honour,
"I
am
so
grateful
I
was
here
amongst
this
small
yet
important
gathering
of
my
peers
from
the
industry.
I
always
believe
it's
the
actors
who
get
all
the
honours
and
attention,
but
I
truly
believe
that
actors
and
films
are
a
result
of
all
the
teams
behind
the
camera."
"I
am
thankful
to
every
technician,
spot
boy,
light
guy,
everyone
who
deserve
to
be
celebrated.
I'm
grateful
to
the
Governor,
the
Government
of
Victoria
and
IFFM
to
honour
me
with
the
Excellence
in
Cinema
Award".
Bhowmick
Lange
said
at
the
event:
"IFFM
Baari
is
a
very
positive
step
towards
creating
a
home
for
the
creative
minds
in
the
entertainment
industry
especially
from
more
marginalised
communities.
It
opens
doors
for
collaboration,
propelling
Indian
cinema
into
the
Australian
market
and
reinforcing
the
deep
cultural
ties
between
the
two
nations.
As
we
celebrate
15
years
of
IFFM
as
a
groundbreaking
festival,
Baari
marks
a
new
chapter
in
our
journey."
This
year
will
premiere
My
Melbourne.
Set
in
Melbourne
with
a
local
cast
and
crew,
mentored
by
four
of
the
world's
best
film
makers
-
Rima
Das,
Kabir
Khan,
Imtiaz
and
Onir,
My
Melbourne
is
a
ground-breaking
format
with
four
relevant
and
timely
stories
celebrates
diversity
with
new
films
celebrating
the
LGBTQAI+
community,
disability,
race
and
gender.
Working
with
the
motto
"a
film
with
you,
about
you,
and
for
you" the
film
series
aims
to
authentically
reflect
the
lived
experiences
and
heartfelt
stories
of
the
community,
drawing
inspiration
directly
from
their
unique
narratives.
My
Melbourne
is
a
collaboration
with
Vic
Screen
and
Screen
Australia.