The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) returns in 2026 for its 17th edition, bringing filmmakers, actors and movie audiences together in Melbourne for a celebration of Indian and South Asian cinema.
The festival is being held from 13 to 23 August 2026, with a program covering feature films and short films from a wide range of Indian languages. The selection reflects how varied Indian cinema has become, with stories coming from different regions, communities and filmmaking traditions.
Several major names from the Indian film industry are associated with this year’s festival, including Rekha, Rani Mukerji, Pankaj Tripathi, Dulquer Salmaan and Rishab Shetty. Their participation adds a strong star presence to an event that also gives space to emerging filmmakers and independent productions.
One of the notable attractions of the 2026 program is a celebration marking 25 years of Lagaan. The festival is also hosting its annual awards, special screenings, filmmaker discussions and cultural events alongside the main film program.
The new edition follows the 16th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in 2025, continuing the event’s long-running effort to introduce Indian stories to audiences outside India.
What makes IFFM particularly interesting is its emphasis on cinema beyond mainstream Bollywood. Regional-language productions, documentaries, short films and stories from communities that are less visible internationally form an important part of the festival.
For Melbourne’s large Indian and South Asian communities, the festival is also an opportunity to connect with familiar cultures and languages. At the same time, international audiences can discover different sides of Indian filmmaking that may not normally reach Australian screens.
With its mix of established stars, regional cinema, new filmmakers and cultural programming, the 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne offers audiences a broad look at where Indian cinema is heading in 2026.