| Message from IFFM Festival Director |
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Welcome to the third Indian Film Festival of
Melbourne, already the biggest event of its kind
in the southern hemisphere.
This past year has been extraordinary for Indian film
down under, culminating in the success of Dhoom 3,
Australia's highest-grossing movie per screen on
Christmas day. Increasingly, Melbourne's second
generation Indians have introduced their mates and
partners to the wild ways of Bollywood, offering
a refreshing alternative to Hollywood's superhero
movies and rom-coms.
With that in mind we are proud to bring you another
fantastic program that showcases the best of Indian cinema in all its diversity,
from Mumbai's Bollywood commercial output to more boundary-pushing
regional affairs, including India's sub-continental neighbours. |
In recognition of Australia's burgeoning love affair with Indian film, we are
thrilled to honour its best and brightest at the inaugural IFFM Awards.
It won't be an easy task to whittle down favourites, but with the help of an
amazing jury (and IFFM's passionate audiences) we hope these awards will
become a regular stop for India's most talented filmmakers.
Even the biggest filmmakers take a while to catch their big break; the Western
Union Short Film Competition provides a platform to do just that. From
receiving development funding from Film Victoria, to assisting with major
commercial features, the success of previous finalists has proven that this
competition really opens doors for new voices.
We continue our series of fascinating Masterclasses with a who's who of the
Indian media landscape, all sharing their insights and experiences with Victorian
filmmakers, students and fans. Melbourne's best movers will have the chance to
show some formidable judges what they've got at the fiercely contested Telstra
Bollywood Dance Competition in Federation Square.
So why not introduce yourself or a friend, or both, to the incredibly vibrant,
always surprising world of Indian cinema at the best possible place… on the
big screen.
Mitu Bhowmick Lange, IFFM Festival Director |
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From the Premier and Minister
Festival Director
FESTIVAL AMBASSADOR
