It is a great honour to be IFFM's festival ambassador, a role which has allowed me to see, first hand, the way Melbourne's Indian and non-Indian communities come together. Not that I need an excuse to visit this wonderful city but the work that Mitu, her team and the City of Melbourne put into making this special event increasingly visible continues to inspire me.

I hope that you too will be inspired by the many highlights that this year's schedule contains. Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker, dancer or simply love watching great cinema, IFFM 2015 has plenty to offer. Classic and contemporary films from across India, and even further afield, will show you how diverse Indian cinema really is, while the many live events and competitions provide a stage on which to share the many talents of Indians and Australians alike. 

I am particularly excited that IFFM will be raising funds for the Royal Children's Hospital with a special fashion event, yet another example of how the festival reaches far beyond stage and screen for the city that has given us so much.

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supports this fabulous festival. I can’t wait for an encore!