Creative expression is one of the best tools we have to gain and share an understanding of one another, and cinema remains one of its most accessible forms.

For seventeen years, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has provided a space for diverse voices to share their stories with audiences on our shores.

The longstanding success of this event is a reflection of the vibrancy and size of the Victorian-Indian community.

And it is also a reward for the investment in this cultural strength, and the result of welcoming the wider community to join in its celebration.

The 2026 theme of Shared Stories, Shared Humanity is a fitting nod to the approach that has made the Festival what it is today.

Congratulations to everyone involved in these films, thank you to those who bring them to our screens here in Melbourne, and best wishes to the audiences who will no doubt enjoy them throughout this Festival.

Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC
Governor of Victoria