The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is returning for its 17th edition this August, but festival celebrations will begin early with a special event marking 25 years of the acclaimed film Lagaan.
Actor and producer Aamir Khan will attend a special anniversary screening of the Academy Award nominated classic at ACMI on July 9, officially launching this year’s festival ahead of its full program.
Released in 2001, Lagaan remains one of the most celebrated films in Indian cinema. It was only the second Indian film to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and continues to be recognised as a landmark production more than two decades later.
Running from August 13 to 23, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is the largest celebration of Indian cinema outside India. Supported by the Victorian Government, the festival has become a major cultural event, showcasing acclaimed films while bringing together leading actors, filmmakers and industry figures from across the globe.
Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said: “The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has always celebrated stories that have made a lasting impact on audiences, and there is no better way to begin our 17th edition than by celebrating 25 years of ‘Lagaan’.”
“The film is a milestone in Indian cinema and continues to inspire generations of filmmakers and audiences around the world. We are delighted to welcome Aamir Khan to Melbourne for this special celebration and look forward to presenting another memorable edition of the festival that brings together the very best of Indian cinema.”
This year’s festival will once again feature an extensive program of screenings, premieres, conversations, masterclasses and cultural events, with the full lineup to be unveiled on 14 July.
Book tickets for the Lagaan 25th anniversary screening with Aamir Khan here .
