The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) has revealed its biggest and most diverse program yet, with more than 130 films in 38 languages set to screen across Melbourne and regional Victoria from 13 to 23 August 2026.
Now in its 17th year, the Victorian Government-backed festival remains the largest celebration of Indian cinema outside India, showcasing a mix of award-winning films, independent productions, regional stories and world premieres. Many of this year’s films will be screening in Australia for the first time.
IFFM Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said the 2026 program highlights the breadth of contemporary Indian and South Asian storytelling.
“At IFFM we always believe that great storytelling transcends language, geography and identity. This year’s films reflect the incredible creative diversity shaping Indian cinema today from women filmmakers breaking new ground to powerful women-led narratives, queer stories that deserve to be seen and celebrated, and films representing the rich linguistic tapestry of our region.”
The festival opens on 14 August with the Australian premiere of the Tamil drama Members of the Problematic Family at HOYTS District Docklands, before closing on 23 August with the world premiere of Melbourne-shot short Graveyard Shift and the feature film Full Plate, with director Tannishtha Chatterjee and actor Kirti Kulhari attending.
One of the festival’s biggest drawcards will be acclaimed Bollywood star Rani Mukerji, who will visit Melbourne as the festival’s official Chief Guest. During her stay she will receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters from La Trobe University and appear in a special In Conversation event at Federation Square.
Special events include the annual Independence Day Flag Hoisting Ceremony, the Remitly IFFM Dance Competition, IFFM Pride Day and Cinema From The Margins, while IFFM Regional Rhapsody will bring selected screenings to Geelong, Bendigo and Shepparton.
Tickets and the full program are available at https://iffm.com.au.
