The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), recognized as the largest celebration of Indian cinema outside of India, has officially announced the dates for its 17th edition. The festival will take place from August 13th to 23rd, 2026. Before the main event, the festival organizers have planned a special curtain raiser to mark a special milestone: the 25th anniversary of the Academy Award-nominated classic, Lagaan.
On July 9, Aamir Khan will travel to Melbourne to attend a special screening of the film. This event, held at the iconic ACMI cinema, will serve as the official launch for this year’s festival celebrations. Lagaan remains one of the most significant films in Indian cinema history. It was only the second Indian film to secure an Academy Award nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category and maintains a strong legacy with global audiences today.
Since its inception, the IFFM has established itself as a major platform for Indian cinema on the international stage. Supported by the Government of Victoria, the festival has consistently hosted notable figures from the Indian film industry. Past guests have included stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, A.R. Rahman, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Ram Charan, Vijay Sethupathi, Vicky Kaushal, Vijay Varma, and Keerthy Suresh. The festival has also drawn prominent filmmakers, including Rajkumar Hirani, Shoojit Sircar, Anjali Menon, Ashwini Iyer Tiwari, Zoya Akhtar, Rima Das, Onir, and Kabir Khan.
On the upcoming festivities, Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange talked about the significance of honouring Lagaan. He said, “The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has always celebrated stories that have made a lasting impact on audiences, and there could not have been a 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.”
The 17th edition of the IFFM aims to connect filmmakers, actors, industry professionals, and audiences through a series of screenings, premieres, masterclasses, and various cultural events.
Also Read: 25 Years of Lagaan: When Javed Akhtar Called Lagaan’s Script Atrocious
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: filmfare.com
