Cinema VinesThe 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) concluded its 2026 awards ceremony, celebrating a broad spectrum of Indian cinema from feature films to streaming series, independent projects, and documentaries. Held in Melbourne, the festival highlighted the growing reach of Indian storytelling abroad, showcasing works that span mainstream, indie, and documentary formats.
Rishab Shetty emerged as Best Director for his film Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1, while Dulquer Salmaan took home Best Actor for Kaantha and Kirti Kulhari was honored as Best Actress for her performance in Full Plate. The Best Film award went to Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, with a Special Mention for The Great Shamshuddin Family. Independent filmmaking was recognized with Best Indie Film awarded to Rima Das’s Not a Hero, and a Special Mention for Kikkran De Phull (Flowers of Acacia).
The festival also celebrated veteran talent and milestone achievements. Rekha received the Excellence in Cinema award, acknowledging her enduring impact on the industry. Rani Mukerji was honored for completing 30 years in cinema, a milestone highlighted by her own reflection: “My films, my characters and my voice have travelled so far from home.” Additionally, Rishab Shetty was named Leadership in Cinema, and Pankaj Tripathi earned the Artist of Distinction title.
Other notable awards included Best Film from the Subcontinent for No Good Men by Shahrbanoo Sadat, Best Documentary Film for Flying Tigers directed by Madhushree Dutta, and the People’s Choice Award for Saiyaara. The Equality in Cinema Award was presented by La Trobe to Sitaare Zameen Par, with a Special Mention for Simran Mangeshkar’s work on the same film. The Rainbow Storyteller Award went to Lala and Poppy.
In the short film categories, the Australian competition winner was The Weight of Soil, while the Indian competition was won by Jo’s Turn. Television series accolades included Best Actor (Series) for Vijay Varma in Matka King and Best Actress (Series) for Rasika Dugal in Delhi Crime 3. The Best Series award went to Season 2 of Freedom At Midnight.
