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The 17th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) got underway on August 13 with a star-studded opening press conference that brought together some of the biggest names from across Indian cinema. Actors Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan and Vijay Varma were among those in attendance, alongside Manushi Chhillar, singer Nikhita Gandhi and Dolly Singh.
The gathering also saw filmmakers Nikkhil Advani, Vikram Phadnis, R. Gowtham, Kaizad Gustad and RS Prasanna in attendance, along with the cast of Lala and Poppy. The event set the tone for a festival that continues to position Indian cinema as a diverse, multilingual and increasingly global cultural force.
Rishab Shetty celebrates Kannada cinema on the global stage
For Rishab Shetty, the festival offered an opportunity to represent Kannada cinema at an international platform. The actor-filmmaker, whose work has helped bring stories rooted in Karnataka's folklore and traditions to audiences well beyond the region, spoke about the significance of seeing Kannada cinema receive recognition overseas.
"I feel proud to be here. They've invited me here to represent Kannada cinema, and I'm very proud of it. To see Kannada cinema get such recognition on an international stage is simply marvellous. To be with literally the entire Indian cinema representatives and so many people here from the Indian film industry. I wish all the best to all the filmmakers at the festival," Rishab Shetty said in a press statement.
His comments also reflected the larger spirit of IFFM, which has increasingly become a meeting point for talent from different Indian film industries. The festival's 2026 programme brings together films and artistes from multiple languages and regions, underlining the breadth of contemporary Indian storytelling.
Dulquer Salmaan brings Lokah to Melbourne
Dulquer Salmaan, meanwhile, is attending the festival in Australia for the first time. The actor spoke about beginning his Australian visit with IFFM and about Lokah, the Malayalam superhero film that draws from Kerala's folklore and mythology.
"It's my first time here in Australia. I'm glad that the start is with Indian film festival of Melbourne. I'm happy to be here with my film Lokah, celebrating Kerala's folklore mixed with a superhero story. I'm the glad has traveled so much, more than we could have ever imagined," Dulquer Salmaan said in a press statement.
With Rishab Shetty representing Kannada cinema and Dulquer bringing a Malayalam story shaped by Kerala's cultural traditions, the opening also highlighted one of IFFM's defining strengths: creating an international space where regional Indian stories can sit alongside mainstream Hindi cinema and find audiences beyond their original markets.
As the festival gets underway, its opening gathering offered a glimpse of the conversations and celebrations to come, with Indian cinema's diversity, new voices and expanding international footprint taking centre stage.
Also Read: Honoured to Receive Leadership in Cinema Award From IFFM: Rishab Shetty
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