Our Bureau
Melbourne
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2024 has been celebrating its 15th edition, showcasing a glittering trail of accolades and heartfelt tribute to cinema in its wake.
The festival, which runs from August 15 to 25, celebrated the ‘creme de la creme’ of Indian cinema with a dazzling array of awards.
Filmmaker Kabir Khan took the spotlight as he claimed the Best Director award for his film ‘Chandu Champion’.
Khan emphasized the significance of receiving recognition from an international jury, stating, “To get recognition of your film from them just feels special.”
He expressed gratitude for the award, underscoring that it validated the heartfelt efforts behind ‘Chandu Champion’.
Kartik Aaryan, who won the Best Actor award for his role in ‘Chandu Champion’, also shared his sentiments.
“I think this is a big honour,” Aaryan said adding, “This is my first award for Chandu Champion and I hope this journey continues.”
The Best Actress award went to ‘Parvathy Thiruvothu’ for her performance in ‘Ullozhukku (Undercurrent)’.
Parvathy revealed her plans to celebrate with family, saying, “I’m going to go home to my mom and dad and give them this award.”
‘Imtiaz Ali’ was honoured with the Breakout Film of the Year award for ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’.
He expressed his gratitude, stating, “It’s just recognition for what Amar Singh Chamkila stood for and what he went through in his life.”
Director Shoojit Sircar also praised the festival for its role in bridging global audiences with Indian cinema, stating, “It definitely gives us a lot many eyeballs and also the kind of cinema that we are doing.”
With a host of awards recognizing talent across various categories, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024 has underscored the vibrant and evolving landscape of Indian cinema.
The list of the winners is given below:
Best Performance (Male): Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion
Best Performance (Female): Parvathy Thiruvothu for Ullozhukku
Best Film: 12th Fail
Best Director: Kabir Khan for Chandu Champion and Nithilan Swaminathan for Maharaja
Best Performer Critics Choice: Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail
Ambassador for Indian Art and Culture: Ram Charan
Best Film Critics Choice: Laapataa Ladies
Best Series: Kohhra
Equality in Cinema: Dunki
Best Film from the Subcontinent: The Red Suitcase
People’s Choice: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Excellence in Cinema: AR Rahman
Breakout Film Of The Year: Amar Singh Chamkila
Disruptor of the Year: Adarsh Gourav
Diversity Champion: Rasika Dugal
Best Performance Female Series: Nimisha Sajayan for Poacher
Best Performance Male Series: Arjun Mathur for Made in Heaven Season 2
Best Director Critics Choice: Dominic Sangma for Rapture
Short Film Competition: Robbie Fatt for The Vegemite Sandwich
