The 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2024 opened its grand doors with a view to honoring outstanding talents and remarkable films from the Indian film industry. This time, the award function took place at the iconic Palais Theatre in Melbourne. It honored the best of films and OTT content. A step into the highlights of this very prestigious event.
Best Film: "12th Fail"
Vikrant Massey-starrer “12th Fail” won the Best Film award, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. He succeeded in drawing the attention of audiences through its strong storyline.
Best Actor: Kartik Aaryan
Best Actor was taken home by Kartik Aaryan for his role as Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist in the sports drama “Chandu Champion”. His performance relayed very strongly across audiences, showing resilience and determination.
Recent Posts
Best Actress: Parvathy Thiruvothu
It was Parvathy Thiruvothu who took home Best Actress for her powerful role in the Malayalam-language drama “Ullozhukku.” Her nuanced performance made an everlasting impression in viewers’ minds.
Best Director: Kabir Khan and Nithilan Swaminathan
Filmmaker Kabir Khan was declared the winner of Best Director along with Nithilan Swaminathan. Khan worked on “Chandu Champion”, while Swaminathan was behind Vijay Sethupathi’s Tamil action-thriller “Maharaja,” which is at times commendable.
Best Film (Critics' Choice): "Laapata Ladies"
“Laapataa Ladies” by Kiran Rao won the award for most original story because of its new way of telling a story, which is different, unique in its approach and opinion.
Breakout Film of the Year: "Amar Singh Chamkila"
Breakout Film of the Year went to Imtiaz Ali’s “Amar Singh Chamkila.” The whole country loved this film starring Diljit Dosanjh as the protagonist, which looked into the life of the slain Punjabi musician.
Dunki” — the film by superstar Shah Rukh Khan, directed by Rajkumar Hirani — bagged the Equality in Cinema award. The comedy-drama is premised on the idea of illegal immigration and explores that through the lens of “Donkey Flight.”
Diversity Champion and Disruptor in Cinema
The Diversity Champion and Disruptor in Cinema were given to Rasika Dugal and Adarsh Gourav as their impactful contributions enriched Indian cinema.
Best Series: "Kohhra
The best series went to the crime thriller series “Kohhara” starring Survinder Vicky and Barun Sobti. With a nail-biting plot and fabulous performances, it reached out to audiences.
Series Performances of Excellence
– Best Actor was presented to Arjun Mathur for his work in “Made In Heaven Season 2.”
– Best Actress was awarded to Nimisha Sajayan for her role in “Poacher.”
Cinematic Achievements
The hero of “RRR,” Ram Charan, and music maestro AR Rahman have been given awards for their overwhelming contribution towards Indian cinema. The organizers also offered Ram Charan the opportunity to raise the flag of the Indian nation at Melbourne’s iconic Federation Square, underlining the universal acceptance of Indian culture and cinema.
A Bright Future
The IFFM, from August 15-25, celebrated the richness of Indian cinema through a diverse array of films. As Shah Rukh Khan said, it is really bright, particularly with new zeal from the young brigade that has taken Indian cinema to new heights.
Web Stories
