From Bollywood to arthouse films, The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne celebrates India’s varied and exciting cinematic output through its 2016 theme Female Empowerment.

Melbourne, August 3: Join leading figures from the world’s biggest film industry and participate in a series of unmissable panel discussions, intimate In Conversation events, film introductions, Q& As, and performances throughout the festival which runs from 11 – 21 August at HOYTS Melbourne Central and HOYTS Highpoint.

Featuring films spanning Bollywood Box-Office hits to documentaries and arthouse festival favourites, this year’s festival explores the richness of contemporary cinema from India and the sub-continent, along with celebrating the bold filmmakers daring to challenge and push the envelope of the industry and society.

As part of this years focus on ‘Female Empowerment,’ IFFM presents new and classic films from India and abroad, along with a special selection of films, panels, roundtables and discussions dedicated to celebrating the vibrant female characters and filmmakers that populate this year’s festival.

It is a theme explored across a number of critically applauded and award winning features and documentaries featured in the program this year, including the opening and closing night films Parched and Angry Indian Goddesses.

As always, IFFM is proud to once again host the Westpac Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards, celebrating the best and brightest of Indian cinema on 12 August at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

A jury of leading Indian and Australian film industry figures including director Paul Ireland and talk show host Simi Garewal will honour winners across five categories on a night filled with glamour, incredible live music and dance.

The festival is delighted to share its exciting roster of bold filmmaking with some of India’s biggest stars as special guests for 2016. This incredible list includes Bollywood legend Rishi Kapoor who, after an incredible forty years in the industry, will be arriving in Melbourne to receive the Excellence in Cinema Award from this year’s Westpac IFFM Awards.

Other guests include director Leena Yadav, director of the opening night film, Parched, actress and feminist advocate Richa Chadha, dancer Malaika Arora Khan and singer-songwriter Sara Haider along with many more.

More than just film, IFFM 2016 hosts a number of special events throughout the festival to celebrate the rich Indian community that calls Melbourne home.

Beginning with the Indian Flag Hoisting Ceremony at Federation Square to commemorate Indian Independence Day and following on from there with the spectacular Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition featuring guest judges Malaika Arora Khan, Richa Chadha and Shakun Batra.

So join in with the IFFM team and experience the richness of Indian culture and cinema at IFFM 2016.

By K. Dev