'My Melbourne' To Open IFFM 2024: A Testament To Diversity And Inclusion

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), the largest celebration of Indian cinema outside India, proudly announces "My Melbourne" as the opening night film for its 15th edition. The festival will run from August 15th to 25th, 2024, showcasing a diverse range of films that celebrate the rich tapestry of Indian cinema.

"My Melbourne," an official production supported by Vic Screen and Screen Australia, represents a groundbreaking Indo-Australian collaboration. This ambitious project unites four prolific Indian filmmakers—Kabir Khan, Imtiaz Ali, Onir, and Rima Das—in an anthology of short films centered around the vibrant city of Melbourne. Inspired by true incidents, each short film explores themes of race, gender, sexuality, and disability, reflecting the core values of diversity and inclusion that lie at the heart of both the festival and the city. The films include Emma by Rima Das, Jules by Imtiaz Ali, Nandini by Onir and Setara by Kabir Khan.

Mitu Bhowmick Lange, Festival Director of IFFM, expressed her excitement: "We are thrilled to open this year's festival with 'My Melbourne,' a film that truly encapsulates the essence of our festival's mission to celebrate diverse voices. This project is a testament to the power of storytelling in bridging cultures and fostering understanding."

Director Rima Das said, "It was a very emotional and uplifting experience, dealing with everything sensitively and trusting the process. The theme of our film is disability and we wanted to keep it very authentic and real. We worked with a mix of senior actors and relatively new actors, including members of the deaf community. I am happy with the outcome and look forward to seeing how the audience receives the film. I hope it initiates dialogue about how we can be more inclusive in all walks of life, including art and welcome diverse perspectives and narratives esp from those living with disabilities..Two of my films were screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. It was wonderful returning to Melbourne, shooting at the iconic locations and having Mitu as the Producer. My Melbourne is her brainchild and very special to her. The Producer, Mitu, the mentee director, Samira, the entire cast and crew from Australia worked together with me towards a common goal of making a very special film. My sincere gratitude to Vicscreen and Screen Australia for supporting this endeavour".

Kabir Khan added, "Hearing the story of Setara for the first time in 2021 immediately drew me in. True stories portraying the triumph of the human spirit always have a special appeal for me. Setara's unique escape from Afghanistan to Melbourne and her finding a sense of belonging through cricket made this a story I had to tell. Working with local emerging creatives and the wonderful girls' cricket teams of Melbourne made this an even more authentic and wonderful experience".

Unique Stories

Director Imtiaz Ali said he was moved by "the story of two very different yet displaced women in marvellous Melbourne." He found working with young local minds enriching: "To bring the film to life with bright and diverse young local minds turned out to be a huge learning experience for me." He shared insights freely within his team: "I could share my insights and test my ideas freely with different creative voices that comprised the team." He hopes audiences enjoy their piece titled Jules in My Melbourne.

Onir concluded by saying that "My Melbourne" celebrates what Melbourne stands for—a space embracing diversity and celebrating inclusion through various migrant experiences. He appreciated sharing cinematic language: "As a filmmaker too, it was about sharing cinematic language and culture." Working with an Australian cast was significant: "Being an Indian filmmaker working with an Australian cast and crew was enriching." Lastly, he felt personally connected: "Melbourne always made me feel that I belong and that I am loved."

The 15th annual IFFM promises to be a spectacular celebration of cinema, culture, and community. With "My Melbourne" setting the stage for this memorable festival.