IFFM 2020- a mind-blowing experience

Besides going online, the Indian Film Festival Melbourne (IFFM) 2020 has again raised the bar this year by offering diverse and fresh content with great entertainment value. It was a fabulous viewing experience for the Indian film lovers of Australia and that too from the privacy of their homes and for free to enjoy.

In COVID times it has forced all of us to up our game. Melbourne was facing its toughest lockdown, and ‘hope’ seems to be on everyone’s mind. But, then the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne happened and the welcoming news- ease of restrictions. Thanks to IFFM and Mind-Blowing Films Team for saving the rest of 2020.

The film festival went online from the 23rd Oct – 30th Oct. Festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange, proudly not only brought 60 films in 17 languages including 34 International Premieres and 56 Australian Premieres, but also supports the Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA). IFFM encourages festival participants to donate to MHFA when booking.

Film lovers across Australia have enthusiastically embraced this year’s online presentation of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne with over 22,000 film views achieved in just the opening weekend. The festival closed with the closing night South Indian Malayalam film ‘MOOTHON ‘(The Elder One) available to stream from 6 pm 29th October till midnight on 30th October.

Another highlight of the closing night is the announcement of the 2020 Short Film Competition winner. The announcement will be made in an online event in partnership with Mental Health Foundation Australia. ‘Together’ is the theme of the 2020 IFFM Short Film Festival Competition which this year received a remarkable and unprecedented 3000+ entries indicating people’s creativity during the lockdown.

South Indian Malayalam film ‘MOOTHON closed the IFFM

The winning film is being judged by Varun Sharma, the Festival’s 2011 Short Film Competition winner who is making his directorial debut this year with a Bollywood mainstream film, starring Rani Mukherji and Saif Ali Khan, produced by Yash Raj Studios. Proudly supported by Film Victoria, it has been such a joy to view some unique films that we could ponder over. Thank you IFFM for bringing the community closer, giving us the future of Indian cinema with such promising talents and stories.