IFFM 2026 Winners: Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Rekha, Rani Mukerji Take Top Honours
Rekha received the Excellence in Cinema award, Rani Mukerji was marked for 30 years in film, and Rishab Shetty won Best Director and a leadership honour.
- The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne announced its 2026 winners, celebrating a diverse array of Indian cinema, performances, and storytellers from across the subcontinent.
- Highlighting the range of Indian storytelling, the 2026 edition brought together mainstream films, independent cinema, documentaries, short films, and streaming projects to foster cultural exchange between India and Australia.
- Veteran actress Rekha received the Excellence in Cinema award, while Pankaj Tripathi earned the Artist of Distinction honor; the festival also celebrated Rani Mukerji for completing 30 years in the film industry.
- Malayalam film Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra won Best Film, and Freedom At Midnight, Season 2 took Best Series; Rishab Shetty secured Best Director and the Leadership in Cinema award for his storytelling.
- Dulquer Salmaan and Vijay Varma also received top acting honors. Reflecting on her career milestone, Mukerji said, "My films, my characters and my voice have travelled so far from home.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Rani Mukerji became emotional as she was honored with a special award for her outstanding acting work at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).
IFFM 2026 announces award winners: Dulquer Salmaan wins Best Actor, Rishab Shetty adjudged Best Director
The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026 announced its list of winners recently. Dulquer Salmaan grabbed the award for Best Actor for his performance in the film, Kaantha, while Kirti Kulhari took home Best Actress for her performance in Full Plate.
IFFM 2026 Winners: Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, and Rani Mukerji Take Home Top Honours, Full List Inside | 🎥 LatestLY
The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM 2026) celebrated excellence across South Asian cinema at Melbourne's Palais Theatre, crowning 'Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra' as Best Film alongside top acting wins for Dulquer Salmaan ('Kaantha') and Kirti Kulhari ('Full Plate'). 🎥 IFFM 2026 Winners: Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, and Rani Mukerji Take Home Top Honours, Full List Inside.
'The Deva helped us reach this point': Rishab Shetty wins two major IFFM 2026 honours for 'Kantara'
At the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2026, Rishab Shetty garnered two prestigious awards: Best Director and the Leadership in Cinema Award for his acclaimed film. In his acceptance speech, he reflected on the challenging and adventurous path of creating Kantara. This accolade underscores his rising prominence on the international stage and showcases his distinctive storytelling that delves into culturally enriched Indian narratives.
IFFM 2026 winners out; Rishab Shetty, Dulquer among top honours, Rekha receives 'Excellence in Cinema' honour
IFFM 2026 winners have been announced, with Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan and others taking home honours. Rekha and Rani Mukerji also received special recognition at the prestigious festival.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
