The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM 2026) announced its official award winners on Friday, celebrating dynamic talent and diverse storytelling across Indian cinema and the broader South Asian region. Held at the iconic Palais Theatre in St Kilda, Melbourne, the festival’s opening night awards ceremony brought together prominent actors, filmmakers, and industry leaders to honour standout achievements in mainstream cinema, streaming series, independent films, and documentaries.
Major Highlights and Top Honourees at IFFM 2026
The evening’s highest honours went to a mix of established stars, acclaimed directors, and cinematic legends. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra secured the award for Best Film, while Rishab Shetty won Best Director for Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 alongside the Leadership in Cinema award. Dulquer Salmaan bagged Best Actor for his performance in Kaantha, and Kirti Kulhari was awarded Best Actress for Full Plate.
In the OTT and series category, Vijay Varma took home Best Actor (Series) for Matka King, Rasika Dugal won Best Actress (Series) for Delhi Crime Season 3, and Freedom At Midnight Season 2 was declared Best Series. Special distinction awards were presented to veteran actor Rekha for Excellence in Cinema, Pankaj Tripathi as Artist of Distinction, and Rani Mukerji in recognition of her 30-year milestone in Indian cinema.
Complete List of IFFM 2026 Winners
Best Film: Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
Best Film (Special Mention): The Great Shamshuddin Family
Best Indie Film: Not a Hero – Rima Das
Special Mention (Indie Film): Kikkran De Phull (Flowers of Acacia)
Best Director: Rishab Shetty – Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1
Rishab Shetty Wins Best Director for ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’
Best Actor: Dulquer Salmaan – Kaantha
Dulquer Salmaan is IFFM 2026 Best Actor for ‘Kaantha’
Best Actress: Kirti Kulhari – Full Plate
Best Film from the Subcontinent: No Good Men – Shahrbanoo Sadat
Best Documentary Film: Flying Tigers – Madhushree Dutta
People’s Choice Award: Saiyaara
Equality in Cinema Award (Presented by La Trobe): Sitaare Zameen Par
Special Mention (Equality in Cinema): Simran Mangeshkar – Sitaare Zameen Par
Rainbow Storyteller Award: Lala and Poppy
Short Film Competition (Australia): The Weight of Soil
Short Film Competition (India): Jo’s Turn
Best Actor (Series): Vijay Varma – Matka King
Vijay Varma Wins Best Actor Male for ‘Matka King’
Best Actress (Series): Rasika Dugal – Delhi Crime Season 3
Best Series: Freedom At Midnight Season 2
Artiste of Distinction: Pankaj Tripathi
Special Recognition: 30 Years of Rani Mukerji
Leadership in Cinema: Rishab Shetty
Excellence in Cinema: Rekha
As one of the largest foreign festivals dedicated to South Asian cinema, IFFM continues to serve as a key bridge between the Australian audience and Indian filmmakers, showcasing the expanding footprint of Indian content on the global stage.