The 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) will kick off with the screening of "My Melbourne," an anthology featuring short films by directors Kabir Khan, Imtiaz Ali, Onir, and Rima Das.
The festival, scheduled to take place in Melbourne from August 15 to 25, 2024, will present a diverse selection of films that capture the depth and diversity of Indian cinema.
"My Melbourne" is a collaborative project between India and Australia, supported by Vic Screen and Screen Australia, the screen agencies of the Victorian government.
This anthology film draws inspiration from real-life events and revolves around the city of Melbourne, with each short film delving into themes such as race, gender, sexuality, and disability.
The shorts include "Emma" by Das, "Jules" by Ali, "Nandini" by Onir and "Setara" by Khan.
Das, whose film is based on the theme of disability, said she has tried to keep it "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, especially from those living with disabilities," she added.
Ali said he was moved by the story of two very different yet displaced women in Melbourne.
"Bringing the film to life with the brightest and most diverse group of young, local minds turned out to be a huge learning experience for me. I could share my insights and test my ideas freely with the different creative voices that comprised the team, and all of us came out richer from the wonderful 'My Melbourne' experience. Hope you like our piece - 'Jules' in My Melbourne," he said.
Onir said, “My Melbourne" is a film that celebrates what Melbourne stands for.
"(It is) a space that embraces diversity and celebrates inclusion. The film captures this essence through various migrant experiences," he added.
Khan said his film explores the story of Setara, who escaped from Afghanistan to Melbourne.
"True stories portraying the triumph of the human spirit always appeal to 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," he said.
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