The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM 2026) has announced its winners, with Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Kirti Kulhari, Vijay Varma and Rasika Dugal among the evening’s top honourees.

The 2026 edition of IFFM celebrated the growing global influence and diversity of Indian cinema, bringing together established voices, emerging filmmakers and stories spanning mainstream films, streaming, independent cinema, documentaries and shorts, while continuing to provide a global platform for Indian storytellers and fostering cinematic exchange between India and Australia.

Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra was named Best Film, while Rishab Shetty won Best Director for Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1 and was also honoured with the Leadership in Cinema award. Dulquer Salmaan won Best Actor for Kaantha, while Kirti Kulhari took home Best Actress for Full Plate.

Among the major honours, Rekha received the Excellence in Cinema award, while Pankaj Tripathi was named Artist of Distinction. Rani Mukerji was celebrated for 30 Years of her career.

In the streaming categories, Vijay Varma won Best Actor (Series) for Matka King, Rasika Dugal won Best Actress (Series) for Delhi Crime 3, and Freedom At Midnight Season 2 was named Best Series.

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

• Best Actor: Dulquer Salmaan – 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: 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

• Best Actress (Series): Rasika Dugal – Delhi Crime 3

• Best Series: Freedom At Midnight Season 2

• Artist of Distinction: Pankaj Tripathi

• Special Recognition: 30 Years of Rani Mukerji

• Leadership in Cinema: Rishab Shetty

• Excellence in Cinema: Rekha