MELBOURNE: The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) has officially announced the nominations for its 16th edition, returning from August 14 to 24, 2025. Backed by the Victorian Government, IFFM continues to be the largest celebration of Indian cinema outside the subcontinent—offering a vibrant platform for artistic exchange between Indian and Australian cultures.
The 2025 nominations reflect an extraordinary spectrum of storytelling, recognising the depth, diversity, and innovation of Indian filmmakers across languages, regions, and formats. From critically acclaimed blockbusters and groundbreaking indie films to powerful OTT series, this year’s selections highlight the evolving voice of Indian cinema and its growing global resonance.
Among the most nominated titles are Homebound, Village Rockstars 2, Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox), and Stree 2 in the feature film category, while Paatal Lok, Black Warrant, and Manorathangal lead the OTT nominations. Notably, this year’s selection window considered works released between June 15, 2024, and June 14, 2025, with OTT nominations restricted to platforms accessible in Australia.
Winners across film and streaming categories will be revealed at the NAB IFFM Awards Night, taking place on August 15 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. This prestigious evening will bring together luminaries from both Indian and Australian creative industries to celebrate cinematic excellence and cultural impact.
The jury for IFFM 2025 includes prominent figures from Australia’s arts and screen community, including Garth Davis (Lion) and Nadia Tass, whose experience brings rigour and insight to the selection process.
As the festival continues to grow, IFFM remains committed to fostering cultural exchange and spotlighting the extraordinary talent that defines contemporary Indian cinema.
For full nomination listings and festival information, please visit: www.iffm.com.au
Best Film
- Homebound
- Kalki 2898 AD
- L2: Empuraan
- Maharaj
- Meiyazhagan
- Stree 2
- Superboys of Malegaon
Best Indie Film
- Angammal
- Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox)
- Boong
- Feminichi Fathima (Feminist Fathima)
- Humans in the Loop
- Village Rockstars 2
- We Are Faheem and Karun
Best Actor (Male)
- Abhishek Bachchan – I Want to Talk
- Adarsh Gourav – Superboys of Malegaon
- Gugun Kipgen – Boong
- Ishaan Khatter – Homebound
- Junaid Khan – Maharaj
- Manoj Bajpayee – The Fable
- Mohanlal – L2: Empuraan
- Vishal Jethwa – Homebound
Best Actor (Female)
- Anjali Sivaraman – Bad Girl
- Bhanita Das – Village Rockstars 2
- Geetha Kailasam – Angammal
- Kareena Kapoor Khan – The Buckingham Murders
- Shamla Hamza – Feminichi Fathima (Feminist Fathima)
- Sharmila Tagore – Puratawn
- Shraddha Kapoor – Stree 2
- Tillotama Shome – Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox)
Best Director
- Aranya Sahay – Humans in the Loop
- Lakshmipriya Devi – Boong
- Neeraj Ghaywan – Homebound
- Onir – We Are Faheem and Karun
- Reema Kagti – Superboys of Malegaon
- Rima Das – Village Rockstars 2
- Varsha Bharath – Bad Girls
- Vipin Radhakrishnan – Angammal
Best Web Series
- Black Warrant
- Gyaarah Gyaarah
- Kahuf
- Kota Factory Season 3
- Manorathangal
- Paatal Lok Season 2
- Thallivattam Palayam
- Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper
Best Actor (Female) – Web Series
- Ananya Pandey – Call Me Bae
- Monika Panwar – Khauf
- Nimisha Sajayan – Dabba Cartel
- Parvathy Thiruvothu – Manorathangal
- Rasika Dugal – Mirzapur 3
- Shabana Azmi – Dabba Cartel
- Tillotama Shome – Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper
Best Actor (Male) – Web Series
- Abhishek Kumar – Thalaivettiyaan Paalayam
- Ali Fazal – Mirzapur Season 3
- Jaideep Ahlawat – Paatal Lok Season 2
- Jitendra Kumar – Kota Factory Season 3
- Mammootty – Manorathangal
- Manav Kaul – Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper
- Zahaan Kapoor – Black Warrant
For full nomination listings and festival information, please visit: www.iffm.com.au
