Helmed by the Victorian government, Australia, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is coming back in 2019 and will be taking place in the cultural city between August 8 and 17. Attending the festival as chief guest is Bollywood’s biggest actor and superstar, Shah Rukh Khan.
The festival, in its 10 years of existence, has gone from being a grassroots festival to a government-supported one, and an awardee of several global accolades. In fact, it is now the biggest Indian film festival in the southern hemisphere. This year, the festival is set to celebrate the central theme of ‘courage’, which is engraved in the inclusivity and diversity of the Indian film business.
King Khan will be opening the festival on August 8 alongside the Premier of the Victoria province. He will also be accompanied by Mitu Bhowmick Lange, the director of the esteemed festival.
Speaking about his involvement with the festival, Shah Rukh says: “I’m honoured and delighted to accept the invitation from the Victorian government and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne to open their festival as their chief guest. An industry of our magnitude and diversity deserves to be celebrated with great passion and fervour, which is what the festival embodies. I’m particularly pleased with the theme of the festival this year. which is courage, — an emotion that resonates with storytellers who really have the might to change the society and the world. I have had great memories of shooting for Chak De India in Melbourne and look forward to being back again, this time to celebrate Indian cinema”.
Meanwhile, festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said, “We are so elated with the news of Mr. Khan joining us to be our chief guest. He’s truly an icon of Indian cinema internationally, a person millions and millions follow and look up to. The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has always strived to bring the best Indian cinema here in Melbourne and bridge a gap between the fans and the actors whom people love and admire. We are looking forward to hosting Mr. Khan in Melbourne.”
