IFFM 2026 full list of winners: Rishab Shetty wins Best Director for Kantara, Rekha honoured for 'excellence in cinema'

Among the biggest names to receive honours were Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Kirti Kulhari, Vijay Varma and Rasika Dugal.

Published on: Aug 14, 2026, 11:21:35 IST

By Monica Yadav

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The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) announced its winners for 2026, bringing together a wide range of films, performances and storytellers from India and across the subcontinent. This year’s awards recognised established stars as well as independent filmmakers, emerging voices and stories that explore different sides of Indian cinema. Among the biggest names to receive honours were Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Kirti Kulhari, Vijay Varma and Rasika Dugal. The festival also recognised veteran actor Rekha with the Excellence in Cinema award, while Rani Mukerji was honoured for completing 30 years in the industry.

IFFM 2026 winners: Rishab Shetty, Dulquer Salmaan, Kirti Kulhari and more take top honours.

[Also read: Rani Mukerji honoured for 3 decades in cinema: ‘My films, my characters and my voice have travelled so far from home’]

IFFM 2026 full winner list

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, 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

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

About Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

One of the prominent film festivals that showcase Indian movies outside of India is the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). This film festival brings together films from all over India and even from other parts of the sub-continent. It also places a strong focus on diversity, inclusion and equality in storytelling, recognising voices and stories that represent different communities and experiences.

This year, the festival also highlighted how far Indian storytelling was making its way to foreign audiences. The diversity of this year’s award-winning work spanned from theatrical films to mainstream streaming television series, as well as independent films and documentaries.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Monica Yadav
Monica Yadav is a senior entertainment journalist with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Mumbai, with nearly 11 years of experience covering Bollywood, Hollywood and Asian entertainment, including Korean, Chinese and Thai cinema, television and music. She is among the few Indian journalists in India with a dedicated focus on Korean entertainment, including K-pop and K-dramas, and has interviewed some of the industry's biggest stars while closely tracking the rise of global pop culture. Her reporting has also taken her beyond India, where she has covered travel, culture and entertainment. Alongside her work at Hindustan Times, her bylines have appeared in several international publications. Known for her in-depth interviews, feature stories and engaging storytelling, Monica enjoys exploring the human side of entertainment. From breaking news and long-form features to music coverage, explainers and on-camera conversations with artists, she is passionate about telling stories that connect with audiences across the world.Read More

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