MELBOURNE :
The 13thIndian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)2022 program was officially launched on 19July 2022 by IFFM Festival Director,Mitu Bhowmick Lange. The festival will feature both in cinema and online and will screen over 100 films in 25 languages and encompass a diverse range of subjects including gender identity, religion, caste, and poverty and continue to present films that showcase all aspects of culture from India and the Indian subcontinent.
As we prepare for the final curtain call of our jam-packed 2022 in-person festival, we will be closing with a BANG by screening another one of our Industry-revolutionising films.
We will be screening “The Rapist” directed by the master director Aparna Sen starring the star cast of Konkona Sen Sharma, Arjun Rampal and Tanmay Dhanania.
The Rapist is a story about a couple, Naina and Aftab, both professors, left-liberal in their outlook, and anti-capital punishment activists, whose comfortable existence is shattered one night, when Naina is raped and her friend is killed.
In the aftermath of the rape, their relationship is gravely tested when Naina decides to confront her rapist Prasad as restorative justice.
The film does not take sides. Nor does it attempt to offer any solutions. It just strips away the facade of the three protagonists and brings the two India-s face to face – the India of the urban poor who live in slums clinging to age-old beliefs, and the India of the urbane middle class with its ‘progressive’ values. In the end, the viewer is left with just one burning question: Are criminals born or created?
Aparna Sen
“My producers (Applause Entertainment and Quest Films) and I are delighted that our film THE RAPIST is being showcased at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne as the closing film.
We are proud and happy that the film is being feted and critically acclaimed both at home and abroad. It won the prestigious Kim Jiseok Award at Asia’s biggest film festival – the Busan International Film Festival – in 2021 and got rave reviews all over. It was also showcased at the London Indian Film Festival in 2022 and I, the director of the film, was presented with the ICON award for my contribution to cinema. Four screenings of THE RAPIST – the fourth by public demand – were held at the highly regarded Kerala International Film Festival earlier this year. This was followed by a screening to a packed theatre at the Kolkata International Film Festival. THE RAPIST will be released in India after it has completed its festival rounds.”
But wait! That’s not all that we have in store…
Our films are streaming online Australia-wide until August 30, 2022
Heard your friends talk about that movie you missed? Did FOMO kick in when you couldn’t catch a movie on your watchlist? Wished you could see the opening night film again?
Well, you can! Even though our festival comes to a close for the year, you have until the rest of August to stream and enjoy our carefully curated selection of films.
Head to the “Streaming Online” section of our website or download our IFFM app on your Apple and Android devices, grab your favorite snacks and watch as many films as you like. The online-streamed movies are completely free and un-ticketed so kick back in your PJs and enjoy!
Know more about IFFM 2022 from the Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange
Key Dates Announced:
Friday 12th August:
- IFFM Press Conference, Melbourne CBD
- IFFM Opening Night @ Hoyts District Docklands
Saturday 13th August :
- Flag Hoisting Ceremony for the 75th Anniversary Indian Independence @ Federation Square, Melbourne
- IFFM Dance Competition @ Federation Square, Melbourne
- IFFM Talks @ Arts Centre, Melbourne
Sunday 14th August:
- IFFM Awards Night @ Palais Theatre, St Kilda
Saturday 20th August:
- IFFM Closing Night @ Hoyts District Docklands
