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From Kalki 2898 AD to Homebound: IFFM 2025 Unveils Star-Studded Nominations
Updated on: 16 July, 2025 06:00 PM IST |Amruta Karulkar
IIFM 2025 Nominations
The vibrant landscape of Indian cinema and OTT is set to take centre stage as the 16th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) unveils its impressive lineup of nominations. From critically acclaimed dramas to commercial blockbusters, the festival promises a diverse showcase of talent.
Supported by the Victorian Government, the Melbourne Film Festival is scheduled to run from August 14 to 24 in Australia. The much-anticipated awards night will illuminate the city on August 15. An esteemed jury, featuring respected names in Australian cinema and culture, including Garth Davis, director of Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman`s LION, and theatre director and film producer Nadia Tass, will determine the winners.
In the Best Indie Film category, films like Aranya Sahay’s Humans in the Loop, Fasil Muhammed’s Feminichi Fathima, and Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi’s Bengali drama Baksho Bondi are strong contenders.
For acting accolades, Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa are nominated for Homebound in the Best Actor (Male) category. Junaid Khan receives a nod for his debut in Maharaj, competing with seasoned actors like Abhishek Bachchan, Mohanlal, and Manoj Bajpayee. The Best Actor (Female) category sees Shraddha Kapoor for Stree 2, Kareena Kapoor Khan for The Buckingham Murders, and veteran Sharmila Tagore for Puratawn among the nominees.
On the small screen, Black Warrant, Kota Factory Season 3, and Paatal Lok Season 2 are among the top contenders in the Best Web Series segment. Leading the web series acting nominations are Ananya Pandey for Call Me Bae and Rasika Dugal for Mirzapur 3 in the female category, while Jaideep Ahlawat for Paatal Lok Season 2 and Jitendra Kumar for Kota Factory Season 3 are nominated in the male category.
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan and actor-comedian Vir Das are set to attend the festival as chief guests, adding further star power to the prestigious event.
A Confluence of Blockbusters and Critically Acclaimed Works
As per the announcement made on Monday by the organisers, films like Neeraj Ghaywan`s Homebound, Amar Kaushik`s 2024 hit Stree 2, and popular shows such as Black Warrant and Paatal Lok 2 have all secured nominations. The power-packed list also includes Baksho Bondi, L2 Empuraan, and Maharaj, reflecting a wide spectrum of cinematic and series excellence. These nominations span mainstream superhits, indie revelations, regional gems, and binge-worthy series, with projects considered from June 15, 2024, to June 14, 2025.Supported by the Victorian Government, the Melbourne Film Festival is scheduled to run from August 14 to 24 in Australia. The much-anticipated awards night will illuminate the city on August 15. An esteemed jury, featuring respected names in Australian cinema and culture, including Garth Davis, director of Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman`s LION, and theatre director and film producer Nadia Tass, will determine the winners.
Leading the Nominations
Among the films vying for the coveted Best Film award are Homebound, which received a nine-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival, alongside Kalki 2898 AD, L2: Empuraan, Maharaj, Meiyazhagan, Stree 2, and Superboys of Malegaon.In the Best Indie Film category, films like Aranya Sahay’s Humans in the Loop, Fasil Muhammed’s Feminichi Fathima, and Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi’s Bengali drama Baksho Bondi are strong contenders.
For acting accolades, Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa are nominated for Homebound in the Best Actor (Male) category. Junaid Khan receives a nod for his debut in Maharaj, competing with seasoned actors like Abhishek Bachchan, Mohanlal, and Manoj Bajpayee. The Best Actor (Female) category sees Shraddha Kapoor for Stree 2, Kareena Kapoor Khan for The Buckingham Murders, and veteran Sharmila Tagore for Puratawn among the nominees.
On the small screen, Black Warrant, Kota Factory Season 3, and Paatal Lok Season 2 are among the top contenders in the Best Web Series segment. Leading the web series acting nominations are Ananya Pandey for Call Me Bae and Rasika Dugal for Mirzapur 3 in the female category, while Jaideep Ahlawat for Paatal Lok Season 2 and Jitendra Kumar for Kota Factory Season 3 are nominated in the male category.
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan and actor-comedian Vir Das are set to attend the festival as chief guests, adding further star power to the prestigious event.
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