Overview
- Organisers confirmed Wednesday that Aamir Khan will attend a special screening of Lagaan at ACMI on Thursday, July 9, to officially launch the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne’s 17th‑edition celebrations.
- The festival’s main programme has been set for August 13–23, 2026, and follows the July 9 curtain-raiser by roughly a month.
- IFFM, supported by the Government of Victoria, announced a slate of screenings, premieres, conversations and masterclasses aimed at filmmakers, industry professionals and international audiences.
- Coverage notes a minor factual disagreement over whether Lagaan was the second or third Indian film ever nominated for the Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category, though the film’s nomination is uncontested.
- Festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange described marking Lagaan’s 25th anniversary with Khan as a fitting launch, and organisers say his appearance is intended to raise the festival’s profile and draw wider industry and public attention.