Ms Patten Northern Metropolitan) — I was very pleased to attend the opening of the 2015 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne recently, which coincided with Indian Independence Day celebrations. Now in its fourth year, the Indian Film Festival celebrates the fruits of the world’s biggest film industry in spectacular style. There were fashion parades that raised much-needed funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital. We also saw some film screenings, some extraordinary Bollywood dancing and some amazing international guests. I was really inspired by the way Australian fashions were mixed with traditional Indian saris and everything in between.
The films that were showed covered genres from traditional Bollywood and comedy to some very serious drama pieces by established and new filmmakers from both India and Australia. It was wonderful to note that the festival had chosen to celebrate the theme of equality. It highlighted the advances as well as the struggles in reaching equality in gender, religion, sexuality and even disability, particularly in India. I congratulate all those who were involved with the festival, especially festival director, Mitu Bhowmick Lange, on delivering another brilliant festival.
