IFFM 2026 Awards: Lokah Chapter 1 Wins Best Film

The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) has announced its 2026 award winners, with the Malayalam superhero film Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra taking home the top prize for Best Film. The festival, which celebrates Indian cinema across languages and formats, recognized a wide array of talent from mainstream blockbusters to independent projects and streaming series.

Rishab Shetty emerged as one of the most celebrated figures of the ceremony, securing a double honor. He won Best Director for Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 and also received the Leadership in Cinema award, recognizing his contribution to contemporary Indian cinema. Dulquer Salmaan was named Best Actor for his performance in Kantha, while Kirti Kulhari won Best Actress for Full Plate.

The festival highlighted the growing global reach of regional Indian cinema. Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra, a Malayalam-language film directed by Dominic Arun and starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, was praised for bringing a superhero story rooted in Indian mythology to the screen. In the independent film category, Rima Das's Not a Hero won Best Indie Film, with Kikkran De Phull (Flowers of Acacia) receiving a special mention.