IFFM Awards 2025 Winners List
Here’s the complete, straight-up list of who snagged the major prizes at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) Awards 2025. No fluff, just names, though you’ll spot a few you can’t help but root for:
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Best Film: Homebound
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Best Director: Neeraj Ghaywan (Homebound)
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Best Indie Film: Angammal
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Best Actor (Male) – Film: Abhishek Bachchan (I Want to Talk)
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Special Mention – Best Actor (Male) – Film: Gugun Kigpen (Boong)
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Best Actor (Female) – Film: Geetha Kailasam (Angammal)
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Best Series: Black Warrant
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Best Actor (Male) – Series: Jaideep Ahlawat (Paatal Lok Season 2)
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Best Actor (Female) – Series: Nimisha Sajayan (Dabba Cartel)
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Excellence in Cinema: Aamir Khan
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Leadership in Cinema: Arvind Swamy
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Disruptor Award: Vir Das
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Diversity in Cinema: Aditi Rao Hydari
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Equality in Cinema: Baksho Bondi
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Best Short Film (India): Kalar Pencils by Dhananjay Santosh Goregaonkar
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Best Short Film (Australia): Drifters by David Liu
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Honestly, if I had a rupee for every emotional acceptance speech last night, I could buy popcorn at the next screening. Some wins were expected – “Homebound” felt like a lock – but seeing Angammal get Best Indie Film had a few folks in the back row doing celebratory fist pumps.
IFFM Awards 2025
The 2025 IFFM Awards rolled out in Melbourne with the usual mix of red carpets and real moments. Neeraj Ghaywan’s “Homebound” pretty much walked away with the night – Best Film AND Best Director. You could feel the pride in the room, and honestly, seeing Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor beam on stage was a whole mood. Karan Johar was spotted grinning so wide, I wondered if he’d want to hug every audience member.
Abhishek Bachchan took home the actor prize for “I Want to Talk,” and his acceptance, just I won’t lie, it got a little misty in my corner. “Life has come full circle,” he said, and it hit; I remember watching him receive the Excellence in Cinema Award here a few years ago. Now at the same stage, a new milestone.
Aamir Khan, with legendary status, was handed the big Excellence in Cinema Award. No fanfare, just steady appreciation. It’s so classic Aamir. He’s spent decades making audiences laugh, cry, sometimes both in the same scene. Arvind Swamy’s leadership win? Deserved, and he joked about only wanting the “tough roles” – classic Swamy, never boring.
They didn’t ignore the streaming boom: “Black Warrant” took series of the year, Jaideep Ahlawat owned “Paatal Lok” again, and Nimisha Sajayan’s “Dabba Cartel” got its due. Vir Das and Aditi Rao Hydari picked up awards for breaking the mold and celebrating diversity, and there was a spotlight for Baksho Bondi’s work on equality.
It all wrapped up with two short films – “Kalar Pencils” and “Drifters” – because festivals aren’t just for the big names. Sometimes it’s the smallest stories that surprise you. The whole evening hummed with community, messy joy, and a little polite chaos (it wouldn’t be a festival without it.) Next year? If you’re not already blocking off dates, you’re missing out.
