By Travis Johnson
Alankrita Shrivastava’s Lipstick Under My Burkha will open the 2017 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which runs from August 10 – 22 this year. The film generated some controversy in India when the Central Board Film Certification denied it classification, saying the work was too “lady oriented”.
Shrivastava, who decried the decision as “an assault on women’s rights”, will attend the festival, along with star, Konkona Sen Sharma.
“Independent films are telling important stories, challenging the status quo and are important artistic expressions,” Shrivastava said. ‘I’m delighted to participate in the Festival with Lipstick Under My Burkha and looking forward to the reaction of Australian audiences.”
This year’s IFFM is the biggest yet, encompassing over 60 films that will screen at Federation Square, plus three new screening locations – Hoyts Chadstone, Broadmeadows, and Forest Hill – plus Melbourne Central and Highpoint.
Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick-Lange said, “This August the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will present films that explore diversity and the endless potential of humanity. Audiences will immerse themselves in 13 days of film, including Bollywood blockbusters, powerful indie films and stunning documentaries from India and the subcontinent. These films were curated to entertain, inspire, enrage, engage and challenge viewers. We look forward to welcoming a fantastic lineup of guests and welcoming audiences to our screenings and special events.”
For more information, session time, and tickets, head over to the official site.
