India shines Down Under

India is making a significant impact at the ongoing 63rd Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), that started running from July 31 up to August 17, 2014. This festival in southern Australia is one of the oldest and longest in the world, and relatively uncommonly, is headed by a woman director, Michelle Carey. The Indian feature films include Kanu Behl's Titli, Nagraj Manjule's Fandry and Avinash Arun's Killa. India in Flux: Living Resistance is a section showcasing Indian documentaries too. The excellently curated package, which received a warm response, include Jai Bhim Comrade, Invoking Justice, John and Jane, My Name is Salt and Vertical City. Documentary filmmakers Anand Patwardhan and Deepa Dhanraj—along with me—were invited to a panel discussion on Indian documentaries. Patwardhan held a master class, and I was invited as international mentor on MIFF's Critics' Campus.

Commenting on the Indian films, programmer Al Cossar says, "Titli is an abrasive, confident film, with a real force to it. Fandry is a lovely, accessible film, despite its Dickensian setting. It is a serious commentary on caste, yet told like a family drama and coming of age story, whose last shot is a whiplash moment. The documentaries include both contemporary and retrospective films, with both Indian and outsiders' views on India. We certainly aim for discovery, accessibility and a cross-over audience for the Indian films.

Melbourne has a multicultural population, and we have a dedicated audience of expat and local viewers who are interested and adventurous."

Asked if the establishment of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne had affected MIFF's India programming (the government's film Victoria backs both festivals), Michelle Carey says, "No. For me film curating has to be organic, it's not about ticking boxes. We have organically shown different films. MIFF had a programme called "Not Quite Bollywood" in 2010, that included films like Peepli Live and Love Sex aur Dhoka, co-presented by the Australia India Institute. We have also shown Gangs of Wasseypur and Miss Lovely at MIFF, as we want all kinds of audiences to come."

The Critics' Campus, where I was an international mentor along with David Rooney (Hollywood Reporter), Daniel Kasman (Mubi.com) and others, for eight young Australian film critics, was as much an opportunity to share, as learn.

The festival films I loved included Tom at the Farm, Jacky in the Kingdom of Women, Life Itself (on Roger Ebert), My Name is Salt, Love Marriage in Kabul and Don't Think I've Forgotten (on Cambodian rock'n'roll).

Meenakshi Shedde, India Consultant to the Berlin Film Festival, was international mentor on the Melbourne International Film Festival's Critics' Campus