Indian Film Festival of Melbourne to Honor Rishab Shetty; Kannada Films 'Ammang Helbeda' and 'Bhaavi' to Screen
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) will confer its Leadership in Cinema Award upon Kannada actor, writer and filmmaker Rishab Shetty at its 2026 edition, recognizing his work on the 'Kantara' franchise for establishing a distinct voice rooted in coastal Karnataka's traditions, folklore and spiritual heritage. The festival, running from August 13 to August 26, will also showcase Kannada films including 'Ammang Helbeda' (Don't Tell Mother), a feature film that premiered at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival, and the documentary 'Bhaavi' (The Well). Additionally, two Kannada short films, 'Mungarina Ette' and 'Pankaja', will be presented. Shetty is currently working on 'Jai Hanuman' directed by Prasanth Varma and a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic starring Bhumi Pednekar.