Indian Film Festival of Melbourne: Honour for Rishab Shetty; ‘Ammang Helbeda’ to be screened

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, recognising a “visionary whose work will continue to redefine the possibilities of contemporary Indian storytelling on the global stage”.

In an official release, the IFFM said, “Over the past few years, Rishab Shetty has established himself as one of the country’s most distinctive cinematic voices through the Kantara franchise, creating stories deeply rooted in the traditions, folklore and spiritual heritage of coastal Karnataka while resonating with audiences across the world. By weaving mythology, faith, ecology and human emotion into visually compelling cinema, his work will demonstrate that stories grounded in local culture can achieve universal appeal.”