New Delhi, May 12 – My Melbourne, a compelling anthology film directed by acclaimed filmmakers Imtiaz Ali, Onir, Rima Das, and Kabir Khan, has clinched the Best Film award at the 27th UK Asian Film Festival.
The film, which also bagged a special festival award for ‘Longing and Belonging’, is produced by Mitu Bhowmick Lange in collaboration with VicScreen and Screen Australia. It showcases a set of short films—“Emma” by Rima Das, “Jules” by Imtiaz Ali, “Nandini” by Onir, and “Setara” by Kabir Khan—each exploring diverse and powerful themes including gender, race, sexuality, and disability.
A Celebration of Universal Emotions
Imtiaz Ali described the experience of working on My Melbourne as "deeply enriching", noting the importance of storytelling that transcends geographical boundaries. “To see it being honoured in this way reaffirms the importance of stories that explore human emotions beyond geographical limits. It’s a proud moment for all of us,” he said.Kabir Khan emphasized cinema’s power to foster empathy, stating, “This anthology is a testament to that. I’m truly grateful to have been part of a project that brings such meaningful narratives to life and gets recognised on a global platform.”
Rima Das highlighted the emotional depth of the film’s migrant narratives. “This project was born out of a desire to reflect the nuanced, everyday realities of migrants and their emotional journeys. This recognition is special because it tells us that these personal stories are also universal,” she said.
Onir expressed heartfelt pride in the project, calling it "close to my heart". He added, “It gave us the opportunity to tell stories that matter—stories that cross boundaries and touch the universal emotions of longing and belonging.”