The Victorian Liberal Party has moved to outflank the Labor Government in its support for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, unveiling a substantially larger and longer funding commitment that puts the festival firmly into the state election contest.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has pledged $2.8 million over four years, or $700,000 annually, to support the future growth of IFFM if the Liberal and Nationals form government after the November election.
The announcement goes well beyond Labor’s commitment of $600,000 over two years, giving the Liberals an opportunity to present themselves as offering greater certainty and a stronger long-term commitment to one of Victoria’s most high-profile Indian cultural events.
Ms Wilson announced the funding at the IFFM Awards Night at the Palais Theatre, using the occasion to remind audiences that it was a Liberal government under former premier Ted Baillieu that first backed the festival with state funding in 2012.
“It was a Liberal Government, under the leadership of my friend Ted Baillieu, who backed the vision for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne,” Ms Wilson said.
“As Premier, Ted Baillieu provided the inaugural state government funding in 2012 that helped grow this festival into something extraordinary.”
She said the new $2.8 million commitment would build on that legacy and provide IFFM with the funding certainty needed to expand further.
“This funding will give the festival the certainty it needs to keep growing, bringing more films, more filmmakers and more visitors to Victoria, and keeping Melbourne firmly on the map as India’s film industry looks to the world,” Ms Wilson said.
The scale of the Liberal commitment is politically notable.
Labor has announced $600,000 over two years to continue supporting IFFM, while the Coalition has promised more than four times that total amount over double the period.
That gives the Opposition a clear talking point as it seeks to strengthen its appeal among Victoria’s large Indian-Australian community and position itself as a stronger supporter of multicultural festivals and creative industries.
Labor has strongly defended its own record, saying its latest funding commitment builds on years of government support for IFFM.
Creative Industries Minister Vicki Ward said Labor was proud to continue backing the festival.
“A strong Victoria is a state where everyone can contribute, belong and see their stories reflected,” Ms Ward said.
“Labor is proud to back the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, celebrating the contribution of Victoria’s strong multiculturalism, and strengthening our place as a global screen destination.”
Multicultural Affairs Minister Paul Edbrooke said Victoria’s Indian community made Melbourne a fitting home for the festival.
“Victoria is home to Australia’s largest, most vibrant Indian community, so it’s fitting we host the biggest celebration of Indian cinema in the southern hemisphere,” he said.
But the Liberal announcement has shifted the debate from whether IFFM deserves government support to which side of politics is prepared to back it more strongly.
Shadow Arts and Creative Industries Minister David Davis said the four-year pledge would support tourism, local jobs and international screen partnerships.
“The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is one of the great success stories of Victorian cultural and creative arts policy, and it started with a Liberal Government prepared to back a bold idea,” Mr Davis said.
“By guaranteeing $700,000 a year over four years for IFFM, we are securing Melbourne’s reputation as a world-class creative hub.”
Shadow Multicultural and Multifaith Affairs Minister Evan Mulholland said the festival had become much more than a film event.
“IFFM is more than a film festival; it is a cornerstone event that brings communities together and celebrates shared heritage,” he said.
“This funding is about backing that community and making sure this festival, which means so much to so many Victorians, has the certainty to keep growing.”
The competing announcements come as IFFM marks its 17th year and continues to expand its profile.
The 2026 festival features more than 130 films across 38 languages, with more than 30,000 people expected to attend events including the Awards Night, Pride Day, the dance competition at Federation Square and regional screenings in Geelong, Bendigo and Shepparton.
This year’s program also features major names from Indian cinema, including Rekha, Rani Mukerji, Dulquer Salmaan, Pankaj Tripathi and filmmaker Rima Das.
IFFM Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said the festival remained focused on bringing communities together through storytelling.
“At IFFM we believe that great storytelling transcends language, geography and identity,” she said.
The latest promises also show how important Indian-Australian voters have become in Victorian politics.
Both major parties are increasingly competing for support in electorates with rapidly growing Indian communities, particularly across Melbourne’s western, northern and south-eastern suburbs.
By announcing a larger and longer package, the Liberals have effectively forced Labor onto the defensive over a festival the government has supported for years.
Labor can point to its record of continued investment and its broader support for Victoria’s creative sector, but the Coalition’s four-year commitment gives Ms Wilson a simple political message: the Liberals are promising more money, for longer, with greater certainty.
It is a notable reversal in a space where Labor has traditionally enjoyed strong visibility through multicultural and creative arts funding.
And for IFFM, the political competition may ultimately be good news.
With both Labor and the Liberal-Nationals now committed to supporting the festival, its future appears increasingly secure.
The bigger political question is who gets the credit.
For now, the Liberals have successfully seized the initiative — turning IFFM funding into a contest and putting Labor under pressure to match or better their offer.
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