MUMBAI: The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) will take place between October 30 and November 7 this year, instead of August, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

IFFM 2020's programme will be devised in line with public health guidance, with plans for a compact schedule taking place over a week.

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The festival will retain the Short Film Competition and the popular dance competition but the IFFM Awards Gala will be postponed till 2021.

A new addition to the festival this year, in response to current challenges and opportunities, is the IFFM Film Club where fans of Indian films can enrol for a virtual masterclass with leading filmmakers discussing their works in detail.

Functioning like a book club, the festival asks participants to watch a classic film, and they then have an opportunity to discuss the film at the virtual film club with the filmmaker.

Previously, the festival has hosted masterclasses with filmmakers including Rajkumar Hirani, Karan Johar, Rima Das, Zoya Akhtar, Onir and Kabir Khan.

"This is a unique intimate way for filmlovers to stay engaged, entertained and educated while at home in these unprecedented times. We already have a strong line-up of filmmakers from various parts of India," said IFFM Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange.

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