New Delhi, Aug 22: "Girls Will Be Girls," the debut production from actor couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, will close the 15th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne on August 25. Directed by Shuchi Talati, this coming-of-age film has garnered praise at various international festivals, including a screening at Cannes under Cannes Écrans Juniors and an award-winning run at the Sundance Film Festival, where it had its world premiere.
Set in a boarding school in a small Himalayan town in northern India, "Girls Will Be Girls" follows Mira, a 16-year-old girl navigating her rebellious awakening alongside her mother's unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences. The film stars Preeti Panagrahi and Kani Kusruti in lead roles.
Fazal and Chadha, who supported the film through their production company Pushing Button Studios, expressed their excitement for the Australian premiere. Fazal noted, "We are incredibly honored that 'Girls Will Be Girls' has been selected to close such a prestigious film festival. The journey of this film has been remarkable, and we are excited to share it with the Australian audience. We believe the film will receive the same affection it has received internationally."
Chadha added, "We are beyond thrilled that 'Girls Will Be Girls' will be the closing film of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024. This film has been a labor of love, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see it resonate with audiences worldwide. We are grateful to IFFM for choosing our film to close their 15th edition."
Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM, festival director of IFFM, expressed their honor at featuring "Girls Will Be Girls" as the closing night film of this year’s gala.
