‘Boong’ At IFFM 2025: Why A Small Manipuri Gem Is Making A Big Splash In Melbourne
Quick News Summary
The Manipuri feature film Boong, backed by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment and directed by debutant Lakshmipriya Devi, has been selected as the Spotlight Film at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025. The official festival schedule lists its Australian premiere on Monday, August 18, 7:30 PM, at Village Cinema Crown, with a runtime of 93 minutes. Multiple outlets highlighted the “Spotlight” honor, while the festival site confirms the Australian premiere tag and screening details. Prior to Melbourne, Boong drew attention on the global circuit, including a Discovery-section bow at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2024.
What Happened, In Plain English
Here’s the headline: a quietly powerful Manipuri-language film called Boong is stepping into the limelight at IFFM 2025 as the festival’s Spotlight Film—a slot typically reserved for a title the programmers believe audiences should pay special attention to. Add to that its Australian premiere status and a prime-time slot at Village Cinema Crown on August 18, and you’ve got a buzz-worthy moment for regional Indian cinema on a major international stage
IFFM 2025 In A Nutshell
IFFM—short for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne—is one of the most visible showcases for Indian and South Asian storytelling outside India. Held August 14–24, 2025, it brings premieres, red carpets, industry panels, and tributes under one umbrella. This year’s official site splashes a full line-up and a packed schedule across Melbourne venues, with “Boong” getting prominent placement in the in-cinema catalogue and on the day-by-day grid. The festival’s own materials set the record straight on premiere labels too: Boong is marked Australian Premiere on IFFM’s “In Cinemas” page.
Meet The Film: ‘Boong’ At A Glance
Language: Manipuri
Runtime: Approximately 93 minutes
Writer–Director: Lakshmipriya Devi (debut feature)
Producers: Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar (Excel Entertainment), Vikesh Bhutani, Shujaat Saudagar, Alan McAlex
Principal Cast: Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar
Music: Ronid Chingangbam (Akhu), Zubin Balaporia
Cinematography: Tanay Satam
Editor: Shreyas Beltangdy
International Sales: Pascale Ramonda
These aren’t just nice-to-know credits; they tell a story. Excel’s involvement usually signals strong production values and a push toward wider visibility. The presence of Manipuri talent on- and off-screen—along with technicians known across Indian indie cinema—helps the film bridge local textures with international polish
So… What’s ‘Boong’ About?
Without spoiling major turns, the SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) synopsis captures the heart of the film: nine-year-old Boong hears a rumor that his father—who has migrated for work—has died. Convinced something doesn’t add up, Boong recruits his best friend Raju to journey toward Moreh, a border town, in search of the truth. On the way, they brush up against the adult world’s rough edges—racism, transgender discrimination, sectarian tensions—while still looking at life through the brighter lens of childhood. It’s a coming-of-age border drama that balances tenderness with tough realities, never losing sight of a child’s sense of wonder.
Pin The Date: When And Where To Watch In Melbourne
Let’s get super practical. The festival’s official grid shows:
- Date: Monday, August 18
- Time: 7:30 PM
- Venue: Village Cinema Crown
- Runtime: 93 minutes
That’s the slot to circle if you’re in Melbourne and curious to catch it first. The listing is right there on IFFM’s Cinema Schedule, which is as close to a source-of-truth as it gets.
But Wait—World Premiere? Victorian Premiere? Australian Premiere?
Good question. The internet can muddle labels fast. Here’s the clean breakdown:
- Official IFFM pages tag Boong as an Australian Premiere and list the confirmed Aug 18 screening.
- Several Indian entertainment outlets refer to it as a Spotlight Film and note a “Victorian state premiere”—a shorthand some media use locally.
- Before IFFM, Boong premiered at TIFF 2024 in the Discovery section, which is generally for eye-catching debut or early features—so Melbourne is not the world premiere.
When in doubt, trust the festival’s site for local premiere status and major festival records for global premiere history.
The Creative Core: Voice, Vision, And Vibe
Lakshmipriya Devi’s direction reportedly favors restraint over melodrama—a smart choice for a child’s-eye story where the camera often witnesses rather than explains. The soundscape—shaped by Akhu (Ronid Chingangbam) and Zubin Balaporia—works like a steady heartbeat, while Tanay Satam’s cinematography frames big feelings against borderland geography without turning it into a postcard. Put simply: it’s intimate where it counts and expansive when it needs to be.
Why Regional Context Matters (And Why It Travels)
Boong draws from a specific corner of India—Manipur and the border town of Moreh—yet the emotional logic is universal. Migration for work, families stretched across distances, kids trying to decode adult secrets… those beats resonate whether you’re in Imphal, Indore, or Ivanhoe. Films like this often become unexpected festival darlings because they feel new (fresh language, fresh faces) and familiar (childhood loyalty, the ache of uncertainty) at the same time.
FAQs
Q1) What exactly is the “Spotlight Film” at IFFM?
It’s a curated highlight—a featured slot reserved for a title the festival wants audiences to notice. For 2025, Boong occupies that position, giving it marquee visibility alongside opening/closing selections and special tributes
Q2) When and where is Boong screening in Melbourne?
Monday, August 18, 7:30 PM at Village Cinema Crown. The runtime is 93 minutes, and the festival calls it an Australian premiere.
Q3) Didn’t Boong already premiere somewhere else?
Yes. Boong played the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2024 in the Discovery section. Melbourne is its Australian premiere, not its world premiere
Q4) Who’s behind the film?
The film is written and directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by a team including Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Vikesh Bhutani, Shujaat Saudagar, and Alan McAlex. Music is by Akhu (Ronid Chingangbam) and Zubin Balaporia.
Q5) What is the film’s core theme?
Boong follows a child’s journey to uncover the truth about his father, using friendship as its compass while confronting adult prejudices—from racism to gender bias—along a borderland route. It’s intimate, humane, and quietly political.
