Rima Das’ ‘Not a Hero’ Wins Best Indie Film Award at IFFM 2026

Melbourne: Assamese filmmaker Rima Das has added another international honour to her career, with her latest feature Not a Hero winning the Best Indie Film Award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026.

The award was presented during the festival, where Not a Hero had its Australian premiere. The recognition marks another significant moment for Das at IFFM, having previously won the same award in 2019 for her acclaimed film Bulbul Can Sing.

Rima Das wins Best Indie Film for the second time

The latest honour makes Das a two-time recipient of the Best Indie Film Award at IFFM.

Her association with the Melbourne festival stretches across her filmography. All five of her feature films have been screened at IFFM, while she also contributed one of the stories to the anthology My Melbourne.

Reflecting on the latest recognition, Das described winning the award again as “extremely special”.

The filmmaker has developed a strong connection with audiences and festivals through films that often focus on intimate human stories rather than conventional commercial narratives.

‘Not a Hero’ had its world premiere in Berlin

Before arriving at IFFM, Not a Hero premiered internationally at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2026.

The film was selected for the Generation Kplus Competition, a section dedicated to films engaging with younger audiences.

It subsequently received a Crystal Bear Special Mention from the Children’s Jury, giving the film recognition from a young audience as well as festival programmers and critics.

Its Best Indie Film win at IFFM now adds another international milestone to its festival journey.

What is ‘Not a Hero’ about?

Not a Hero follows an 11-year-old boy whose life changes when he is sent from the city to his ancestral village.

Away from his familiar surroundings, he encounters a distant aunt, develops a friendship with a horse and begins spending time with a group of village children.

Their adventures become a window into a different kind of childhood — one shaped by open spaces, imagination, friendship and a close relationship with nature.

Rather than building its story around conventional ideas of heroism, the film focuses on the experiences and discoveries of a child navigating a new environment.

The themes of childhood freedom, imagination and the connection between children and the natural world are central to the film.

Rima Das’ distinctive filmmaking journey

Das has established herself as one of India’s prominent independent filmmakers, particularly through stories rooted in everyday lives and personal experiences.

Her work has repeatedly explored themes such as childhood, identity, adolescence, coming of age and the relationship between people and their surroundings.

She is a two-time National Award-winning filmmaker, with her cinema receiving recognition at festivals in India and abroad.

In 2024, Das became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, further recognising her contribution to international cinema.

‘Not a Hero’ brings together international production partners

The film has been produced by Flying River Films in association with Akanga Film Asia and TrainTripper Films.

International sales for the film are being handled by MMM Sales, a Paris-based sales company.

With its Berlin premiere followed by recognition in Melbourne, Not a Hero continues to build an international festival profile while bringing Das’ distinctive storytelling to audiences outside India.

For the filmmaker, the IFFM recognition is particularly meaningful because it connects her latest work with a festival that has followed her career for several years.