Pictured, from left: Isabel Alexander, Vandana Laiker (IFFM staff member), and Advay Srivastava.
When Isabel Alexander started her Bachelor of Business at La Trobe University, she never imagined her final semester would involve celebrity arrivals, sponsorship banners and coordinating merchandise at one of Australia’s most vibrant multicultural events.
Through a La Trobe Talent placement, Isabel joined the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) team as an intern. La Trobe University proudly celebrated 16 years of partnership with the IFFM in 2025, the largest festival of its kind in the southern hemisphere. During this time, IFFM has allowed La Trobe students to work closely with the biggest names in Indian cinema including Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Vidya Balan and director Rajkumar Hirani, and screenwriter Abhijat Joshi.
Working in the sponsorships team, Isabel gained hands-on experience in event management, marketing, and guest logistics.
“I applied for a placement with Mind Blowing Films, the organisers of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, as I wanted to gain some real-world experience of a business near the end of my degree,” Isabel says.
Isabel’s role covered a wide range of tasks. “I was primarily responsible for the sponsors banners, media walls and RSVP desks,” she says. “With the rest of the sponsorships team, we organised scheduling with deliveries of merchandise, banners and (volunteer rosters).”
She also supported guest arrivals and VIP management.
“I had the honour of standing with my team leader at the red carpet, welcoming guests and assisting them to the VIP holding area,” she says. “I was part of two human chains and associated with Aamir Khan’s bodyguard during the panel discussions the following day at Federation Square, protecting the VIP guests from fans.”
She was even appointed 'second in command' to the sponsorship lead, shadowing her day-to-day and helping delegate tasks.
“Eventually, all of the interns came together to complete the task I was delegating, with time pressure being the main driving force,” she says.
A two-way learning experience
Payal Lakhotia, Marketing Lead, Mind Blowing Films, says students like Isabel made a strong impression during the festival.
“The students were actively involved across multiple areas, including event coordination, marketing support, capturing content for social media, and assisting with guest management and media coverage during the festival.”
“They provided valuable support in day-to-day operations, helping the team stay organised and ensuring smooth execution of events. Their fresh perspectives and enthusiasm brought energy to the team and helped enhance the festival’s overall experience for guests and participants.”
Payal also saw meaningful professional growth.
“They demonstrated adaptability, creativity, and professionalism. Many stepped up independently to solve challenges on the spot, showing strong initiative,” she says. “Their curiosity, eagerness to learn, and collaborative approach made them a joy to work with.”
She adds that the placement program benefited the whole team. “It allowed our team to mentor and share insights, which was mutually rewarding and helped further strengthen leadership qualities within the team. Programs like this allow us to nurture young talent, bring fresh ideas to the festival, and strengthen industry-academia connections.”
For Isabel, the experience changed her outlook. “The placement has made me realise I really enjoy working in events... meeting new people, doing new tasks every day and putting on a glamorous show (that) many individuals enjoyed,” she says. “I enrolled in a major in marketing as I loved it in high school and wanted to explore it further but have realised my career can go anywhere.”
She encourages other students to take up placements – even in industries they may not have considered.
“My advice to others considering a placement in the creative industries would be to just do it and ask so many questions,” she says. “There are so many spaces in a team, meaning you can fit in whether you are creative or not.”
If you are a member of industry and interested in La Trobe’s student industry placement program, connect with La Trobe Talent.
La Trobe Talent will support your business throughout the process, from creating a placement description to promoting it to students and finalising the agreement. Contact La Trobe Talent at latrobetalent@latrobe.edu.au or submit an EOI Form.
For general industry engagement inquiries, please reach out to industry.engagement@latrobe.edu.au
