MIFF 2004

James Hewison
#53

Welcome to the 53rd Melbourne International Film Festival, our city's annual celebration of the world's film's cultures. When it comes to our perceptions of the Middle East and its state(s) of unease, the answer to the rhetorical 'Need to Know' slogan of this year's MIFF is unequivocally "yes"!  We wilt trace not only the 'fault lines' in the Middle East, but also attempt to get to know this region and its myriad cultures better through cinema.

It's vital for a contemporary Film Festival to be a hybrid of content AND events, of adventures and contemplation. This year we present a range of unique events, from Christopher Doyle's wild cinematographic expeditions Why i am not a Painter to our returning guest, virtuoso organist Ernesto Maurice Corpus performing to Tod Browning's The Unknown and the Australian classic The Man From Kangaroo. These events explore the boundaries of cinema plus the expectations of audiences—they are an integral component of a dynamic Film  Festival.

This year's Australian Showcase reveals our filmmakers searching not only for their place in Australia but also beyond our borders. MIFF will be presenting premieres of local work from internationally renowned filmmakers Paul Cox; and Clara Law, in addition to championing emerging talents; such as Cate Shortland.

From Tehran to Bangkok, from St. Kilda to Stockholm, I urge you to take the trip!

James Hewison
Executive Director

Introduction taken from the 2004 official guide

Festival Program
236 feature films and 140 short films were screened from 21 July to 8 August
Full Program

Program in Focus
The 53rd festival program's curatorial umbrellas including International Panorama, Australia Showcase, and Raw Japanese Cinema and Regional Focus for the second and third years respectively. New Cinema from Thailand rounded out a strong focus on Asian cinema. Middle Eastern and new crime cinema also featured. As per previous programs, New Scandinavian Cinema, Animation Gallery, Music on Film, Documentaries and short films featured.

Filmmaker in Focus
Chang Cheh. A retrospective of Cheh's work was screened. 
{focus Chang Cheh}

Opening Night Film
Somersault (Cate Shortland, 2004)  
More

Image Gallery

Films

UK
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
UK
MIFF 2004
UK
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
UK
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
USA
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
USA
MIFF 2004
USA
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
USA
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
USA
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004
USA
MIFF 2004
MIFF 2004

From the Festival Files

On Screen and in the Cinema

The magic of the festival is reached through its screens. These are places and spaces that captivate our attention, providing windows where films come to life before our eyes. As portals to the world, the festival’s screens allow us to travel the globe, move through time, and see through another’s eyes. … Yet these screens also remind us of home. They are fixed in place, in our memories and in o …

The Living Festival

What would a festival be without its audience? There wouldn’t be a festival at all! … People are the beating heart of MIFF. It was the coming together of some 800 people in Olinda in 1952 that gave birth to the Melbourne Film Festival. Since that unanticipated outpouring of community love for film, MIFF has become an annual gathering space for film enthusiasts and the cine-curious from Melbourne …