Michelle Carey

Artistic Director

Welcome to the 64th MIFF, our largest ever!

Putting a film festival together can be like making a film: after the early planning, the floodgates open (looking at you: big international film festivals!), the films flow through and the journey begins. Add a dash of alchemy, a much thumbed-through book of contacts and LOTS of viewing – and out of all this comes this MIFF Program Guide. 

This year MIFF pays tribute to two men who have contributed so much to Australian film culture: Paul Cox and David Gulpilil. The former, the Melbourne-based director who boasts one of Australia’s most personal bodies of work, opens our festival with his latest film, Force of Destiny. The latter, the iconic actor/dancer/ filmmaker/artist, is the subject of a retrospective featuring classic films and lesser-seen treasures. 

New Australian talent includes impressive debut features from Grant Scicluna and Nicole Ma (as part of the always-diverse MIFF Premiere Fund) and the extraordinary tales of the Northern Territory’s Karrabing Film Collective. 

We also highlight recent overseas talent: distinctive young filmmaking siblings Joshua and Benny Safdie first knocked me out at Cannes 2008 with the raw human energy they captured on film. And while Sebastián Silva’s films have screened in Australia, what better time than now to showcase them all together, including his latest Nasty Baby.

We also invite you to immerse yourself in some brain-melting Psychedelic cinema, stranger-than-fiction True Crime docs, new Sports films and foodie films. Plus the most exciting new films from all over the globe – see them all first at MIFF! 

Don’t forget our two special events: the expanded cinema performance Breaching Transmissions, and the new perspectives of Vertical Cinema. And after a successful first edition last year, Critics Campus returns, with eight emerging film critics participating in a whirlwind of viewing, mentoring, workshops and writing.

 

Geoffrey Rush

MIFF Patron

 

Hi MIFF fans, m’friends,

As the Coen Brothers announced at Cannes earlier this year: “How do we feel about people watching Lawrence of Arabia on their iPhone? There’s something special about sitting in a cinema with a big crowd of people watching a movie on that big 80-foot screen. Nothing can compete with that and that’s something that film festivals like this keep alive.”

And a few months ago Spike Lee said “I know I’m a dinosaur but there’s still something for me actually being in a movie theatre and seeing film with a group of people.” He was taken aback by the notion that some people might watch West Side Story or Star Wars or Apocalypse Now on a smartphone screen, imploring “as filmmakers we kill ourselves with editing. With lighting. With sound. It’s heartbreaking.”

By the time you’re reading this in your MIFF brochure you could choose to watch films on your watch. However every year MIFF acolytes increase thrillingly and exponentially – no hint of dinosaurism there! – despite the plethora of new and inevitable technologies.

Cinema for a century has always aimed for a connection with an audience on a big, or at least biggish, screen.

Perhaps there’s an interesting and useful analogy in the world of music from baroque to romantic: “Historically Informed Performance” (HIP) adheres to the aesthetic criteria of the period of a work’s creation – rediscovering the primal vitality of the art’s intention in style and technique, re-awakening the fundamental form and essential syntax of the medium. Big is always better!

So welcome to MIFF – another season of vigorous global vanguard cinema honouring every filmmaker’s secret dream: ‘live’ audiences that are emotional, communal and relishing the sense of a focused event, rather than micro-surfing and skimming on the hop. 

MIFF. It’s HIP… (and Spikey)

Image Gallery

Films

100 Years Show, The

100 Years Show, The

The 100 Years Show
USA
MIFF 2015
3½ MINUTES  TEN BULLETS

3½ MINUTES TEN BULLETS

3½ MINUTES, TEN BULLETS
Director Marc Silver
USA
MIFF 2015
808
UK
MIFF 2015
AD 1363  the End of Chivalry

AD 1363 the End of Chivalry

AD 1363, the End of Chivalry
MIFF 2015
AN
MIFF 2015
ARABIAN NIGHTS   VOL 1  THE RESTLESS ONE

ARABIAN NIGHTS VOL 1 THE RESTLESS ONE

ARABIAN NIGHTS - VOL 1, THE RESTLESS ONE
ARABIAN NIGHTS   VOL 2  THE DESOLATE ONE

ARABIAN NIGHTS VOL 2 THE DESOLATE ONE

ARABIAN NIGHTS - VOL 2, THE DESOLATE ONE
ARABIAN NIGHTS   VOL 3  THE ENCHANTED ONE

ARABIAN NIGHTS VOL 3 THE ENCHANTED ONE

ARABIAN NIGHTS - VOL 3, THE ENCHANTED ONE
ASSASSIN, The
MIFF 2015
B MOVIE  LUST   SOUND IN WEST BERLIN
MIFF 2015
Best Way To Kill Your Mother, The

Best Way To Kill Your Mother, The

The Best Way To Kill Your Mother
Director Ruby Railey
MIFF 2015
BIKES VS  CARS

BIKES VS CARS

BIKES VS. CARS
MIFF 2015
BRAND  A SECOND COMING

BRAND A SECOND COMING

BRAND: A SECOND COMING
UK, USA
MIFF 2015
CENTREPIECE GALA   HOLDING THE MAN

CENTREPIECE GALA HOLDING THE MAN

CENTREPIECE GALA - HOLDING THE MAN
MIFF 2015
CHASUKE S JOURNEY

CHASUKE S JOURNEY

CHASUKE'S JOURNEY
Director Sabu
MIFF 2015
CHOSEN ONES, The

CHOSEN ONES, The

THE CHOSEN ONES
MIFF 2015
CLOSING NIGHT GALA   MISTRESS AMERICA

CLOSING NIGHT GALA MISTRESS AMERICA

CLOSING NIGHT GALA - MISTRESS AMERICA
USA
MIFF 2015
CLUB, The
MIFF 2015
COLIN HAY  WAITING FOR MY REAL LIFE

COLIN HAY WAITING FOR MY REAL LIFE

COLIN HAY: WAITING FOR MY REAL LIFE
USA
MIFF 2015
COOKING UP A TRIBUTE  TASTING SESSION

COOKING UP A TRIBUTE TASTING SESSION

COOKING UP A TRIBUTE (TASTING SESSION)
MIFF 2015
DAUGHTER, The

DAUGHTER, The

THE DAUGHTER
Director Simon Stone
MIFF 2015
DEEP WEB
USA
MIFF 2015
DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, The

DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, The

THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL
USA
MIFF 2015
Disappearance of Willie Bingham, The

Disappearance of Willie Bingham, The

The Disappearance of Willie Bingham
MIFF 2015
DOPE
USA
MIFF 2015
DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD  THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON

DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON

DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON
USA
MIFF 2015

ECSTASY OF WILKO JOHNSON, The

THE ECSTASY OF WILKO JOHNSON
UK
MIFF 2015

END OF THE TOUR, The

THE END OF THE TOUR
USA
MIFF 2015

EXOTICA EROTICA ETC

EXOTICA, EROTICA, ETC
MIFF 2015

Exquisite Corpus, The

The Exquisite Corpus
MIFF 2015

Face of Ukraine Casting Oksana Baiul, The

The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul
Director Kitty Green
MIFF 2015

FASSBINDER TO LOVE WITHOUT DEMANDS

FASSBINDER - TO LOVE WITHOUT DEMANDS
MIFF 2015

FORBIDDEN ROOM, The

THE FORBIDDEN ROOM
Director Guy Maddin
MIFF 2015
MIFF 2015
MIFF 2015

GROUND WE WON, THE

THE GROUND WE WON
MIFF 2015
UK
MIFF 2015
MIFF 2015
MIFF 2015

HUNTING GROUND, The

THE HUNTING GROUND
Director Kirby Dick
USA
MIFF 2015

I Thought I Told You To Shut Up

I Thought I Told You To Shut Up!!
MIFF 2015

If I Was God

If I Was God...
MIFF 2015

INVITATION, The

THE INVITATION
USA
MIFF 2015
USA
MIFF 2015

Kacey Mottet Klein Birth of an Actor

Kacey Mottet Klein, Birth of an Actor
MIFF 2015

Kajutaijuq The Spirit That Comes

Kajutaijuq: The Spirit That Comes
MIFF 2015

Killer

Killer?
Director David White
MIFF 2015

Kirrendirri Lost and Alone

Kirrendirri – Lost and Alone
Director Tom Hearn
MIFF 2015

Let s Dance Bowie Down Under

Let's Dance: Bowie Down Under
Director Rubika Shah
MIFF 2015
USA
MIFF 2015
UK
MIFF 2015
MIFF 2015
USA
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL NEON BALLARAT

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - NEON (BALLARAT)
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL NEON BENDIGO

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - NEON (BENDIGO)
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL NEON GEELONG

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - NEON (GEELONG)
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL NEON MILDURA

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - NEON (MILDURA)
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS BALLARAT

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS (BALLARAT)
Director Nicole Ma
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS BENALLA

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS (BENALLA)
Director Nicole Ma
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS BENDIGO

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS (BENDIGO)
Director Nicole Ma
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS GEELONG

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS (GEELONG)
Director Nicole Ma
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS MILDURA

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS (MILDURA)
Director Nicole Ma
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS WANGARATTA

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS (WANGARATTA)
Director Nicole Ma
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL RESULTS GEELONG

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - RESULTS (GEELONG)
USA
MIFF 2015

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL RESULTS WANGARATTA

MIFF TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL - RESULTS (WANGARATTA)
USA
MIFF 2015

Nice House, The

The Nice House
MIFF 2015

NIGHTMARE, The

THE NIGHTMARE
USA
MIFF 2015

Nowhere Line Voices from Manus Island

Nowhere Line: Voices from Manus Island
MIFF 2015
MIFF 2015

OVERNIGHT, The

THE OVERNIGHT
USA
MIFF 2015
UK
MIFF 2015

PEARL BUTTON, The

THE PEARL BUTTON
MIFF 2015

PEGGY GUGGENHEIM ART ADDICT

PEGGY GUGGENHEIM - ART ADDICT
USA
MIFF 2015
MIFF 2015

Phoenix, The

The Phoenix
MIFF 2015

PRINCIPAL, The

THE PRINCIPAL
MIFF 2015

PROPHET S PREY

PROPHET'S PREY
Director Amy Berg
USA
MIFF 2015
USA
MIFF 2015

RUSSIAN WOODPECKER, The

THE RUSSIAN WOODPECKER
Director Chad Gracia
MIFF 2015
UK
MIFF 2015

SECOND MOTHER, The

THE SECOND MOTHER
MIFF 2015
USA
MIFF 2015

SILENCES, The

THE SILENCES
Director Margot Nash
MIFF 2015

Skateboarding s First Wave

Skateboarding's First Wave
Director Don Burgess
USA
MIFF 2015
MIFF 2015

STEVE JOBS THE MAN IN THE MACHINE

STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE
Director Alex Gibney
USA
MIFF 2015

Talking Pictures True to Life Meet the Documentary Filmmakers

Talking Pictures - True to Life: Meet the Documentary Filmmakers
MIFF 2015
USA
MIFF 2015

THEORY OF OBSCURITY A FILM ABOUT THE RESIDENTS

THEORY OF OBSCURITY: A FILM ABOUT THE RESIDENTS
Director Don Hardy
USA
MIFF 2015

THOUGHTS THAT ONCE WE HAD, The

THE THOUGHTS THAT ONCE WE HAD
USA
MIFF 2015
MIFF 2015
MIFF 2015

Waves 98

Waves ‘98
Director Ely Dagher
MIFF 2015

Windjarrameru The Stealing C nt

Windjarrameru, The Stealing C*nt$
MIFF 2015

WITCH, The

THE WITCH
MIFF 2015
USA
MIFF 2015

Y l and the Snake

Yùl and the Snake
MIFF 2015

YAKUZA APOCALYPSE THE GREAT WAR OF THE UNDERWORLD

YAKUZA APOCALYPSE: THE GREAT WAR OF THE UNDERWORLD
MIFF 2015

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 …

You Had to Be There

The thrill of the festival happens in a moment. In the shared moments created in being present at the festival, and in sharing experiences with others in the MIFF community. These moments are the instances that set the festival apart from the everyday, that remind us that we live in the present, and that some experiences are just too unique to replicate. … Each year, we return to the festival to …