WIDESCREEN NOVEMBER 2012

There's no avoiding it - with Melbourne Cup Day just gone, Christmas really is coming! Just seven more weeks til Santa hitches his sled to the reindeer and the bells start jingling.

Meanwhile, at MIFF HQ, we are already hard at work on next year's event and enjoying the first Early Bird film submissions for 2013.

Enjoy the late spring sunshine,

MIFF

In this edition...

• MIFF Membership - October Sofitel Competition Winner
• MIFF 2013 Submissions Open
• Official MIFF 2013 Dates
• MIFF Premiere Fund Round 18 Now Open
• MIFF Premiere Fund News 
• Giveaways & Promotions
  

MIFF MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Congratulations to Meredith Wilson who took out a MIFF Membership in October and won the competition for the dinner for two at Sofitel's No35 Restaurant.

MIFF Members receive all kinds of benefits. Like what? How about:

• Year-round discounted tickets at participating cinemas all over town
• Two-day booking window to secure tickets to your top sessions at MIFF before the box office opens to the general public
• Priority members queue

And that's just for starters. Reward yourself! Go on, you deserve it.

MIFF 2013 EARLY BIRD SUBMISSIONS OPEN

Early Bird Submissions for MIFF 2013 are now open. The Early Bird discount rate applies until 22 November 2012.

The team at MIFF considers and programs films from all over the world, so make sure you submit so that we can consider your masterpiece for our 2013 festival.

We accept all types of feature length films as well as short fiction, documentary, animation and experimental films.

Eligible short films are screened in competition in the Shorts Awards, which are Academy®, AACTA and BAFTA accredited and come with cash prizes. Enter here

OFFICIAL MIFF 2013 DATES

Plan ahead!

MIFF moves back to a July start in 2013, with all the festival action taking place 25 July - 11 August 2013.

MIFF PREMIERE FUND APPLICATIONS OPEN

MIFF PREMIERE FUND-SUPPORTED THE TURNING IN PRODUCTION

Tim Winton’s best-selling collection of haunting Western Australian short stories are being brought to life for the omnibus film THE TURNING - supported by the MIFF Premiere Fund for a world premiere at MIFF 2013.

Now in production, a diverse range of directors are responding to the stories, including established film directors Justin Kurzel, (Snowtown), Jonathan auf der Heide (Van Diemen’s Land), Tony Ayres (Home Song Stories) ,Claire McCarthy (The Waiting City) and Robert Connolly (Balibo); emerging film directors Rhys Graham and Ashlee Page; visual artist Shaun Gladwell; the premiere film helming efforts of theatre directors Benedict Andrews, Yaron Lifschitz  and Stephen Page; plus the film directing debuts of actors Cate Blanchett, David Wenham, Ian Meadows and Mia Wasikowska.

From producer Robert Connolly (Balibo), co-producer Maggie Miles, the film will also star Rose Byrne, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, Cate Blanchett and Susie Porter.

THE FIRST FAGIN WITH MIRIAM MARGOLYES IN CINEMAS NOW

Hailed by Variety as "a ripping yarn," MIFF Premiere Fund-supported THE FIRST FAGIN is in cinemas nationally from 15 November.

Narrated by Miriam Margolyes, THE FIRST FAGIN is a dramatised documentary following the adventures of 'Ikey' Solomon, who is thought to be the inspiration for character of Fagin in Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist".

Further details about the film and its theatrical release can be found here: 

LAST DANCE IN CINEMAS NOW

A story of the past and present colliding when a holocaust survivor is held hostage by a suicide bomber in Melbourne, MIFF Premiere Fund-supported LAST DANCE is in cinemas now.

Starring Julia Blake (Innocence) and Firass Dirani (TV’s Underbelly), the film is directed by David Pulbrook and produced by Tony Ginnane.

Portable Presents is offering MIFF Widescreen subscribers 20% off the ticket price for their next Melbourne event on Friday 30 November, 3-6pm at ACMI.

The keynote speaker at the November event is Yuri Lee from LOOKBOOK.nu – founder of one the fastest growing and most influential fashion and style platforms on the internet. Use the code LOOKMIFF for 20% off the ticket price. Bookings here.

Portable Presents tours the biggest influencers in the digital and creative spaces and aims to foster innovation and risktaking in creative professions.

The fabulous La Mirada Film Festival is on from 15-26 November 2012 at ACMI and Cinema Nova, and we have  two in-season double passes to giveaway. 

Screening the best and most exciting new Spanish and Latin American films of the last twelve months, guest curators in 2012 are  Wes Anderson, Gael García Bernal and Pelle Almqvist, lead singer of Swedish rock band The Hives.

To win, email widescreen@miff.com.au with MIRADA in the subject, include your name and address, and the answer to this question: Who is the patron and co-programmer of La Mirada Film Festival?

A MIFF 2012 highlight, GOD BLESS AMERICA, the tale of a modern day Bonnie and Clyde as they eliminate some of modern society’s obnoxious pests, screened at two sold out sessions and director Bobcat Goldthwait was a memorable guest of the festival.

Opening exclusively at Cinema Nova on November 15, we have 40 double passes to giveaway to a preview screening of GOD BLESS AMERICA at Cinema Nova on Wednesday 14 November, 6.45pm.

To win, email widescreen@miff.com.au with the answer to this question: How many stars are there on the American flag?

Shot on location in the Melbourne CBD laneway, CENTRE PLACE is a heart-warming romantic comedy capturing Melbourne’s street style and culture. Lizzie Baxter was looking for change... then change found her. With aspirations of moving to Paris and becoming an artist, Lizzie’s life is sent into a tailspin after being dumped by her boyfriend. CENTRE PLACE captures the highs and lows of a generation looking for love, answers and freedom.
 
Thanks to Titan View, we have 5 DVD copies to giveaway. To enter, email your name and postal address to widescreen@miff.com.au with CENTRE PLACE in the subject line and the answer to this question: Can you name another film set in Melbourne?