2004
James Hewison
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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
Films
09:24 Local, The
1+1
10 ON TEN
15
20:30:40
2D or not 2D
6IXTYNIN9
ACCELERATOR: THE FILMS
THE ADVENTURE OF IRON PUSSY
AE FOND KISS
ALMOST THERE
ANA AND THE OTHERS
And One Step Back
ANIMATION SHORTS PROGRAMME 1
Anna Spud
ANTHEM
Arab Dream, The
ARNA's CHILDREN
Arrive
As Dreams are Made On
Aspiration
AT FIVE IN THE AFTERNOON
AURéVéLATEUR
AZUMI
BAADASSSSS!
BASQUE BALL, SKIN AGAINST STONE
Bathers, The
BATTLE ROYALE II: REQUIEM
Beauty Queen
Bedroom Radio
BEMANI
BEST SHORTS OF THE FEST
Big Charade, The
Birthday Boy
Bite
Black Man and His Bride: Australian Paintings by Arthur Boyd
BLINDSPOT: HITLER's SECRETARY
BLOOD BROTHERS, THE
BORN INTO BROTHELS
BOY WHO PLAYS ON THE BUDDHAS OF BAMIYAN, THE
BRAIN MONKEY SHORTS
Bread and Milk
BREAKING NEWS
BRIDE OF THE SEVENTH HEAVEN, A
BRIGHT FUTURE
BRIGHT LEAVES
BUKOWSKI: BORN INTO THIS
Busby Berkeley's Tribute to Mae West
CAT RETURNS, THE
CERTAIN KIND OF DEATH, A
Certainly Today
CHRONICLE OF A DISAPPEARANCE
CINEMA DALI
CINEMA OF OUR TIME - ABEL FERRARA: NOT GUILTY
Closer
COFFEE AND CIGARETTES
COLD LIGHT
CONTROL ROOM
CORPORATION, THE
COWARDS BEND THE KNEE
Cowboys in Kosovo
Creature Comforts: What It's All About
Creature Comforts: Working Animals
Cyber Palestine
DARKNESS BRIDE
DEAD CREATURES
DEAD END RUN
DEATH IN GAZA
Deluge
Dervishes of Kurdistan
DÃAS DE SANTIAGO
Different War,
Disposable
DIVINE INTERVENTION
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS PROGRAMME
DOPPELGANGER
DRAGON HEAD
Driving Alone
Dysenchanted
Echidna and the Turtle, The
El Emigrante: String and Stick Tricks
ELIA SULEIMAN SHORT FILMS
END OF THE CENTURY: THE STORY OF THE RAMONES
Enlightenment
Everything Goes
EVIL
EXILES
EXPERIMENTAL SHORTS PROGRAMME
Exposure
EYE, THE
Fade into White #4
FAHRENHEIT 9/11
Falcon
FALLEN ANGEL: GRAM PARSONS
FAR SIDE OF THE MOON
FARMINGVILLE
FICTION SHORTS PROGRAMME 1
FICTION SHORTS PROGRAMME 2
FILM AS A SUBVERSIVE ART: AMOS VOGEL and CINEMA 16
FIVE
FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS, THE
FIVE SIDES OF A COIN
FIVE VENOMS, THE
Flight
FOCUS ON CATE SHORTLAND
FORGET BAGHDAD
Frank
FREAKSTARS 3000
Fuccons: Special Edition, The
Full Circle
FUSE
Gestalt
Get in the Car
GET UP
Giant, The
Gift Wrapped
GO FURTHER
GODDESS OF MERCY
GOLDEN SWALLOW
GOOD LAWYER's WIFE, A
GOODBYE, DRAGON INN
Gowanus, Brooklyn
GRAFFITI ARTIST, THE
GRAVEYARD OF HONOUR
Gravity
GREEN BUTCHERS, THE
G-SALE
GUERILLA: THE TAKING OF PATTY HEARST
Guy Maddin's Sissy Slap Party
HAACK: THE KING OF TECHNO
HAMLET X
Hand Game
Hare Hunting
HEAD-ON
Heartworm
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