After hitting up the 2012 Sydney Film Festival back in June, I’ll be making my first visit to the Melbourne Film Festival next month.
The Festival (which runs for more than 2 weeks) announced its line up last week and you can check it out online at http://miff.com.au.
PJ Hogan’s new comedy, Mental, is closing the Festival – a worthy choice. I was lucky enough to see a sneak preview and it features some wonderfully dark comedy. It’s a real crowd pleaser.
I’ve decided to attend 3 days early in the Festival and will be seeing 11 films in all. I’m also hoping to line up interviews with a couple of directors (but I’ll say more about that once confirmed).
Melbourne is my favourite Australian city and I can’t wait to spend some time there. Hopefully I’ll be able to do a little sightseeing in addition to spending time inside a packed movie theatre.
On that note, here’s a look at the films I’ve booked in to see. I’ve included the quick plot overview from the IMDB…
Into The Abyss
Saturday, August 4 – 1:30pm
Documentary - Conversations with death row inmate Michael Perry and those affected by his crime serve as an examination of why people - and the state - kill.
Monsieur Lazhar
Saturday, August 4 – 4:00pm
Drama - At a Montréal public grade school, an Algerian immigrant is hired to replace a popular teacher who committed suicide in her classroom. While helping his students deal with their grief, his own recent loss is revealed.
Just The Wind
Saturday, August 4 – 6:30pm
Drama - Unknown racist murderers have already attacked four families. Some of them died. Who will be the next on this ordinary day? Inspired by a true story.
The Legend Of Kasper Hauser
Saturday, August 4 – 9:00pm
Drama - Arriving on a deserted beach in the Mediterranean sea, in a time and a place unspecified, Kaspar Hauser is forced to confront the evil of a Grand Duchess who feels threatened by the power she exercises over the community.
Facing Mirrors
Sunday, August 5 – 11:00am
Drama - Rana has chosen a path in order to save her simple and traditional life while Adineh has fled her home and city to escape her complicated situation as a transsexual.
Chicken With Plums
Sunday, August 5 – 1:30pm
Drama - Nasser-Ali, a talented musician, loses the will to live after his wife breaks his beloved violin during an argument. He searches for a replacement, and finding none that sounds quite the same, he vows to die.
Your Sister’s Sister
Sunday, August 5 – 4:00pm
Comedy - Iris invites her friend Jack to stay at her family's island getaway after the death of his brother. At their remote cabin, Jack's drunken encounter with Hannah, Iris' sister, kicks off a revealing stretch of days.
The Sessions
Sunday, August 5 – 6:30pm
Drama - A man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest.
V/H/S
Sunday, August 5 – 9:00pm
Horror - When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they bargained for.
Searching For Sugar Man
Monday, August 6 – 6:30pm
Documentary - Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock 'n' roller, Rodriguez.
Sound Of My Voice
Monday, August 6 – 9:00pm
Thriller - A journalist and his girlfriend get pulled in while they investigate a cult whose leader claims to be from the future.
For those in Melbourne, I hope to see you there! For everyone else, I’ll have a full wrap on my website and will be discussing the Festival on my ABC Digital show airing on Sunday, August 12.