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| Melbourne International Film Festival |
| Melbourne, Australia, 25th July – 10th August 2008 |
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| Established (year) : 1952 |
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| History of the Festival : |
| MIFF has a rich history celebrating 56 years in 2007, which makes it one of the oldest film festivals in the world. |
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| Venue : |
| Regarded as the most significant film event in Australia MIFF has the largest and multifaceted programme of screenings and special events in the continent. For 19 days there will be not only the best contemporary cinema but also panel discussions, celebrity interviews, outside broadcast, music events and an International Short Film Competition with the highest cash prize in Australia.In addition to screening films from around fifty countries, MIFF is Australia's largest showcase of new Australian cinema and most vocal champion of both emerging and established local filmmaking talent. |
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| Lumière Directors : |
| Bahman Ghobadi, Li Yang |
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| Lumière Films: |
Half Moon by Bahman Ghobadi was screened at the Jaguar International Panorama in 2007
Blind Mountain by Li Yang was screened at Neighbourhood Watch in 2007
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| Awards : |
| Grand Prix |
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| Jaguar International Panorama |
Is a selection of the most contemporary and challenging cinema from around the globe.
An eclectic mix of genres and filmic styles, this programme serves up a feast sure to satisfy the most ravenous film-going appetite.
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| Euro Debuts |
| During the past year, we have seen an unusually high number of top quality debuts from European filmmakers. These films have been the talk of the festival circuit and, presented together in this programme, they offer an intriguing view of the potential future directions for European cinema. In the years to come, remember you saw the first films of these directors at MIFF. |
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| Homegrown |
MIFF is proud to welcome the attendance of filmmakers from all films in the Homegrown section.
Each year, MIFF is proud to present its selection of Australian cinema.
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| Magnum in Motion |
On the 60th anniversary of Magnum Photos – the world’s most prestigious photographic agency – MIFF is pleased to present this collection of 19 documentary films.
The programme, featuring Magnum photographers, explores the complexities (pragmatic, political and artistic) of the world of still photography. These documentaries delve into the creative relationships between sitters and shooters, the realities of photojournalism and the interplay between still photography and moving pictures.
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| Stars of David |
In the last few years, Israel’s cinema industry has been reinvigorated. Battling poor domestic box office and indifference several years ago, it is now regarded as a vibrant and creative international force – as witnessed by recent successes at the Berlin and Cannes film festivals.
In this category MIFF presents an array of Israeli films and documentaries produced over the last year.
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| Forbidden Pleasures |
The films of Forbidden Pleasures have been brought together because of their common desire to explore the kinkier aspects of human sexuality.
This programme is not designed to provoke for the sake of cheap controversy or exploitation; in fact, most titles play with the whole notion.
Some offer new reflections on the perceived limits of sexual decency, while others are simply playful and unashamed.
All films in Forbidden Pleasures contain scenes that may offend.
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| World Stories |
Indigenous peoples all over the world contribute to this new programme that includes a strong contingent of contemporary Indigenous Australian films.
Sponsored by the City of Melbourne, these films highlight the individuality and power of Indigenous story-telling, and the ways in which Indigenous peoples have embraced cinema as a new means to communicate their tales.
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| Full Moon Fever |
| A selection of horror movies and thrillers is designed to unashamedly send a tingle up your collective spines. |
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| Animation Gallery |
| Animation continues to inspire the world over – limited only by the threshold of the imagination. |
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| Africa! Africa! |
The cinema of Africa is experiencing a renaissance with approximately two and a half thousand films made there last year.
Despite this scale of production, very few African films are shown outside of their homeland. ‘African’ films that make it to the mainstream – films like Blood Diamond, The Last King of Scotland, The Constant Gardener – present European interpretations of African life, complete with European protagonists.
In the 2007 programme, selected from across the African continent over the last several years, MIFF has bundled together a diverse range of films made, for the most part, by African filmmakers. Documentaries, narrative features and shorts portray the cultural richness of life on the African continent and unearth truths often ignored by the Western mainstream.
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| Documentaries |
The documentary film continues its inexorable rise both at the box office and as an agent for placing issues on the social and political agenda.
This selection, culled from hundreds of entries, shows the varied textures of contemporary international documentary film.
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| Backbeat |
| A perennial hit over several MIFFs, Backbeat is our annual celebration of music on screen. Traditionally, this programme concentrates on documentaries about music styles – everything from rap to rock – and about musicians with individual visions. |
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| Next Gen |
MIFF is proud to present Next Gen – a new addition to the Festival programme.
Divided into films for primary school age and the over 14s, this sidebar treats Melbourne’s younger generations as mature contemporary viewers. The programme offers a selection of feature-length movies from a deliberately broad range of cultures. This is an opportunity for younger members, as well as the young at heart, to become part of the MIFF experience.
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| Best Bigpond Miff Shorts |
Short in size doesn’t mean short in content… Once again, best BigPond MIFF shorts pulls out all stops to present a short film competition that proves the short is as mighty as the feature.
With over 100 films drawn from more than 1000 entries from every point of the global compass, best BigPond MIFF shorts continues to be Australia’s largest short film competition. As well as for industry kudos, these talented filmmakers are all vying for the richest cash pool for short films in any Australian competition.
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| Call for Entry Deadline |
MIFF will accept features, shorts, documentaries, animations, experimental works, and music videos.
Shorts entry deadline - 07 March 2008
Features entry deadline - 04 April 2008
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