Melbourne International Film Festival Highlights

Local Community

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has been a hallmark of the city’s arts and cultural scene for the past 64 years, and this year will be no different! Bringing together some of the most cutting-edge films and documentaries from all over the globe, the festival program is a diverse line-up with something to suit everyone. Running from the 28th of July to the 14th of August 2016, C&G have perused the MIFF program to round up some of the highlights.

Aquarius

France / Brazil, 2016

Clara is a retired music critic who resides in a beachside building called Aquarius. Everything about her life is tied up in this place – it’s where she raised her children and became the person she is. But when property developers convince her neighbours to sell up in order to demolish Aquarius, a lot begins to change for Clara.  Artforum has described this film as ‘a sensuous memory piece about the meanings we invest in places, objects, and music.’

Blood of My Blood

France / Italy / Switzerland, 2015

From one of Italy’s most admired filmmakers, Marco Bellocchio, comes this dark tale of family, religion and drama. In 1600s Italy, a priest’s suicide results in a nun being accused of working with the devil. In a storyline running parallel, a convent prison is involved in a real estate deal – and the prison’s owner, a strange elderly man, only ever leaves the property at night. Slant Magazine describes Blood of My Blood as ‘unclassifiable’ – book now and decide for yourself!

A Good Wife

Serbia, 2016

Milena is a middle-aged wife and mother, by-and-by content with daily life until she is diagnosed with breast cancer. But her health problems are just the beginning. Life throws another challenge at her when she discovers an old video tape proving her husband’s shocking involvement in war crimes.

This film is directed by the lead actress, Mirjana Karanovic, and has been hailed as a masterful debut from the revered Serbian star.

11 Minutes

Poland, 2015

Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski is renowned for the ingenuity of his storytelling and eccentricity of his technique. Centered around one hotel in the capital of Warsaw, multiple occurrences are taking place. Life threatening situations, crime and passionate love affairs all tie together in one stunning twist. Cinema Scope describes 11 Minutes as ‘an astonishing game of mirages, where time expands and contracts giddily.’ We’re intrigued!

Also worth taking note of are the ‘Animation Shorts’ screenings, a collection of short films from around the world being shown in session format at both the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and Hoyts Melbourne Central.

And don’t miss out on having a wine and a bite to eat at the Blackhearts Club! Run by the folk from Bayside’s favourite boutique wine store, Blackhearts & Sparrows, it opens July 29 at the Forum Theatre.

Find out more about the Melbourne International Film Festival via www.miff.com.au