Tuesday 31 July 2007

If You Do One Thing This Week, Make It MIFF

While the films always take pride of place at MIFF, there are some special events on the cards to add razzle-dazzle to your mid-week:

Following tomorrow’s premiere of Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw – a homegrown tribute to esteemed rockers Rose Tattoo – at the Greater Union at 9.15pm, we’re inviting you to join the filmmakers at a party that will see Cherry Bar rockin’ like there’s no tomorrow. From 10.30pm, the music of Rose Tattoo and other rock ‘n’ roll compadres will be pumping out until who-knows-when. Entry is free.

Tickets to Thursday’s 9.25pm screening at ACMI of local hip-hop doco Words from the City are selling like hotcakes, which means the vibe should be high for the film’s party, taking place at Ding Dong Lounge. From 10.30pm, hear good beats and rhymes, with special appearances from TZU’s MCs, Wire MC and DJ Perplex, the current Australian DMC champion. Free entry for ticket holders and $10 at the door for other punters.

Put a red circle around Friday 10 August in your diary for the short film event to end all short film events; best BigPond MIFF shorts Screening and Awards Night. We’ll be proving that the short is just as mighty as the feature as we hand out the gongs to the best films from our impressive programme of 100 short films. Hosted by Adam Zwar, best MIFF shorts promises to be a night to be remembered, and it all happens in the glamorous surrounds of the Regent Theatre at 9.15pm.

Highlights of today’s screening schedule include:

Steve Buscemi’s English remake of murdered Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh’s work, Interview, starring Sienna Miller (7.10pm @ Regent)
An intriguing look at one man’s attempt to assimilate into New York City after leaving the confines of an Hasidic Jewish community, Beyond Eyruv (5pm @ ACMI)
A creepy (crawly), claustrophobic thriller from William Friedkin, Bug, starring Ashley Judd and Harry Connick Jr (9pm @ Regent)
One woman’s obsessive quest to alter her face and keep her man in MIFF favourite Kim Ki-duk’s latest, Time (9pm @ Greater Union)

Filmmakers present…

Coming up this week, Magnum Photos photographer Donovan Wylie introduces his documentary, The Train (tomorrow 7pm @ ACMI); director and producer Lucille Desoto Clements presents her on-the-road tribute to stalwarts of Aussie rock Rose Tattoo, Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw (tomorrow 9.15pm @ Greater Union, followed by Cherry Bar after party); and Ivan Sen introduces his moving documentary about the abduction and murder of Indigenous performer Rhoda Roberts’ twin sister, A Sister’s Love (Thurs 7pm @ ACMI).

Stay tuned for more details…

Coopers Festival Lounge @ Forum

There’s only one place where MIFF-goers and friends should be seen outside the cinema – and that’s the Coopers Festival Lounge, open daily from the afternoon until late night at the Forum Theatre. Not only that, but the Coopers Festival Lounge is the one time during the year that you can sit back and relax under the glittering stars of the Forum without paying a cover charge.

Note to regulars: The Coopers Festival Lounge has been made even more ‘schmooze-friendly’ with the majority of Talking Pictures sessions moved to ACMI cinemas. This means your conversation can now flow freely with entertainment that is designed to complement your chatter, not impinge on it.

Tonight at 7pm, Lady Narcissus is Renee Willner, Dennis Zovko and Max Gilmour, harmonising with their unique blend of acoustic folk rock pop and darker poetic themes. And at 8pm, Ian Nightingale’s The Listening Lounge returns with soundtrack vinyl from his eclectic collection.

Talking Pictures @ ACMI Cinemas

Join industry specialists, Festival guests, filmmakers and actors as they discuss everything ‘film’. Admission is free.

Tonight at 6.15pm, Pictures in Motion – A Macro Look at Magnum presents Magnum Photos youngest member, Donovan Wylie, who’s visiting the Festival to coincide with the Magnum in Motion screenings. Wylie will elucidate on the highs and lows of bringing photojournalism to the screen with Brett McLennan, ACMI’s Screen Education Manager, as well as expounding on the relationship between sitter and shooter, the process of going from still to the moving image, and his documentary, The Train (screening tomorrow 7pm at ACMI and Thurs 9 Aug 11am ACMI).

CANCELLED EVENT
Tomorrow's Nollywood Calling Talking Pictures session has unfortunately been cancelled. This session was scheduled for 2.30pm at ACMI Cinemas. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Tomorrow at 6.15pm, Screens of David looks at the renaissance of Israel’s contemporary cinema, having been reinvigorated after battling poor box office and public indifference several years ago. Hosted by broadcaster John Safran, panelists will include Dvir Abramovich from the University of Melbourne; Eddie Tamir from Champion Pictures; and Keith Lawrence from Australia Israel Cultural Exchange.

Berkelouw Books MIFF Members offer

Berkelouw Books is very proud to offer MIFF members a 10% discount on all new books, second-hand books and stationery (excluding rare and Global Search books). Berkelouw Books place a great deal of importance on maintaining a close and continuous working relationship with each customer, and have access to an extensive range of specialised international suppliers to source your books. Simply present your current MIFF members card before the purchase. Berkelouw Books, 1044 High St, Armadale. Tel (03) 9576 255 berkelouw.com.au

to become a miff member go to melbournefilmfestival.com.au

Sold Out and Selling Fast

Ticket sales are running hot at this year’s Festival, which means MIFF suggests you book your sessions sooner rather than later in case they sell out. As the following lists suggest, it’s best not to be tardy…

The following sessions are sold out:

Short & Local – tonight 7pm @ Greater Union
Words from the City – Thurs 4 Aug 9.25pm @ ACMI
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days – Sat 4 Aug 9.15pm @ Forum (tickets still available for Sun 12 Aug 5.10pm @ Regent)
Inland Empire – Tues 7 Aug 9pm @ ACMI & Thurs 9 Aug 9.15pm @ Forum
Spicks & Specks Trivia Night @ Coopers Festival Lounge – Thurs 9 Aug 7pm
Azur and Asmar – Fri 10 Aug 1pm @ ACMI (tickets still available for Sat 4 Aug 1pm @ Forum)
Once – Fri 10 Aug 7pm @ ACMI
Savage Grace – Sun 12 Aug 3pm @ Forum
This is England (closing night feature) – Sun 12 Aug 7.30pm @ Regent
Browse films at melbournefilmfestival.com.au

The following sessions are selling fast:

The Workshop - Fri 3 Aug 7pm@ ACMI
Billy The Kid - Sat 4 Aug 7.40pm @ ACMI
Beyond our Ken – Sun 5 Aug 3pm @ ACMI
The Armstrongs – The Movie – Sun 5 Aug 7.3pm @ ACMI

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