Thursday 2 August 2007

Make a Day of It

While traditionally regarded as an ‘after hours’ festival, did you know that MIFF programs a number of weekday daytime sessions? Not only are the queues shorter and you’re sure to score a better seat without having to be one of the first punters at the session, any screening before 6pm costs a measly $12.50 (full) and $10.50 (industry/conc). So now’s the time to use that RDO… or just take a longer lunch break.

Tomorrow during the day, some of the films include:

• Hirokazu Kore-eda’s internationally celebrated take on purgatory set in an old brick school, After Life (12.45pm @ Forum)
• Susan Meiselas’ confronting view of Nicaragua, a country torn apart by conflict, in Pictures from a Revolution , on as part of the Magnum in Motion programme (11am @ ACMI)
• And more Magnum Photos docos, Cambodian Odyssey and Video Diaries: Dying for Publicity (2.45pm @ ACMI)
• The first peek at the children’s series, Animalia , based on Graeme Base’s best-selling book (1pm @ ACMI)
  

  TOMORROW'S SCREENING OF ANIMALIA WILL BE INTRODUCED BY GRAEME BASE AND EWAN BURNETT AND EPISODES 11, 5 & 3 WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A WITH GRAEME BASE.

• A story about three men confined in a car that’s caught in a ravine who are forced to share unwanted intimacies, Forever Never Anywhere (3pm @ Forum)

Q&A with Geoffrey Rush and Shekhar Kapur

Don’t forget our recent announcement that acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and Academy Award winner and MIFF patron Geoffrey Rush will be guests of the Festival on Saturday 11 August. MIFF and X|Media|Lab will present an exclusive opportunity to hear the director of Elizabeth and The Golden Age, Shekhar Kapur, and actor Geoffrey Rush talk for the first time about their experiences over the past few years leading up to their ‘Golden Age’. Tom Ryan will be hosting the session. It’s all happening Saturday 11 August, 6pm at Coopers Festival Lounge (Forum Theatre).
Tickets $16 via the MIFF Box Office at Forum Theatre or phone 03 9662 3722.

Words from the City Hip Hop After Party

Tickets to tonight’s 9.25pm screening at ACMI of local hip-hop doco Words from the City have now sold out, 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 and DJ Perplex, the current Australian DMC champion and, just confirmed, Wire MC from Sydney. Free entry for ticket holders and $10 at the door for other punters.
Tickets still available for second screening - Sat 11 Aug, 7.20pm @ ACMI

Readings Promotion & Discounts to MIFF punters

Buy the fantastic soundtrack to the 2007 MIFF film Black Snake Moan at Readings, for your chance to win a double in-season pass to the movie, in cinemas August 2. *While stocks last. View the trailer at blacksnakemoan.com.au

Black Snake Moan starring Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake. Bold and provocative, BLACK SNAKE MOAN tells the story of a God fearing bluesman (Jackson) who takes to a wild young woman (Ricci), using some unorthodox methods to try to help her. Soundtrack CD available, featuring music by RL Burnside, Black Keys and more.

Soundtrack is now available at your local Readings shop $29.95.
© 2007 by Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved. (With Image of Film Artwork)

Highlights of today’s screening schedule include:

• The best in music videos from the UK and US over the last 12 months, Mirrorball: Fresh Tracks (5.15pm @ ACMI, pre-6pm screening with tickets available at the daytime rate of $12.50 full and $10.50 industry/conc)
• Oded Davidoff’s compelling youth drama that took out 12 awards at last year’s Israeli Academy Awards, Someone to Run With (7pm @ Greater Union)
• A film described by the Toronto Film Festival as “one of the most emotionally devastating” of the year, starring the incomparable Mads Mikkelsen (MIFF guest in ’06), After the Wedding (7pm @ Forum)
• An indie horror about a mysterious transmission that wreaks psychological pandemonium, The Signal (9.15pm @ Regent)

Filmmakers present…

Coming up this week:

• Ivan Sen introduces his moving documentary about the abduction and murder of Indigenous performer Rhoda Roberts’ twin sister, A Sister’s Love (tonight 7pm @ ACMI)
• Natasha Gadd and Rhys Graham present their local hip-hop doco, Words from the City, then return straight afterwards for a Q&A (tonight 9.25pm – sold out – but punters can still come along to the after party at Ding Dong Lounge, tickets on the door)
• Director Lawrence Johnston and producer Lizette Atkins introduce their hypnotic ode to the hours between dusk and dawn, Night (this Friday 7pm @ Regent)
• International guest Debbie Melnyk presents her documentary on the now legendary rabble-rouser Michael Moore, Manufacturing Dissent: Michael Moore and the Media (this Friday 7.15pm @ Greater Union)
• Darcy Maine presents his exposé on the iconic Aussie band, Dirty Three (this Friday 9pm @ Greater Union)
• Filmmaker Peter Carstairs, producer Serena Paull and the cast introduce the first project to be produced under Tropfest’s Feature Program, September (this Friday 9pm @ RMIT Capitol)

Win Tickets

Coopers Festival Lounge @ Forum

Have you visited the Coopers Festival Lounge yet? When it comes to good grooves, great ambience and even Internet access, MIFFophiles would be hard-pressed to find a more congenial venue, and it’s open every day of the Festival from afternoon until late at night. 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 6pm, Josh Aitken bears his acoustic country heart. Enjoy Aitken’s soulful voice as he previews songs from his debut album, Dark Clouds. Then from 8pm, luluc (Zoe Randell from Grand Salvo and Steve Hassett from Wagons) give you soulful sounds that will resonate with you for days. The night caps off with DJ Mark Dorset, spinning tunes on the decks from 10pm.

Talking Pictures @ ACMI

Join industry specialists, Festival guests, filmmakers and actors as they discuss everything ‘film’. Get up close and personal, and come armed with your best questions. Admission is free.

Tonight at 6.15pm, Can your hear this? Music on Screen teases out the issues facing filmmakers when documenting live events and bringing music to the screen. Hosted by music journalist Patrick Donovan, panellists include Darcy Maine (Dirty Three, this Fri 9pm @ Greater Union & Fri 10 Aug 3pm @ ACMI), Lucille Desoto Clements (Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw , Thu 9 Aug 7.15pm @ ACMI), and Natasha Gadd and Rhys Graham (Words from the City, Sat 11 Aug 7.20pm @ ACMI).

Tomorrow at 6.15pm, Made in Australia – Indigenous Community Film looks at how film and video play a vital role in the culture and communications of remote and urban Indigenous communities throughout Australia. Joining host John Harding (actor, playwright and director) on the panel will be Neil Turner (Goolari Media), Rebecca McLean (PY Media), Richard Frankland (Golden Seahorse Productions) and Sarah Bond (Black Ruby Productions).

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:

• Words from the City – tonight 9.25pm @ ACMI (tickets still available for Sat 11 Aug 7.20 @ ACMI)
• 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days – this Saturday 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
• Control – Sat 11 Aug 9.20pm @ Forum
• Savage Grace – Sun 12 Aug 3pm @ Forum
• This is England (closing night feature) – Sun 12 Aug 7.30pm @ Regent

The following sessions are selling fast:

The Workshop – tomorrow 7pm @ ACMI
Billy the Kid – this Saturday 7.40pm @ ACMI
In the Company of Actors – this Sunday 1pm @ Greater Union
Beyond our Ken – this Sunday 3pm @ ACMI
Bella – this Sunday 5.30pm @ Forum
The Armstrongs – The Movie – this Sunday 7.3pm @ ACMI
I Served the King of England – Wed 8 Aug 7pm @ Forum
Manufacturing Dissent: Michael Moore and the Media – Sun 12 Aug 7.30pm @ ACMI
Browse film at melbournefilmfestival.com.au

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