Widescreen - Thursday 31 July

Today’s Highlights

The second weekend of the Festival is almost upon us; if you've been dawdling in your cinematic viewing, it's time to get a move on before another MIFF passes you by! Some of the highlights of todays viewing are:

A film that's bound to make you feel better about yourself is A Complete History of My Sexual Failures, one man's documentary journey into the mysteries of why his relationships fail, as he interviews his previous girlfriends about his romantic shortcomings (7.00pm at Greater Union).

Meanwhile Werner Herzog turns his eye for the quirky on an Antarctic scientific research station in Encounters at the End of the World, and captures some breathtaking footage of the wilderness and wildlife (7.00pm at RMIT Capitol).

If you haven't caught any of the masterful Edward Yang's films yet, you might want to check out Taipei Story, a film about a relationship teetering on the edge in the boomtown of 80s Taipei.

Veteren Portugeuse filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira has delivered his latest film at the age of 99, The Christopher Columbus – The Enigma, an account of a couple's journey around the world as they seek the birthplace of the famous explorer.

Schedule Changes

Two sessions showing on Saturday 2 August have changed venues. The updated details are:

Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go (Saturday 2 August 5.00pm at Greater Union 4)

3 Women (Saturday 2 August 5.00pm at Forum) - with increased capacity there are now further tickets available for this session!

Festival Guests

This evening Gardens of the Night director Damian Harris introduces his harrowing film about child abduction, and will take part in a Q&A following the screening (5.00pm at Forum).

Producer of the Australian feature Men’s Group, John L. Simpson, will present and take part in a Q&A for today's screening of this feature about the experiences of six men who come together in a support group. This film was the hit of the Sydney Film Festival and not to be missed!

Experimental filmmakers Ben Russell and Ben Rivers present a combined program of their unconventional shorts entitled We Can Not Exist in this World Alone. You can ask them what it's all about afterwards at the Q&A session that follows the screening.

Coopers Festival Lounge

The rocking tunes continue at the Coopers Festival Lounge tonight with a special Wanda Jackson tribute to follow the screening of The Sweet Lady with the Nasty Voice, presented by Route 66. Come down and twist to the rockabilly tunes!

6.00pm Sam Lohs – One of the lead members of Fruit, Sam performs solo tunes from her upcoming second album We Trip Over Things
7.30pm Houlette – The dark sultry sounds of 60s-inspired folk
9.00pm Wanda Jackson Tribute presented by Route 66 – Reach all the high points of rock 'n' roll, country, blues, gospel and rockabilly, with local cowgirl Nici Blue Eyes and DJ Electric Mudcat

FESTIVAL LOUNGE

Coming up...

It's time to start getting ready for a massive MIFF weekend, with three big Australian premieres on offer.

There is the world premiere of Acolytes, a new Aussie horror film (Friday 1 August 9.30pm at Forum), a red carpet gala premiere of Matthew Newton’s three blind mice (Friday 1 August 7.15pm at RMIT Capitol), and the premiere of the Australian thriller The Horseman (Sunday 3 August 9.15pm at Greater Union).

Also in town this weekend is indie documentary maker Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame), who on Saturday will be presenting his one-man documentary search for the Western world's nemesis, Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? (Saturday 2 August 7.15pm at Greater Union)

Watch for further details in tomorrow's edition of Widescreen.

Sold Out and Selling Fast

The following sessions are selling out fast – get 'em before they go!

The Wrecking Crew (Friday 1 August 7.15pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell (Friday 1 August 9.15pm at RMIT Capitol) – SELLING FAST
Padre Nuestro (Saturday 2 August 11.00am at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
In My Father’s Country (Sunday 3 August 5.00pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
Waltz with Bashir (Sunday 3 August 1.00pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
3 Women (Saturday 2 August 5.00pm at Forum) - Further seats available due to venue change.

As we near the second weekend of the Festival the sold out sessions are starting to pile up:

Red Like the Sky (Thursday 31 August 1.00pm at ACMI) – SOLD OUT
Asterix at the Olympic Games (Friday 1 August 1.00pm at ACMI) – SOLD OUT
Ben X (Friday 1 August 5.15pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson (Friday 1 August 9.15pm at ACMI) – SOLD OUT
Jar City (Friday 1 August 7.15pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Gomorrah (Sunday 3 August 9.15pm at Greater Union, Saturday 9 August 9.00pm at Greater Union) – BOTH SESSIONS SOLD OUT
Hafez (Monday 4 August 7.15pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Boy A (Thursday 7 August 7.00pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story (Thursday 7 August 7.00pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Wendy and Lucy (Sunday 10 August 5.15pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT

Two For One Offer

Two tickets for the price of one available today for the following sessions (Offer available at the Box Office Only not online):

Trip to Asia - The Quest For Harmony (session 2034) - 5.00pm Greater Union
Men's Group - (session 5035) - 7.00pm ACMI
Christopher Columbus - The Enigma - (session 6036_ - 9.00pm RMIT Capitol

774 Outside Broadcast

THIS FRIDAY - ABC 774's Conversation Hour is broadcasting live from the Melbourne International Film Festival. Join host Ali Moore with festival guests Australian actress Jacqui Weaver (THREE BLIND MICE), Aboriginal actor and documentary subject Jack Charles (BASTARDY), along with Kosova beauty Arta Dobroshi (LORNA'S SILENCE) and New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison (RAIN OF THE CHILDREN).

Movies on the Radio

On Saturday 2 August, Triple R's Off The Record and Film Buffs’s Forecast will broadcast live from MIFF, from the relaxed ambience of the Coopers Festival Lounge.

Guests include:
Morgan Neville – the director of Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story and The Night James Brown Saved Boston
Arta Debroshi – star of Lorna’s Silence
Lizette Atkins – producer of Rock n Roll Nerd
Richard Brennan – producer of Long Weekend
plus live music from Chris Wilson and more

Give-aways include DVDs from Beyond Home Entertainment and tickets to MIFF.

Tune in, or come down and join the fun at the Triple R live broadcast from the Melbourne International Film Festival:
Coopers Festival Lounge (at the Forum)
10am to 2pm, Saturday 2 August

This broadcast is sponsored by Beyond Home Entertainment.
beyondhomeentertainment.com.au

MIFF Merchandise

Check out our great range of merchandise available for sale online now or from the Coopers Festival Lounge.

Merchandise opening times at the Coopers Festival Lounge:
5pm - 10pm on weekdays
2pm - 10pm on weekends

Widescreen Giveaway

Up for grabs: 5 copies of Lonely Planet's One People – Many Journeys. For your chance to win one of these books, email your name and address to griffen@melbournefilmfestival.com.au. Winners will be notified by email and the books will be available for collection at the MIFF Box Office at The Forum. Please include "Lonely Planet" in the subject line.

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