Widescreen - Monday 4 August

As a massive MIFF weekend winds to a close – from the pumping disco of the Arthur Russell post-screening party on Friday night, to the slew of international and local guests that inundated the Festival in the days that followed – it's time to survey the schedule for MIFF's final week.

Today's Highlights

Monday's screening schedule is a little more leisurely after the frenzy of the weekend viewing, but there are plenty of gems to be found. Some highlights:

Filmmaker Nina Paley presents her dazzling animated reinterpretation of the traditional Ramayana tale, Sita Sings the Blues, mixing an autobiograpical story in with the joyous song and dance sequences. A Q&A follows the screening. (7.15pm at Kino)

Director Aditya Assarate presents Wonderful Town, an subtle romance set among the rebuilding in the south of Thailand in the wake of the 2004 tsunami. The director will take part in a Q&A following the screening. (9.15pm at Greater Union)

Also screening is the uplifting Young@Heart, a spritely doco following the rehersals and tour of a choir with an average age of 81, who specialise in tongue-in-cheek arrangements of punk and rock tunes like 'I Wanna Be Sedated', 'Stayin' Alive', and 'Golden Years'. (7.15pm at Greater Union)

Coming soon

On Tuesday, Melbourne's own Eric Bana presents a film that had a formative impact on him as both an actor and cinemagoer, Mad Max 2. A Q&A session with Bana follows the screening. (Tuesday 5 August 7.00pm at Forum)

Fresh from it's airing at Cannes, the unsettling and visually compelling On War also screens Tuesday, in what is one man's exploration of the bounds of society and hedonism.

Director Julian Cole is in town Wednesday to introduce his documentary on two well-known British artists – Gilbert Prousch and George Passmore – who specialise in making 'art for all', With Gilbert & George. (Wednesday 6 August 7.15pm at ACMI)

Sold Out and Selling Fast

Even as last weekend draws to a close, it seems punters are already planning next weekends viewing well in advance – many of MIFF's final weekend sessions are booking out fast – don't miss out!

The Drummer (Tuesday 5 August 7.00pm at Kino) – SELLING FAST
MIFF Footy Shorts (Thursday 7 August 7.00pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
Nightwatching (Thursday 7 August 9.15pm at Kino)
In Bruges (Friday 8 August 5.00pm at Kino)
My Winnipeg (Friday 8 August 7.00pm at Greater Union)
Best MIFF Shorts (Friday 8 August 9.00pm at Capitol)
Silent Light (Friday 8 August 9.15pm at Forum) – SELLING FAST
The Night James Brown Saved Boston (Friday 8 August 9.15pm at Forum) – SELLING FAST
The Wackness (Saturday 9 August 3.00pm at Forum) – SELLING FAST
Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts (Saturday 9 August 3.00pm at ACMI) – SELLING FAST
Little Deaths (Saturday 9 August 7.15pm at Capitol) – SELLING FAST
Three Monkeys (Sunday 10 August 1.00pm at Forum) – SELLING FAST
I Think We’re Alone Now (Sunday 10 August 3.15pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
Lorna’s Silence (Sunday 10 August 5.15pm at Forum) – SELLING FAST
Closing Night: [Rec.] (Sunday 10 August 8.00pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST

These sessions are completely 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
Gomorrah (Saturday 9 August 9.00pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Waltz with Bashir (Sunday 10 August 1.00pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Wendy and Lucy (Sunday 10 August 5.15pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT

At the Coopers Festival Lounge

If you haven't been into the Coopers Festival Lounge yet, make sure you check it out before the Festival ends. It's a rare chance to relax in the unique ambience of the Forum theatre, and a great place to see some of Melbourne exceptional musical talent – all for free.

Today at 6 pm DJ King Ruser graces the Coopers Festival Lounge stage, to spin indie, funk, electropop, rock and stuff. You gotta love stuff.

Not Quite Hollywood in Geelong

The Geelong Performing Arts Centre and Melbourne International Film Festival present for the first time in Geelong a special screening of the MIFF Opening Night Film, Not Quite Hollywood.

This special screening will be followed by a Q&A with Director Mark Hartley.



Wednesday 6 August 2008, 8pm
GPAC, Ford Theatre, 50 Little Malop Street, Geelong

Info & Bookings: 03 5225 1200 or online www.gpac.org.au

Ticket prices:
Full – $16.50
Concessions – $13.50

For film synopsis and information MIFF2008_Geelong_Special_Event_Flyer.pdf (pdf file, 534kb)

Umbrella EntertainmenT

Calling all zombie fans! Umbrella Entertainment, proud sponsors of the MIFF George Romero Retrospective are excited to announce the October release of George Romero's Martin and the George A. Romero Collection (featuring Dawn Of The Dead, The Crazies and Martin). To keep up to date with these and other fabulous titles in our extensive catalogue visit www.umbrelladvd.com.au

Not a MIFF Member? Join Now!

The best way to see the 2008 Festival is to become a MIFF member. Generous ticket discounts, priority queuing and access to all Festival venues (conditions apply), 10% discount on Festival merchandise and Festival Lounge food and drinks are just some of the fabulous benefits that come with being a MIFF Member.

JOIN NOW to become a MIFF member.

Origin Energy OFFER

We're proud to be Ethical Investor's ‘Sustainable Company of the Year'. We're working together with our customers, communities, shareholders and our own people to help create a more sustainable future. Carbon offsets are one of the many easy ways to make a difference.

Reduce your environmental impact with Origin's Go Green Calculator™ at www.origingreen.com.au. Quote "MIFF2008" when prompted to receive a 5% discount. Your actions also provide a benefit to MIFF.

Dining & Drinking

MIFF would like to thank all of our 2008 Bar & Restarant Partners for their support. We hope that you will visit them for a drink, a catch up, or for a bite to eat between films during the Festival period....

Places to Dine and Drink

ACMI Lounge - 8663 2537 - Federation Square
Arintji - 9663 9900 - Federation Square
Carlton Hotel - 9663 3246 - 193 Bourke Street
City Wine Shop - 9654 6657 - 159 Spring Street
Collins Quarter - 9650 8500 - 86a Collins Street
Cookie - 9663 7660 - 1/252 Swanston Street
Grossi Florentino - 9662 1811 - 80 Bourke Street
Hairy Canary - 9654 2471 - 212 Little Collins Street
Longrain - 9671 3151 - 40-44 Little Bourke St
Movida - 9663 3038 - 1 Hosier Lane
Ristorante Spontini - 9670 2468 - 20 McKillop Street
Tazio - 9654 9119 - 66 Flinders Lane
The Long Room - 9663 7226 - 162-168 Collins Street
Trunk - 9663 7994 - 275 Exhibition Street
Verge - 9639 9500 - 1 Flinders Lane

Places to Drink

Cabinet Bar - 9654 0915 - 11 Rainbow Alley
Canary Club - 9663 1983 - 6 Melbourne Place
Coopers Festival Lounge - Forum Theatre - 154 Flinders Street
Gin Palace - 9654 0533 - 10 Russell Place
Horse Bazaar - 9670 2329 - 397 Lt Lonsdale Street
Loop - 9654 0500 - 23 Meyers Place
Madame Brussels - 9662 2775 - Level 3, 59 Bourke St
Manchuria Bar - 9663 1997 - 1st Floor, 7 Waratah Place
Meyers Place Bar - 9650 8609 - 20 Meyers Place
Order of Melbourne - 9663 6707 - 401 Swanston Street
Phoenix - 9650 4976 - 82 Flinders Street
Roxanne Parlour - 0410 889 121 - 2 Coverlid Place Melbourne
The Croft Institute - 9671 4399 - 21-25 Croft Alley
The Red Hummingbird - 9654 2266 - Level 1, 246 Russell Street
Transit Cocktail Lounge - 9639 9500 - Level 2, Transport Hotel, Federation Square
Yalumba Festival Wine Bar -Level 1 Foyer, Greater Union Cinemas, 131 Russell Street

Widescreen Giveaways

Up for Grabs - 5 Double passes to Wonderful Town - Monday 4 August 9.15pm at Greater Union.
For your chance to win 5 double passes, email your name and address to griffen@melbournefilmfestival.com.au. Winners will be notified by email and tickets will be available for collection at the Greater Union Box Office before the commencement of the film. Please include "Wonderful Town" in the subject line.

Up for Grabs - 5 Double passes to Ballast - Monday 4 August 9.15pm at Kino.
For your chance to win 5 double passes, email your name and address to griffen@melbournefilmfestival.com.au. Winners will be notified by email and tickets will be available for collection at the Kino Box Office before the commencement of the film. Please include "Ballast" in the subject line.

CD Giveaway!

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