W I D E S C R E E N

Today's Highlights

With only four days of MIFF to go – count 'em – it's time get those final viewing choices finalised, before the sessions all book up! Below are some of today's highlights.

An Australian production filmed on location in Pakistan, Son of a Lion follows the story of a boy who is reluctant to follow his father into the family trade of making and selling weapons. (5.00pm at Forum)

From the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes comes the cinematic mash-up WR – Mysteries of the Organism, a 1971 satire of Communist Yugoslavia that was banned in its homeland. (9.15pm at Forum)

Not for the faint hearted, Funny Games (starring Naomi Watts and Tim Roth) is director Michael Haneke's English-language remake of his own 1997 Austrian chiller about a family taken hostage by a pair of sadistic boys. (7.00pm at RMIT Capitol)

At the weird end of tonight's viewing options is Spiderbaby: Director's Cut; this 1968 cult-classic is about an inbred caniballistic family that are forced to defend their home when distant relatives arrive to claim the property. (11.20pm at Greater Union)

Also screening tonight Orbit, a program of fresh new music videos produced by Australian and New Zealand directors. After the screening head down to the Coopers Festival Lounge at the Forum for the Orbit afterparty, featuring a live performance by All India Radio. Entry is free!

Extra Sessions

Just a reminder that three extra sessions will be screening at ACMI's cinema 1 screen for these popular MIFF films. If you didn't catch them before, now's your chance!

Thursday 7 August 9.15pm – Three Blind Mice (92 mins) (session 5077)

Friday 8 August 7pm – Rock N Roll Nerd (88 mins) (session 5083)

Saturday 9 August 7pm – Katyn (117 mins) (warning: contains very violent scene) (session 5090)

Replacement Screenings

Further to the projection issues experienced recently, Greater Union are kindly assisting us to put on two replacement screenings:

Friday 8 August 3.00pm - Greater Union 4 - Momma's Man (94 mins) (session 4079)

Friday 8 August 3.00pm - Greater Union 5 - Night Train (91 mins) (session 3079)

Two for One Tickets!

Show your valid Metcard at the Festival Ticket Office in the Forum Theatre and receive 2 tickets for the price of 1:

Thursday 7 August:

Three Blind Mice (5077) 9.15pm ACMI Cinema 1

Remember: You can only claim this special from the Forum Theatre Ticket Office by showing your valid Metcard. Two tickets for the price of 1 full price ticket ($16.50). All sessions subject to availability at the time of booking.

This is Your Last Chance

This week MIFF is offering an unprecedented 'Last Chance' pass – giving you access to 7 sessions* for the bargain price of $70.00. Purchase your 'Last Chance' pass from the MIFF box office in the Forum Theatre.

* Excludes Closing Night and special events

Session Swap

Please note there is a a cinema swap between ISKA’S JOURNEY & BOY A this evening (Thursday) so there are now further seats available for Boy A:

Greater Union 6 , 7pm BOY A (106 mins)

Greater Union 5 , 7pm ISKA’S JOURNEY (93 mins)

Umbrella Entertainment

If you enjoyed "Not Quite Hollywood", have a look at some of the films featured in their entirety. Umbrella Entertainments' extensive catalogue includes films featured such as "Turkey Shoot", "Razorback", "The Adventures of Barry McKenzie" and "Stone" just to name a few. To find out more about these and other fabulous Australian titles in our extensive catalogue visit www.umbrelladvd.com.au

At the Coopers Festival Lounge

As the final days of the Festival decend on us, this is your last chance (until next year, of course) to enjoy the Forum theatre in its atmospheric lounge mode. Oh, and there's plenty of good, free music on show too.

6.30pm Major Chord – Softly sung pledges of love, Neil Young-esque ramblings and triumphant bursts of Beatles-style pop
8.00pm Al & Jim – Bluegrass trance on banjo and guitar
9.00pm DeJay VU – Eerie soundscapes with a compelling sense of the familiar
10.00pm Orbit After Party featuring All India Radio – Dream-pop that falls somewhere between Portishead and Boards of Canada

Sold Out and Selling Fast

What's left of this year's MIFF is booking up fast – don't miss out!

Bastardy (Thursday 7 August 3.15pm at ACMI) – SELLING FAST
Evangelion – 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (Thursday 7 August 5.00pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
The Romance of Astrea and Celadon (Thursday 7 August 5.00pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
Kenedi is Getting Married (Thursday 7 August 9.15pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
Nightwatching (Thursday 7 August 9.15pm at Kino) – SELLING FAST
The Devil, Probably (Friday 8 August 12:45pm at Forum) – SELLING FAST
Persepolis (Friday 8 August 1.00pm at ACMI) – SELLING FAST
Brando (Friday 8 August 3.00pm at ACMI) – SELLING FAST
In Bruges (Friday 8 August 5.00pm at Kino) – SELLING FAST
Encounters at the End of the World (Friday 8 August 7.00pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
One Night in a City (Friday 8 August 7.00pm at ACMI) – SELLING FAST
A Brighter Summer Day (Saturday 9 August 10.45am at Forum) – SELLING FAST
Persepolis (Saturday 9 August 7.00pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
Tricks (Saturday 9 August 7.15pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
The Pleasure of Being Robbed (Sunday 10 August 11.00am at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST
Johnny Mad Dog (Sunday 10 August 3.15pm at Forum) – SELLING FAST
Closing Night: [Rec.] (Sunday 10 August 8.00pm at Greater Union) – SELLING FAST

These sessions are completely 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
MIFF Footy Shorts (Thursday 7 August 7.00pm at ACMI) – SOLD OUT
My Winnipeg (Friday 8 August 7.00pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Best MIFF Shorts (Friday 8 August 9.00pm at RMIT Capitol) – SOLD OUT
Silent Light (Friday 8 August 9.15pm at Forum) – SOLD OUT
The Night James Brown Saved Boston (Friday 8 August 9.15pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (Saturday 9 August 1.00pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
The Wackness (Saturday 9 August 3.00pm at Forum) – SOLD OUT
Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts (Saturday 9 August 3.00pm at ACMI) – SELLING FAST
A Complete History of My Sexual Failures (Saturday 9 August 7.15pm at Forum) – SOLD OUT
Little Deaths (Saturday 9 August 7.15pm at Capitol) – SOLD OUT
Gomorrah (Saturday 9 August 9.00pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Three Monkeys (Sunday 10 August 1.00pm at Forum) – SOLD OUT
Waltz with Bashir (Sunday 10 August 1.00pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
I Think We’re Alone Now (Sunday 10 August 3.15pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT
Lorna’s Silence (Sunday 10 August 5.15pm at Forum) – SOLD OUT
Wendy and Lucy (Sunday 10 August 5.15pm at Greater Union) – SOLD OUT

MOBI DOCS

The full series of MOBI DOCS (66 mins) will screen in the COOPERS FESTIVALLOUNGE at the FORUM THEATRE on SATURDAY 9th AUGUST at 12:30pm.
ENTRY IS FREE.

Widescreen Competition

GET YOURSELF INTO THE DRAW TO WIN YOUR VERY OWN ULTIMATE MIFF CLOSING NIGHT EXPERIENCE

Thanks to some loving MIFF supporters, we have the best MIFF prize up for grabs.

Two tickets to the Closing Night film & party on Sunday 10 August.
Accommodation for two at The Sofitel hotel, on Closing Night.
$500 wardrobe courtesy of Alice Euphemia.
$300 to spend at any MIDAS shoe store in Victoria.
Two MIFF fleecy hoodies, designed by Vicious Threads.

For your chance to win this great package, in 25 words or less, tell us what your favourite film of the festival has been so far and email this, together with your name, address and MOBILE NUMBER to griffen@melbournefilmfestival.com.au. Entries close Friday 8 August at midday. Winners will be notified by email. Please include "Widescreen Comp" in the subject line.

Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) - Latest Widescreen