Get excited Melburnites, for the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has unleashed the First Glance selection for its 64th year, which includes an exciting program of experimental film and audiovisual artistry in Vertical Cinema; the Centrepiece Gala screening of Holding the Man; a David Gulpilil retrospective; and a new principal partnership with Metro Trains Melbourne.
The selection also includes the announcement of some of the best new features and documentaries from around the world, contemporary Shorts, six local films set to have their respective world premieres as part of previously announced MIFF Premiere Fund program, and films which will be fun for the whole family which were previously announced as part of the festival’s Next Gen program.
MIFF Artistic Director Angela Carey promises that, “Melbourne audiences have so much to look forward to in this year’s MIFF program including, for the first time in Australia, the spectacular international force that is Vertical Cinema”. This project is set to consist of ten commissioned large-scale, site-specific works by internationally renowned experimental filmmakers and audiovisual artists, which will each be presented on 35mm celluloid and projected vertically with custom built projectors in vertical cinemascope.
Neil Armfield’s Holding the Man will be essential viewing at the festival, an Australian film based on Timothy Conigrave’s popular book of the same name. The film tells the tale of Conigrave (played by Ryan Corr) and his long-term love for the football captain of his Melbourne high school, John Caleo (Craig Stott). Also starring Sarah Snook, Guy Pearce, Anthony LaPaglia and Kerry Fox, Holding the Man is an inspiring choice for the Centrepoint Gala, which celebrates the midpoint of the film festival.
Other highlights of the selection include US film Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which took out both the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the festival this year, as well as Iranian film Tehran Taxi, which won the Golden Bear for Best Film in Berlin, and features director Jafar Panahi driving a taxi around the Iranian capital city.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for the First Glance selection, which itself is just a small teaser for the full festival program which will be unveiled on 7 July. As a taste for what’s to come it promises that Melbourne is in for a cracking good time at the movies.
The 64th Melbourne International Film Festival runs from 30 July-16 August. To take a look at the complete First Glance selection, head to http://miff.com.au/. Tickets for MIFF go on sale 10 July.
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