Prepare for a cinematic extravaganza as the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) rolls out the red carpet this August, presenting a mammoth selection of 276 films, ranging from international award-winners and captivating documentaries to highly anticipated releases.
Established in 1952, MIFF stands as one of the oldest film festivals globally, alongside Cannes and Berlin. Spanning three weeks in Melbourne, this annual celebration offers a thoughtfully curated program of global screen experiences and proudly boasts the world’s largest showcase of Australian filmmaking.
Mark your calendars for August 3 to 20, where 18 days of in-cinema programming will treat attendees to star-studded events, world premiere screenings, and engaging filmmaker talks. The festival lineup features an impressive array of 267 films from 70 countries worldwide, ensuring there’s something to captivate every film enthusiast.
Among the highlights are an array of award-winning titles, including:
- Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, recipient of the Caméra d’Or
- Anatomy of a Fall, a Palme d’Or-winning courtroom drama
- Monster, Cannes’ Best Screenplay winner
- May December – a camp melodrama starring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman
- How to Have Sex, a debut feature by Molly Manning Walker.
Australian filmmaking takes center stage with offerings like The Rooster, a compelling tale set in regional Victoria starring Hugo Weaving; the virtually-produced feature Mercy Road; Jason Raftopoulos’ humanistic drama Voices in Deep, drawing from his Greek-Cypriot family’s migration experiences; Rose Gold, recounting the historic moment the Boomers clinched third place at the Tokyo Olympics; and the Melbourne-set queer drama Sunflower.
Attendees can also catch opening night’s Shayda and the world premiere of Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story, a documentary chronicling the life of the legendary music figure.
For those seeking first-look international features, MIFF delivers The Adults, a heartwarming film with Michael Cera; Past Lives, an intimate romance delving into the memories of a Korean-American woman; and Passages, a captivating exploration of love triangles in the Parisian indie film scene.
To be part of this cinematic extravaganza, you can opt for the Share Pass, offering 12 standard festival admissions to enjoy solo or share with up to three friends per session at $205. Alternatively, the Discovery Pass grants six standard festival sessions at $115. MIFF also offers the U26 pass, exclusively available to members under 26, providing access to three off-peak festival sessions for $30. Single session tickets are also available for individual screenings.
