MIFF Has Revealed A First Look At Their Extensive Film Program For This Year

MIFF is coming back this August to celebrate its platinum anniversary year. And with such a major milestone, film buffs will be spoilt for choice. Expect an expansive program of international films, world premieres, Australian cinema, documentaries and more. MIFF is returning to metro, regional and suburban cinemas, as well as at-home streaming. This will be the first full cinema season for MIFF since 2019. The festival will run from August 4 to 21. Meanwhile, MIFF Play, the streaming platform, will have a selection of films available from August 11 to 28.

Opening and Closing Night

Two Australian films will bookend the festival. It will begin with the World Premiere of the MIFF Premiere Fund-supported film, Of an Age. Set and shot in Melbourne, this coming-of-age feature depicts the romance between two young men over one summer’s day in 1999. This film is directed by Goran Stolevski, named as one of Variety’s ’10 Directors to Watch’ for 2022.

“Goran Stolevski is having an extraordinary 2022, emerging as a major voice within world cinema from right here in Melbourne,” said MIFF Artistic Director Al Cossar. “Of an Age will make audiences swoon, yes — but it will also make them sit up and take notice. We’re so thrilled that MIFF’s return to the cinemas will be marked with this incredible, moving, Melbourne story of love and longing.”

After 18 days of cinema, MIFF will end with the Australian premiere of Clean. Premiering at SXSW, this feature documentary follows ‘trauma cleaner’ and Melbourne woman Sandra Pankhurst as she responds to a difficult world with radical kindness.

Premiere Fund Films

Including the film Of an Age, there are ten MIFF Premiere Fund-supported films that will debut at the festival. Key themes this year include environmentalism, sustainability, the housing crisis, diversity, coming-of-age and CALD, LGBITQ+ and First Nations issues.

There will be documentaries narrated by Hugo Weaving and Margot Robbie, and films that depict life in all corners of Australia, from Tasmania to Queensland.

International Features and Documentaries

Highlights from overseas include:

• Alcarràs, winner of the 2022 Golden Bear for Best Film
• Emily the Criminal, a thriller starring Aubrey Plaza
• Dual, starring Karen Gillan and Aaron Paul
• The Novelist’s Film, directed by South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo and winner of the Berlinale’s Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize
• The Quiet Girl, a Gaelic-language film that won Best Irish Feature at the Dublin International Film Festival

Documentary highlights include:

• The Afterlight, a 35mm print film that will erode every time it screens
• Jane by Charlotte, Charlotte Gainsbourg’s portrait of her mother Jane Birkin
• Navalny, follows Putin’s rival as he investigates his own poisoning by the state
• Fire of Love, which features footage from French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Grafft and unveils their love story

So far, 33 films have been revealed for this year. The full program will be announced on Tuesday July 12. To see more details about the program, click here.