Claire on MIFF 2015

Hello all!

One of the best things about Melbourne is that there is always a festival on. Yay culture!

At the moment, we (the city, and I, for that matter) are a week into the Melbourne International Film Festival. This is my first year attending MIFF and boy oh boy, it has been amazing already. And there is still another week to go!

This year I was lucky enough to volunteer at a MIFF event called the 37 South Market. Sadly, as a weekend event, my time volunteering is now over. Boo. But this means I now get to enjoy the festival and see as many films I can (Which, unfortunately, isn't that many in the grand scheme of things. But nevertheless)

As a volunteer I was lucky enough to attend the Opening Gala at Hamer Hall (oh my word). The film at this event was Force of Destiny. Directed by the esteemed Paul Cox and starring David Wenham, this film was about an artist who is diagnosed with liver cancer. With 6 months to live, he falls in love. There was a quote said at the opening, before the film started, saying Paul Cox makes cinema about people, and this film is definitely an example of that. Quiet and moving, the film makes you think about life, love, and donating organs. 

Hannah Frederickson and David Wenham in Force of Destiny, image from the Melbourne International Film Festival

I have also been lucky enough to attend two premier's thus far. 

The first was The Daughter, directed by Simon Stone and a contemporary adaption of the Henrick Isben play The Wild Duck. 
And this film is stunning. STUNNING. The cinematography alone was gorgeous. However, the performance by Odessa Young as Hedvig (aka, the daughter) blew me away. All performances (Geoffrey Rush, Sam Neill, Ewan Leslie, Paul Schneider), actually, were phenomenal. I have no faults for this film. Unfortunately there is no trailer available yet, but if it get's a general release (which it will) I will be sure to let you know!!

The phenomenal Odessa Young in The Daughter, photo from MIFF

The second was Putaparri and the Rainmakers. 

Not only was this documentary directed by a woman, but I had the absolute honor of witnessing Putaparri and his family's story and their fight for land rights of Kurtal in the Kimberly's Great Sandy Desert. An amazingly enriching and insightful film, and the perfect example of the effects of the Mabo ruling. Also an incredible way for white people to understand the importance and connection to the land aboriginal Australians possess. A must see for everyone, to assist in your understanding of this country and aboriginal people. 

This film will be screening again at MIFF on Saturday the 15th. This session is on Standby, so more tickets might be released the night before! It will then be released at Cinema Nova later this year, and on NITV in March. Hopefully the film will be distributed more! 

Tom "Putaparri" Lawford, photo from MIFF

This week I am also seeing Neon, a documentary about neon lights and those who love it; Early Winter, a story of "intergenerational love", connection and family; and My Life Directed by Nicolas Widning Refn, an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the life of the director and his family during the filming of the 2013 Ryan Gosling flick "Only God Forgives." 

Nicolas Winding Refn in My Life Directed by Nicolas Widning Refn, photo from MIFF

There are SO many more movies I'd love to see, but unfortunately, University and work calls! You can check out the full program at the MIFF website, or download the app. It is very handy. 

Are you seeing any films at MIFF this year? Have you gone in the past? I'd love to know!

Stay gold!

Claire x