MWFF will focus on how filmmakers respond to their environments through storytelling, featuring films by Jazz Money, Jeni Thornley, and Kitty Green.
The Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF) is back for its eighth annual celebration of women and gender-diverse filmmakers, set to take place at ACMI from March 21st to 25th, 2024. This year’s festival will shine a spotlight on how filmmakers respond to their environments through storytelling, featuring works by notable directors including Jazz Money, Jeni Thornley, and Kitty Green.
The programme promises a diverse array of themes, from sustainability to the climate crisis, and contemporary social and cultural issues affecting women and gender-diverse individuals. Audiences can expect a mix of live and online screenings, alongside panel discussions and workshops.
Melbourne Women in Film Festival
- 21 – 25 March 2024
- ACMI
- mwff.org.au
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Kicking off the festival on Thursday, March 21st is the screening of WINHANGANHA (Wiradjuri language for “Remember, know, think”), a captivating exploration by acclaimed Wiradjuri artist Jazz Money. The film, commissioned by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia in 2023, delves into the impact of archival material on First Nations people, weaving together original poetry and a stirring score by Filipino-Aboriginal rapper DOBBY.
On the festival’s closing night, Monday, March 25th, audiences will be treated to Memory Film: a Filmmaker’s Diary by Jeni Thornley. Drawing on her Super 8 archive spanning from 1974 to 2003, Thornley’s documentary offers a poignant reflection on decades of activism and social change, with themes ranging from gender fluidity to utopian feminism.
Other highlights include the unorthodox documentary Carbon: the Unauthorised Biography, narrated by Sarah Snook (Succession), and the gripping drama The Royal Hotel, directed by Kitty Green and starring Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick.
In addition to screenings, the festival will feature panel talks and discussions, presented in collaboration with research partner Monash University. The full programme will be unveiled on February 29th and will include regular short film sessions, educational panels, and the closing night movie.
MWFF aims to broaden the vision of gender equality and diversity in the Australian screen industries by creating inclusive spaces that bring together diverse practitioners and audiences to experience compelling and thought-provoking cinema. The festival is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts and Creative Investment Partnership program.
Find out more here.
