Acting as the largest annual showcase of both emerging and established Australian cinema, it’s no surprise that the festival will be opened with a world premiere from one of Melbourne’s own.
“Our opening night film is The Death And Life Of Otto Bloom,” says MIFF artistic director Carey. This one’s very exciting because it’s kind of come out of nowhere. It’s a first time feature for Cris Jones who’s a local filmmaker and it’s all made in Melbourne. It’s a time travel romance/mockumentary [laughs]; it’s a real multi-hyphenate film staring Xavier Samuel as a mythical, modern-day rock star. He remembers things backwards so the film is a look at his life. It’s very unique, very original screenplay and I think people are really going to respond to it.
MIFF continues to feature a wide variety of films from a range of genres. In particular, this year’s program has seen quite an emphasises on true stories and crime from across the world. Carey draws attention to The Family, an investigation into Anne Hamilton-Byrne and one of Victoria’s most notorious cults.
“You often see true stories in the form of documentaries, but what we are seeing a lot of are true stories being made into feature films as well,” she explains. “We have a fascinating double: one is a documentary, one is a feature, but they are both about American newsreader Christine Chubbuck who shot herself live on television.”
This year’s festival will also see the introduction of a brand new section for audiences. Headliners is a collection of the most anticipated A-list festival hits and award-winners. The series will include some of the most successful films from this years Cannes Film Festival including The Handmaiden (Korea), Slack Bay (France) and The Unknown Girl (Belgium).
“Every year we have a lot of films direct from Cannes and one of my favourite films is by Jim Jarmusch – Paterson,” says Carey. “It stars Adam Driver and his character in the film is gorgeous, he plays a poetry-writing bus driver that lives in Paterson, New Jersey. Jim Jarmusch has also made another film, Gimme Danger, a documentary on Iggy Pop and The Stooges – so they couldn’t be more different.”
With thousands of submissions and an influx of both local and international releases to choose from, Carey and her team have had the grand task of selecting each film for the festival.
“People can make little films that come out of nowhere and they can become big hits if they are really interesting or have unique,” she says.”There’s a film called Ma by Celia Rowlson-Hall, she’s known as a choreographer but she’s created this feature film, which she tells entirely without dialogue. She stars in the film and it’s all done through movement – I just thought it was so completely different than anything I’ve ever seen before so we snapped that one up and invited her out.”
Breaking down the stereotype of a typical film festival, Carey highlights the presence of humour throughout the 2016 program and focuses on the art of evoking laughter from an audience.
“I’ve really come to love people who can do humour well because I think it’s so hard to do,” she says. “When it comes to film festivals people think it’s depressing and all artsy films with subtitles but we’ve got some really funny films. There’s a film by a young filmmaker by Maren Ade called Toni Erdmann. I loved this film so much I decided to program her two previous films, she really specialises in this comedy of awkwardness.”
While theatres often evoke silence from their audience, there are plenty of opportunities for punters to discuss, question and argue about all things cinema throughout the festival. As well as over 300 films, the event will offer up dedicated bars and restaurants, a festival lounge and Talking Pictures panels.
“The panels are focused around the program,” says Carey. “They’ll feature filmmakers that are in town. For example, this year one of our big retrospectives is on Jerry Lewis so we are doing a panel on the influence he has had on a lot of Australian comedians.
“One thing that’s really special is the lounge in The Forum that is being rebirthed as The Blackhearts Club. It’s being run and curated by Blackhearts & Sparrows; they are taking over that space and turning it into a pop-up 1930’s cabaret bar. Obviously we want people going to the films but we really want to see it as a destination for all Melbournians this winter.”
When discussing the sheer power of film and the arts, Carey ultimately reminds us that the Melbourne International Film Festival is an event that unites individuals, inspires creativity and encourages a community environment.
“I see the joy it brings to people. Some people, maybe they are a bit shy and they love film but they all come out at this one time of the year. It’s a very social, warm and welcoming atmosphere. You can meet so many people just by talking to people in the queue or queuing up for a drink at the bars. That’s what I think it really brings to Melbourne. It can be exhausting; it’s long. It’s seventeen days – but people just go for it. It’s that marathon that people love to indulge in and to have their minds blown.”
By Phoebe Robertson
