Despite Melbourne’s slow descent into winter, a pivotal moment in the city’s annual cultural calendar is keeping chins up and eyes on the screen: the 72nd Melbourne International Film Festival.
Launching on August 8th and running until the 25th, the highly-anticipated event has moviegoers, casual watchers, series bingers, and film critics alike scoping the recently released program in eager anticipation for what is set to exhibit some of the world’s best and boldest films of the year.
As one of the longest-running film festivals in the world, MIFF is globally renowned for curating a distinct, influential and of course, entertaining collection of films through its diverse program strands. Starting with the festival’s main headliners, attendees can then feast their eyes on films from Australia and regions from around the world, before delving into a spookier strand like ‘Night Shift’, or indulging their inner auteur with ‘Restorations’ and ‘Experimentations.’
Beyond illuminating the big screen, MIFF is the epicentre of some of the country’s most prestigious film awards, industry programs and education initiatives.
One of these programs is one of MIFF’s most innovative and unique features: The Critics Campus Program. Helmed by esteemed film critic Luke Goodsell, the intensive in-festival program strives to inspire and develop the skills of emerging screen critics by providing them with unparalleled access to the festival’s films, creatives and resources, alongside a plethora of mentoring and workshop opportunities.
Now in its eleventh year, Goodsell shared with me the history of Critics Campus, noting that MIFF was one of the first festivals in the world to create a program like this and how many have since endeavoured to replicate it.
“We bring [participants] together with industry guest speakers and acclaimed screen critics for a series of workshops and one-on-one mentoring,” explained Luke. “This includes five national mentors and three international mentors that are drawn from all around the world.”
Each participant is paired with a mentor, who they will closely work with throughout the program on several assignments, such as composing a feature review and conducting an interview with MIFF’s pool of talent. The other part of the course is a set of in-depth panels that delve into the world of freelance writing, pitching, working with editors and writing features for a specific art, craft or type of film.
“It’s a real opportunity for people,” continued Luke. “We’re giving them the critical skills and thinking skills, but those skills all transfer to art, literature and TV. A lot of our graduates have gone on to be screenwriters and work in film production or programming.”
“This year, we had more applications than we’ve ever had. It’s a really social experience as well and people make a lot of friends along the way… Everyone that comes out of it has such a fantastic experience.”
This is a sentiment reiterated by program alumni and film critic for the ABC and The Guardian, Michael Sun. “It’s difficult to describe Critics Campus without resorting to breathless cliché… Even as someone who is allergic to diligence and an avowed cynic, I can confidently say that spending the week at Critics Campus as a mentee taught me — by will as much as brute force — to write smarter, harder, and faster… Long live Critics Campus!”
Though applications for 2024 have closed, next year’s program will similarly be open to all ambitious writers who have two or less years of experience.
Luke acknowledges that much of the success of the program is a result of MIFF’s ongoing commitment to empowering “new voices to emerge that otherwise wouldn’t have been heard.”
This is a notion that is reflected throughout the entire festival. But unable to reveal too many details before the program’s official announcement on July 11th, Luke had to be coy about his particularly high anticipation for this year’s lineup.
Having already been revealed in the festival’s first glance, Luke is especially eager for MIFF’s Opening Night Gala, which is leading with the international premiere of Adam Elliot’s “Memoir of a Snail.” The claymation features the iconic voices of Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Magda Szubanski, Eric Bana, and Jackie Weaver.
Other films on Luke’s watchlist for MIFF is Steve McQueen’s multi-part feature “Occupied City,” Jane Schoenbrun’s “I Saw the TV Glow,” and Fredrick Wiseman’s 44th feature documentary, “Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros.”
MIFF 2024 is 72 years in the making and with every year, demonstrates its passion for film through courageous stories and pioneering events. If MIFF wasn’t already blocked out in your calendar, it should be now
The Melbourne International Film Festival returns to Naarm and surrounds for its 72nd edition from August 8th-25th. Browse the program and book tickets at miff.com.au/
The full program will be available to peruse on July 11th, 8pm AEST, with pre-sale tickets available to MIFF Members.
Public tickets will go on sale from July 16th, 9am AEST.