After trailers, teases and announcements, the 72nd Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has returned in epic fashion and is being met with nothing but thunderous applause.
Running until August 25th, MIFF is praised across the globe for its unparalleled film slate that highlights Australia’s best emerging talent and shares powerful stories from across the world.
Thursday, August 8th marked the launch of the festival and it opened with the much-anticipated Australian premiere of Adam Elliot’s latest claymation & stop motion feature, “Memoir of a Snail,” supported by the MIFF Premiere Fund.
Handcrafting his home for the film, the award-winning director and writer of “Mary & Max” and Oscar-winning short “Harvie Krumpet” premiered a film that demonstrates he is an artist with a relentless passionate for his craft and his Melbourne roots.
“I could never sit in front of a computer 50 hours a week doing CGI,” Elliott told Variety AU/NZ. “I love paint, glue, sawdust, and getting my hands dirty.
“I think there is something magical about claymation that CGI doesn’t have. It’s always been considered a dying art form but if anything, it’s going through a bit of a renaissance. There’s so much CGI and now AI and all the fear associated with AI… the handcrafted art forms are sort of in favour.”
For his latest outing, Elliot rounded up a team of Australian all-stars in the form of Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Eric Bana, Jacki Weaver, Magda Szubanski, and Nick Cave.
“Memoir of a Snail” follows Gracie (Snook) as she navigates a turbulent upbringing with her twin brother, Gilbert (Smit-McPhee). The duo are separated after their father’s death and sent to live on opposite sides of Australia.
In Canberra, Gracie finds solace through her warm and hilarious friendship with Pinky (Weaver), while Gilbert works on an apple orchard in Western Australia, clinging to the dream that one day they can be reunited.
Aside from the unforgettable characters, place plays just as much of a role in the film. While bright colours and birds circle the Eiffel Tower, it is humorously and effectively contrasted with dark clouds surrounding Melbourne Art Centre’s Spire. Each place is filled with a completely unique colour, style and voice, allowing the audience to immediately understand whether the land is friend or foe.
Like Elliot’s other works, “Memoir of a Snail” strives to find the sweet spot between cheeky humour and a cruel world. It does so with remarkable precision and the result was a theatre filled with a healthy combination of belly laughs and audible sobs.
“Despite the hurdles, and we had many, many hurdles, the animators, the set builders, and all the other people we employ, it was very hard to get them to go home at night,” he says.
“We employ a lot of people on the spectrum as well. We met so many people who just wanted to volunteer. There’s a lot of obsession and passion.”
Supported by the MIFF Premiere Fund, “Memoir of a Snail” is a celebration of original filmmaking and Australian artists, and it deep ties to Melbourne made it the perfect film to headline as the festival’s opening act.
“You always hope that you’re just gonna get into MIFF,” Elliot admits. “Having been to 32 MIFFs in a row – I think I missed one – I think Melbourne audiences are very discerning.”
The State Library was dressed with “Memoir of a Snail”-themed decorations, lighting, and food. The film’s soundtrack echoed through the library (the parts that weren’t a dancefloor, that is) as people gushed over the film and planned their next MIFF outing.
What was evident throughout the premiere was that MIFF isn’t just a festival for film lovers, but for anyone who relishes unique, diverse, and inspiring stories. And with 72 years of incredible films behind it, MIFF has only grown in size, talent & spectacle.
Upcoming must-sees include the MIFF Premiere Fund supported premiere of “Audrey,” Steve McQueen’s multi-part feature “Occupied City,” Jane Schoenbrun’s “I Saw the TV Glow,” and feature documentary “Devo,” a staple of MIFF’s Music on Film strand.
Venues across Melbourne and surrounds are running events and screenings until August 25th, so you would be remiss not to get involved in the films and festivities.
The Melbourne International Film Festival is screening in Melbourne and surrounds until August 25th. Browse the program and book tickets now at miff.com.au/