The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) returns from August 8th-25th with a diverse lineup featuring over 250 films and more than 400 sessions.
While the program includes a wide array of world premieres, international features, shorts, immersive XR experiences, curated retrospectives, and special events, this year’s Music on Film strand is set to be a major draw, celebrating the powerful relationship between music and cinema.
Let’s take a look at some of this year’s highlights.
“Ellis Park”
Director: Justin Kurzel
The Music on Film Gala will spotlight “Ellis Park,” an intimate documentary about the legendary Australian musician Warren Ellis.
Directed by Justin Kurzel, the film explores Ellis’s life, his childhood in Ballarat, and his enduring friendship with Dutch wildlife warrior Femke Dem Haas. Together, they establish an animal sanctuary in Sumatra, providing a unique lens into Ellis’s world.
“A Century in Sound”
Directors: Tu Neill and Nick Dwyer
This limited series transports audiences to the serene environs of Japanese ‘listening cafés,’ spaces where music lovers gather to experience records.
Directed by New Zealand filmmakers Tu Neill and Nick Dwyer, “A Century in Sound” chronicles the history of music in Japan, the cultural significance of these cafés post-war, and the influence of Western culture in the 20th century.
“Teaches of Peaches”
This Teddy Award-winning documentary celebrates the 20th anniversary of Peaches’ iconic album.
Featuring interviews with Feist, Chilly Gonzales, Shirley Manson, and more, Teaches of Peaches offers a comprehensive look at the gender-punk icon’s impact on music and culture.
“Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird”
Director: Nicolas Jack Davies
British director Nicolas Jack Davies presents an intimate portrayal of Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the creative forces behind At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta.
The film is built around four decades of Omar’s self-shot footage and explores their creative turmoils, deep friendship, and personal battles.
“Mogwai: If The Stars Had a Sound”
Director: Antony Crook
Photographer Antony Crook makes his directorial debut with “Mogwai: If The Stars Had a Sound,” a documentary that traces the career of Scottish post-rock legends Mogwai.
The film spans their beginnings in the 90s to the creation of their latest studio album, offering fans a detailed look at the band’s evolution.
“Dig! XX”
Director: Ondi Timoner
“Dig! XX” revisits the enduring friendship and rivalry between ’90s indie staples The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, twenty years after the original Dig! documentary.
Featuring over 40 minutes of new material, the film updates fans on the bands’ journey and the tug-of-war between art and commerce.
“Kneecap”
Director: Rich Peppiatt
A rowdy biopic featuring Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap, alongside Michael Fassbender. The film observes the band’s role in the civil rights movement to save the Irish language, showcasing their crusade through rap music in Gaeilge.
“This is a Film About The Black Keys”
Director: Jeff Dupre
From SXSW, this documentary provides a warts-and-all look at The Black Keys.
With extensive archival footage, re-enactments, and interviews, including with Beck, the film presents a raw portrayal of the ups and downs faced by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney.
For more information and to view the full program for 2024, visit the MIFF website.