The Melbourne International Film Festival has given a first glance at a huge lineup of screenings for its 73rd edition.
Included in the first announcement are 26 films and events set to take place across Melbourne from August 7-24. Among them are 17 international and local highlights films, seven titles from the MIFF Premiere Fund, and two special events.
One of the highly anticipated films to screen at the festival is this year’s Palme d’Or winner “It Was Just an Accident.” The film’s Iranian director Jafar Panahi was also announced to be appearing in Melbourne for the event, just a day after being welcomed as a special guest at the Sydney Film Festival’s Opening Gala.
The film follows a group of former political prisoners who kidnap a man whom they believe to be their former interrogator and torturer. As the director said in an interview with Variety, the film was inspired by his experiences in an Iranian prison.
“It Was Just an Accident” follows a 14-year ban from making films for Panahi, handed out as a result of him speaking to the press and leaving Iran for “propaganda against the state,” which was lifted in April 2023.
His latest Cannes win means Panahi now has the rare distinction of having won the top prize at all three major European film festivals, after taking Berlin’s Golden Bear for “Taxi” in 2015 and the Golden Lion at Venice for “The Circle” in 2000.
MIFF Artistic Director Al Cossar said the full program is “set to be a world-ranging, celebratory and all-out extraordinary collection of films.”
“You’ll want to look closer at MIFF’s First Glance – there is so much to see, and so much more to come!” Cossar added.
Another of the announced screenings includes an Australian premiere of “Julia Holter: The Passion of Joan of Arc.” The American composer’s score of the 1928 French silent film will be performed live at the Melbourne Recital Centre for just two nights.
Tickets to the live event are the first to be made on sale 11am on June 5th. MIFF members have access to pre-sale for all other events from 8pm on July 10. General release will be opened from 10am July 15.
Information on tickets to all other events is available here.