Grab the popcorn.
In its 68th year, the Melbourne International Film Festival has unveiled a record-breaking program, jamming 259 feature films, 123 short films and 16 virtual reality experiences into just 18 days.
A major drawcard for this year’s program is the first opportunity in Melbourne to catch Quentin Tarantino’s latest flick, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, starring Margot Robbie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Al Pacino and Brad Pitt.
A previous MIFF announcement already announced ABC journalist Stan Grant’s documentary The Australian Dream as the opening night gala, but it’s now been revealed that Lulu Wang’s touching film The Farewell will be the closing night gala screening. Based on a true story, the film follows a Chinese family who decides to keep their terminally ill grandmother in the dark about her final weeks.
Other notable films heading to silver screens across the city include world premieres of H is For Happiness and boxing film Kairos. What’s more, Matthew McConaughey plays a weed-smoking free spirit in The Beach Bum and Adam Driver, Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton take down zombies in deadpan comedy The Dead Don’t Die. With 31 world premieres and 160 Australian premieres all up, there’s plenty for film snobs to brag about at their next social event.
The Melbourne International Film Festival runs between Thursday August 1 and Sunday August 18. Head to the festival website for the full program. Tickets for the full program go on sale to the public Friday July 12.
