By Travis Johnson
Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Terence Davies, Celia Rowson-Hall, Robert Greene, Eric Darnell, Jessica Brillhart, and Oscar Raby are among the special guests heading for Victoria for the 65th Melbourne International Film Festival, which takes place from July 28 – August 14.
Also on hand will be director Cris Jones and stars Xavier Samuel, Matilda Brown and Rachel Ward of opening night film, The Death and Life of Otto Bloom.
Weaving and director Jocelyn Moorhouse will be attending the 25th anniversary screening of the droll classic, Proof, presented in association with the National Film & Sound Archive, with Moorehouse also in for the special Talking Pictures event Breaking the Celluloid Ceiling, hosted by Margaret Pomeranz and also featuring the great Gillian Armstrong.
UK filmmaker Terence Davies will present his long-gestating Sunset Song, featuring former model Agyness Deyn, and will join David Stratton for a special Talking Pictures event.
Also scheduled for this year’s festival are director Rosie Jones for The Family; filmmakers Trevor Graham and Philippe Mora for Monsieur Mayonnaise; director Sotiris Dounoukas and actors Gia Carides, Maggie Naouri, Tony Nikolakopoulos, Laura Gordon Jerome Maeyer for Joe Cinque’s Consolation; Robert Greene for Kate Plays Christine; Roger Ross Williams for Life, Animated; choreographer and debut director Celia Rowlson-Hall for Ma; Iranian filmmaker Babak Anvari for Under the Shadow; David Farmer for the controversial Tickled; David Stubbs for Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses; and many more.
For music fans, a key highlight is rock-photographer-turned-director Fran Strine, who is bringing his session musician doco, Hired Gun, to the festival. Ghostbusters singer Ray Parker, Jr., who appears in the film, will also attend. WA filmmaker Mat de Koning is also debuting his long awaiting behind-the -scenes rock tour doco, Meal Tickets.
Horror heads will be pleased by the presence of Sean Byrne, who brings with him The Devil’s Candy, his follow up to The Loved Ones. Plus, Abe Forsythe and cast members Lincoln Younes, Rahal Romahn and Harriet Dyer will present the bold and brutal new comedy, Down Under, at the festival’s Centrepiece Gala.
And that’s really just scratching the surface. For full details and ticketing, head over the to MIFF official site.
