The 2023 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival draws from over 50 of the best local Australian documentaries in addition to canvassing a cavalcade of the world’s best documentaries with a full complement and coverage from the likes of Hot Docs, Doxa, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Tribeca, Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Sundance and many more, here in Melbourne, Australia.

This year’s festival offers a star-studded line up of documentaries written, directed, produced, narrated and starring so many celebrities, including Cinema Nova’s favourite Robert Pattinson.

The festival will take place from the 1st – 31st July 2023 online and 21st – 30th July 2023 at Cinema Nova.

Opening Night will be on 21st July 2023 at 6.20pm and will open with Dig Deeper directed by Mark Street, which follows four divergent Aboriginal artists, who use their personal stories and historical injustice as a driving force to break through and create internationally recognised urban art.

Closing night will be on the 30th July 2023 at 6.30pm, with the festival closing with The Trust Fall: Julian Assange, directed by Kym Stanton

Every year the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival offers 4 free Masterclasses.

This year’s topics are:

AI and Documentary Filmmaking on Monday 24th July 2023 @ 6pm via Zoom

Filming in a Developing Country on Tuesday 25th July 2023 @ 6pm @ Cinema Nova

Micro Budgeting and Filmmaking on Saturday 29th July 2023 @ 9am via Zoom

Iconic Being the Subject of a Documentary with Arthur Agee @ 9am via Zoom

To register email info@mdff.org.au

Selected highlights:

Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer by Thomas von Steinaecker

Iconic director Werner Herzog reveals extraordinary anecdotes about the filmmaking process. Featuring interviews, archival footage and never-before-seen excerpts.

Annie Lennox, from Eurythmics to campaigner, the journey of a pop icon by Lucie Cariès

Annie Lennox is the voice that marked the ’80s with the group Eurythmics. A formidable performer, as well as a complex and tormented woman, she became both an icon and a committed citizen. We will discover what drives the woman, by plunging back into her singular musical universe.

King on Screen by Daphné Baiwir

1976, Brian de Palma directed Carrie, the first novel by Stephen King. Since, more than 50 directors adapted the master of horror’s books, in more than 80 films and series, making him now, the most adapted author still alive in the world.

The Invisible Extinction by Stephen Lawrence

In the last 50 years, humanity has lost 50% of its ancestral microbiome – the bacteria in our bodies that help keep us healthy – with devastating consequences. The Invisible Extinction follows globetrotting scientists Gloria Dominguez-Bello and Marty Blaser – partners in life and the lab – on their urgent quest to reverse this trend before it’s too late, while three patients with life-threatening diseases triggered by this disruption try experimental treatments to recover their health.

A Rising Fury by Ruslan Batytskyi and Lesya Kalynska

Follows two hopeful Ukrainian idealists from the peaceful protest in Kyiv in 2013 to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Pavlo and Svitlana met and fell in love at the Maidan Revolution and were filmed over 8 years with several expeditions to the frontlines of the war. When Russia invaded Crimea and Donbas in 2014, Pavlo lost his family home and joined the Ukrainian military effort. To defend his nation, he engages in deadly firefights against former friends and a close military instructor who join the Russian forces. As Svitlana transports food and medical supplies, both find themselves on the battle lines, protecting their land, democracy, and their relationship.

The festival is open to the general public and everyone is warmly invited and welcome! Any questions please email info@mdff.org.au

Check out the full line up at:

www.mdff.org.au

www.cinemanova.com.au/events/melbourne-documentary-film-festival-presents

Shares: