The Melbourne Women In Film Festival (MWFF), a vital home for the championing of female filmmakers, will return this March with a line-up of more than 40 world-class features, shorts, and special events.
This, the ninth edition of the festival, is set to disrupt, challenge and inspire filmmaking, in a showcase of radical and rebellious work from female and gender-diverse filmmakers from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Pasifika.
MWFF will transform ACMI and Fed Square into a vibrant hub of creativity.
“I am thrilled to invite audiences to immerse themselves in a celebration of both emerging and established women and gender-diverse filmmakers from across the region.” MWFF Festival Director, Sian Mitchell says. “Come and discover groundbreaking new voices, hidden cinematic gems, and the powerful legacies of women’s filmmaking. This is where the future of film is being written, and we can’t wait to share it with you.”
Opening things up is Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu’s ‘We Were Dangerous’. It’s a powerful story of hope, girlhood, and celebration of female friendships. This will set the tone for the festival and stars Rima Te Wiata, Nathalie Morris, Erana James, and newcomer Manaia Hall.
Next up, presented in a special screening event and panel conversation, ‘Audrey’ – a razor-sharp comedy following a washed-up soap star who adopts her comatose daughter’s identity, to reclaim her life. ‘Audrey’ received the prestigious ReFrame Stamp, which recognises commitment to gender-balanced hiring including women, non-binary and trans people.
'Grafted'
For those who like things a little spooky, there’s The Almost Midnight Movie Marathon, featuring Alice Maio Mackay’s ’T Blockers’, a high-octane tribute to queer and genre cinema. . . And Sasha Rainbow’s debut feature ‘Grafted’, where ‘Mean Girls’ meets ‘Face/Off’.
MWFF’s short film programme complements the bold features of the event. There are five dynamic selections spotlighting fresh talent and new ideas, like Freshly Squeezed Shorts 1 which offers everything from lively tales of wedding jitters, to stories about embracing culture and identity. Plus, there’s Next Gen Shorts highlighting the next generation of filmmakers, ARTRAGEOUS! offering a screening of experimental and avant-garde shorts from the ‘90s and early 2000s. . . And Freshly Squeezed Shorts 2 serving up everything from tributes to inspiring women, to an accidental gnome kidnapping.
The MWFF Short Film Awards will honour the filmmakers in this year’s programme, followed by celebrations at Cameo, ACMI. Then, the final shorts screening ‘Daydreams And Nightmares’ will wrap up the festival on Closing Night.
Independent filmmakers can attend an interactive session called Masterclass: The Art Of Visual Storytelling… On A Budget. It’s led by art department expert Lucy Gouldthorpe, and will teach filmmakers how to shape the look, mood, and style of their stories for low-budget film and TV projects. Plus, industry professionals can look forward to the return of The Lifecycle Of Film, a mentorship inviting attendees to join three intimate roundtable conversations.
Check out the full programme.
Melbourne Women In Film Festival is on from 20-24 March.
