Showstopper: Ego: The Michael Gudinski story is one of the films screening as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival event at the Echuca Paramount.
The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is playing at the Echuca Paramount from Friday, August 11, to Sunday, August 20.
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Melbourne International Film Festival artistic director Al Cossar is bringing some of the biggest MIFF titles, including the opening and closing night films to the theatre.
“Shayda, as your opening night film, is in there, which is a really incredible film,” he said.
“The film is about a mother and daughter living in Australia, from an Iranian background, the Shayda character is played by Zar Amir-Edrahimi, who won best actress at Cannes last year.
“It is the story of her and her daughter, removing themselves from an abusive domestic situation, going to a women’s refuge, aided by a character played by Leah Purcell.
“The film looks at their possibilities, their tether to the husband and father through the courts and also through cultural expectations of some of the community.
“But, they are kind of breaking themselves free and rebuilding their own family.”
Another highlight is the MIFF closing night film, Theater Camp, a mockumentary comedy that Mr Cossar thinks is hilarious.
“Effectively a theatre camp director has a musical accident and her son is put in charge of running the camp,” he said.
“It is one of those, putting-on-a-show narratives, but people like Amy Sedaris, Patti Harrison and Ayo Edibiri from The Bear are in it.
“It is very funny, it is a great night out.”
One of the biggest films of this year’s MIFF will be Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story.
Young talent on show: This Is Going To Be Big is another of the films.
“The film talks about him as a revolutionary music impresario and the wheeling and dealings of the music industry,” Mr Cossar said.
“You get the sense that this person who has been at the centre of Australian music for the last 30 to 40 years, feeling like you have seen the story of Australian music itself.”
Other recommendations made by Mr Cossar include the William Shatner documentary, You Can Call Me Bill and the documentaryThis Is Going To Be Big.
This Is Going To Be Big is having its world premiere at MIFF, following a group of neurodiverse teens, as they try out, rehearse and deliver their high school’s time travelling John Farnham-themed musical.
“I think there are four or five John Farnhams, through the ages,” Mr Cossar said.
“It is just the most endearing, delightful, beautiful film about a group of young people finding their own place in putting on a show and building themselves up in terms of their confidence, capabilities, how they see the world and what the show means to them.
“It is just beautiful and will put a smile on your face.”
A full list of MIFF films, along with tickets and session times can found at https://www.echucaparamount.com/
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