The Melbourne International Film Festival is making its way to Shepparton, so The News sat down with the festival’s artistic director to see what he recommended.
Al Cossar started as a volunteer for the festival in 2009 and has been the artistic director since 2019.
“My responsibility as the artistic director for this is to curate the full range of films and special events that the program contains,” he said.
“We bring some Australian and international highlights right across those two weekends as well as participating filmmakers, sometimes international guests, sometimes special events.”
The event will run in Shepparton from August 16 to 25.
Ten films will be shown at Village Cinemas Shepparton and Mr Cossar said this year’s line-up was particularly great.
“I think there’s a really interesting kind of range of programming for, you know, for festival audiences, for movie fans and cinephiles, but also for, you know, family audiences as well or, you know, there’s a great kind of diversity that’s there across two weekends,” he said.
“I think the collective experience of watching a movie is really joyful and, you know, more so than ever, a really important one for us to foster.”
Shepparton screenings
Friday, August 16 at 6pm — Memoir of a Snail: When Grace is split up with her brother Gilbert by child services, she fills her emotional void through compulsive hoarding. That is, until she finds a fourth source of joy: a friendship with an outrageous octogenarian.
Saturday, August 17 at 4pm — Kneecap: A Belfast hip-hop trio play themselves in a biopic that tracks their fictionalised origins and their real-life crusade to protect the Gaeilge language.
Saturday, August 17 at 6.30pm — I Saw the TV Glow: Backed by studio A24, this film centres on two high-schoolers who form an unlikely bond over a supernatural-themed teen TV series. As they become deeply enmeshed in its fandom, consumed by its lore, they lose track of what’s real and what’s not.
Sunday, August 18 at 4pm — Left Write Hook: For eight survivors of childhood sexual abuse, a groundbreaking program that combines boxing and creative writing turns into a journey of recovery, transformation and friendship.
Sunday, August 18 at 6.30pm — Queens of Concrete: Three Australian girls seek the ultimate success in the world of competitive skateboarding while sliding into an adolescence without handrails.
Friday, August 23 at 6.30pm — Bookworm: A wayward but well-meaning dad and his despondent daughter embark on a magical quest following the hospitalisation of the daughter’s mother.
Saturday, August 24 at 12.30pm — Magic Beach: Ten animators bring Alison Lester’s beloved children’s book to the screen.
Saturday, August 24 at 6.30pm — Inside: A prison-set portrait of institutionalisation and salvation.
Sunday, August 25 at 2pm — Thelma: A 93-year-old grandma’s mission to reclaim her money from scammers by any means necessary.
Sunday, August 25 at 6.30pm — Copa 71: Think the global surge in interest in women’s football is a relatively recent occurrence? This eye-opening documentary asks you to think again.
Buy your tickets to the upcoming film festival online at villagecinemas.com.au