Sexy MUFF our yearly celebration of sexuality, the body and perversion is back and we are going nude… Check out below freaksters!
MIFF time is here again and you all thought MUFF hade been tucked away neatly in a box for another year didn’t you? Wrong. We are back already. Why? Just because. This year’s MUFF program was so full of great films we couldn’t restrain our enthusiasm and we thought you might still be in the mood for great cinema here in Melbourne! So naturally we thought we would provide the desert, as well as the deluxe entree to MIFF in 2005. Yes, MUFF is back with a special “Best of MUFF 2005” one-week program at Loop, 23 Meyers Place, City kicking off Sunday August 28, 2005. We are presenting a tasty selection of our best films from Australia and Overseas (mostly award winners at the MUFF 2005 awards, festival hits and sell out sessions) all set to entice, all over again. We will be distributing this program to the MIFF audience (so if this is all new to you, check out the website below and get with the rebel alliance in Oz film culture) and elsewhere. If you haven’t got a taste of MUFF in your mouth yet, you soon will have! Check out these delights, selected by Festival Director Richard Wolstencroft, that will entertain, inspire and delight you.
Session 1:
Sunday August 28, 6.30pm @ Loop
IVAN’S XTC Dir Bernard Rose | 95min | 2003
Ivan’s XTC is the story of a successful agent living the LA high life of substance abuse, celebrity parties, film premiere’s and back room deals who lands super client in superstar actor Don West (portrayed with slimy malevolence by Peter Weller). The agent Ivan is played to perfection in a charismatic star making turn by Danny Huston, son of director John Huston, who recently turned up in films Birth and The Aviator. Ivan’s XTC marks ole Danny boy here as a new comer to watch. Support cast is equally impressive with both Lisa Enos and Peter Weller stealing scenes respectively. Bernard Rose who directed the Clive Barker adaptation “Candyman” turns out one of the best Dogme style made on video features ever in this adaptation of the Tolstoy short story “The Death Of Ivan Ilyich”. This is the kind of movie we love at MUFF and the kind of movie we need to make through the AFC’s Indivision fund. Ivan’s XTC is simply one of the best American films of the new Millennium- period. Our hit Opening Night flick that everybody loved dearly makes a special one off return screening.
Session 2:
Sunday August 28, 9.00pm @ Loop
THE MONEY SHOT Dir Anna Brownfield | 78min | 2002
WINNER BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST DIRECTOR AND BEST ACTOR (PETER STEFANOU) MUFF 2005
The Money Shot is a flick about a young woman who graduates from film school and wants to get into the film industry quick, snap. She decides to try and make a porn film and convinces a business minded Uncle to front the cash for exploits in the porn arena. The film deftly exposes the difficulty and problems this young woman must face to get into the industry. The Money Shot is a brilliant post-feminist exploration of female identity and comedy of manners that swept the MUFF awards this year. Great MUFF award winning direction from Anna Brownfield, excellent performance from Fiona Parker (who came so close to winning Best Actress in 2005) and a great role from the male porn stud Peter Stefanou who won Best Actor at MUFF 2005 and who is a real scene-stealer make this a must see MUFF hit!
Session 3:
Monday August 29, 7.00pm @ Loop
BEST OF MINI MUFF!
Programmed by Eugene Grobbelaar
The best of and award winning shorts from MUFF 2005! Wow what a selection in 2 sessions...
BEST OF MINI MUFF SESSION A
CLOWN
Dir. Karl Hirsch | 2004 | USA | 20 min
WINNER BEST SHORT (TIE)GRIM
A man is terrorised by an evil clown after a visit to a strange liquor store.
GRIM
Dir JP Nickel | 2004 | USA | 15mins
WINNER BEST SHORT (TIE)
How does the Grim Reaper get a date? This thesis is explored with great humour and panache from director and star JP Nickel. His film ‘Why we had to kill bitch’ won the encouragement award in 2004 and it must have worked because this short is really great. A sort of lowbrow Kevin Smith tripping on death and pestilence in a light hearted manner. Funny stuff.
SMACKED OUT KISSES
Dir. David Mazzarella | 2004 | Aus | 30min
WINNER BEST RUNNER UP SHORT
A butcher’s life is heading in the wrong direction. Is Rose the answer to his dilemma?
WOODEN HEART
Dir Jason Turley | AUS | 2005 | 15 mins
WINNER BEST RUNNER UP SHORT
Jason Turley’s latest short about a man who is disgusted with himself when he travels to Melbourne and has a wild night with a hooker is amazing. Full of misanthropy and nihilism, not to mention very well made on mini DV. A great talent to watch!
HONOUR Dir Dale Reeves | AUS | 8 mins | 2005
WINNER BEST ACTION/VIOLENCE SHORT
A tale of a young mans confrontation with a mysterious hit man. It is a riveting new short from Dale Reeves, the creator of MUFF hit “Night clubber”
1982s
Dir Despain & Vainwad | 2004 | Aus | 7 min
WINNER BEST COMEDY SHORT
Subject: History. Lecturer: A puppet (or 2).
Esmerelda Video
Dir. Yasmin Sabuncu | 2004 | Aus | 5 min*
WINNER BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT
Esmerelda is a character in flux, always evolving to disgust and entertain you.
RINGTONE
Dir David Thrussell | AUS | 10 mins | 2005
David Thrussell (Snog, Black Lung and many soundtracks) has a great new short film. What is that sound! What is that noise? Find out at this atmospheric creepy psycho thriller narrative short that is simply ace!
Session 4:
Monday 29 August, 9.00pm @ Loop
THE ROLLING STONES: COCKSUCKER BLUES
Dir. Robert Frank |1972 | USA | 70mins
Fans of the world’s greatest rock and roll band will not want to miss a rare screening of this hard-to-find, controversial documentary. Filmed in “cinema verite” style, it concentrates on the backstage antics of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman. This inside look at the Stones’ 1972 US Tour has been described as the greatest rock and roll documentary ever made, and it is as provocative today as it was in the decade of decadence.
Session 5:
Tuesday 30 August, 7.00pm @ Loop
WAIT MEANS NEVER Dir Andrew Groves | 90min | 2005 | Drama | USA
WINNER BEST FILM and BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY MUFF 2005!
This film deals with the explosive convergence of the personal and the political, in protest at the complacency of the U.S. Today, four activists kidnap the head of an international oil corporation. When the government refuses to negotiate for the hostage, tensions within the group rise, as they have to decide between compassion and evolution. Considered by the Jury to be the Best MUFF film in 2005, Wait Means Never is a must see!
Session 6:
Tuesday 30 August, 9.00pm @ Loop
WELCOME TO GREENSBOROUGH Dir Tom McEvoy | 2003-4 | Australia | 110 mins
WINNER! BEST GUERILLA FILM MUFF 2005 (Best Use of the Guerrilla Aesthetic)
The rise and revenge of Youth! The Australian answer to “Kids”, “Gummo” and “Ken Park”. The first Australian film I know of to have been refused a classification from the OFLC (...a first film historians?). Why? Because this film is about young people, made by young people...that actually dared to have scenes of late teenagers having sex. Shock Horror...that doesn’t go on does it? This is no Larry Clark drooling over teenagers here; this is young people reflecting their world, where in that world sixteen year old girls fuck sixteen-year-old guys. Well not anymore, director Tom McEvoy had to reshoot his love scenes with actors over 18. So the MUFF version will be ok with our masters and betters at the OFLC. The film features angst-ridden teenagers partying, getting wasted, being bored and generally wondering who sold the youth of the world down the river. Film ends in a gang bang cum rape scene...now that’s how they should have finished Somersault!
Session 7:
Wednesday 31 August, 6.30pm @ Loop
BEST OF MINI MUFF SESSION BBROADCAST 23
Dir. Tom Putnam | 2005 | USA | 8 min
Officially selected by the Sundance film festival, this comedy (disguised as a horror film) tells the story of an anthropologist’s misadventures in the woods.
HERMAN THE LEGAL LABRADOR
Dir. David Blumenstein | 2004 | Aus | 22 min
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
An adorable dog named Herman is also a criminal defence lawyer!
THE DENTIST
Dir. Signe Baumane | 2005 | USA | 10 min
Meet an enthusiastic dentist and a reluctant patient...
JET POP
Dir. Stefania Sepe & Vanessa Robinson-Conlon | 2004 | Aus | 7 min
In the tradition of visual music, this abstract animation serves as a visual interpretation of a music concrete rhapsody.
SPOONMAN
Dir. Daniel Dimarco & Heath Davis | 2003 Aus | 22 min
Jerry’s job is spooning: Cuddling up to women whose husbands do not have the time or enthusiasm to do this for their wives.
THE WORD
Dir. Sue Wicks | 2005 | Aus | 5 min
The word “cunt” is spray-painted on a garage door, causing both outrage and fascination.
FRITZ NIEDSONE IS THE NEW BLACK
Dir. Andrew Iser | 2005 | Aus | 10 min
WINNER BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT MUFF 2005
Believe the hype! Fritz Niedsone is the most famous celebrity ever! The “It” man of 2005 and beyond! Metrosexuals, eat your hearts out!
Session 8:
Thursday September 1, 6.30pm @Loop
SPRING RHAPSODY Dir Bill Mousoulis | 84min | 2004 | Drama | Australia
A portrait of Melbourne in Spring 2004 - a mosaic of different stories: an angel desires to be human; a young couple cope with long-distance relating; a novelist unexpectedly falls pregnant; a woman from London discovers Melbourne; and a disenfranchised man with a gambling debt, becomes involved with an underworld gang. Featuring Q/A with Bill Mousoulis. WINNER SPECIAL JURY PRIZE MUFF 2005
Session 9:
Sunday 4 September, 6.30pm @ Loop
THE ACTRESS KINO DENDY Dir Zak Hilditch | 90min | 2005 | Drama | Australia
WINNER BEST ACTRESS CAITLIN HIGGINS MUFF 2005
When femme fatale Emma enters the share house of supermarket manager Tom, office drone Kevin and uni student Clair, she begins a game of jealousy and possession that escalates out of control!
Session 10:
Sunday 4 September, 9.00pm @ Loop
DAVID CRONENBERG: 2 mini features: STEREO AND CRIMES OF THE FUTURE
Full program length approx 2.5 hours
Two brilliant early mini features from the Canadian maestro of the body perverse. Cronenberg is at his most bizarre and obtuse here in these films. The strange corporations, new technologies and bodily mutations of his later works are all here... shot with stark brilliance on location at post modern architecture University campuses and buildings of Cronenberg’s choice revealing a strong sense of architectural horror. If you haven’t caught these two classic mini features you have missed out!
All sessions at Loop, 23 Meyers place, City. 9654 0500. All sessions $12 and $10 concession.
- Sun 28th Aug:
Session #1 Ivan’s XTC 6.30-8.30pm
Session #2 The Money Shot 9.00-11.00pm
- Mon 29th Aug:
Session #3 Best of Mini MUFF
Session A 7.00-9.00pm
Session #4 Cocksucker Blues 9.00-11.00pm
- Tues 30th Aug:
Session #5 Wait Means Never 7.00-9.00pm
Session #6 Welcome to
Greensborough 9.00-11.00pm
- Wed 31st Aug:
Session #7 Best of Mini MUFF
Session B 6.30-8.30pm
- Thurs 1st Sept:
Session #8 Spring Rhapsody 6.30-8.30pm
- Sun 4th Sept:
Session #9 The Actress 6.30-8.30pm
Session #10 Cronenberg: Stereo
and Crimes of the Future 9.00-11.00pm