MUFF
Fighting Censorship
for real - in court!

Judge Higgins from VCAT today rejected Mr. Michael Lipshutz injunction submission after three days of hearings, delays and deliberations. Mr.Lipshutz was attempting to stop the “Melbourne Underground Film Festival” (MUFF) from screening this week’s two speeches as part of the VOTE MUFF sub-section, The Politics of History. One of the videos was from controversial historian David Irving, the other from Palestinian advocate, Said Arikat. Judge Higgins refused to grant the injunction after hearing both sides.

We will make the text of the landmark decision available on our website.

MUFF considers this a landmark victory in the fight for Freedom of speech part curly unpopular speech.

The Voltaire quote “ I violently disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it” has proven alive and well in Australia legal system today. A considerable victory for MUFF and its legal team against the representative from one of the Jewish communities peak bodies is a victory against censorship and its proponents.

The Following screenings will go ahead as planned:

SESSION #1
Bug house Omniplex - Thursday 10th July 8pm

The Search for Truth in History | 80 Min
David Irving’s address, recorded in 1993 following his ban from visiting Australia, is his response to this outlandish state of affairs. This session will hopefully include a live post screening phone hook up with David Irving in the USA so he can speak directly with an Australian audience and answer questions. Stay tuned as we ‘go over the top’ and fight censorship for real.

My Revisionist Method Seminar with Robert Faurrison | 67 Min
From the Thirteenth IHR Conference 2000. The man who made revisionism a household word in his native France goes back to his own revisionist beginnings, and then to the frontiers of revisionism today, in this lecture. Professor Faurisson recounts how his youthful studies in Greek and Latin, followed by his celebrated deciphering of the meaning of such difficult modern poets as Rimbaud and Lautréaumont, guided him to his revisionist method: simple, “nuts and bolts,” free of pedantry, going to the centre of things.

SESSION # 2
Bug house Omniplex - Wednesday 9th July 8pm

The Israel-Palestine Conflict: A Palestinian Perspective | 60 Min
Said Arikat, a seasoned writer and commentator who has often appeared on American television, gives an interesting and insightful Palestinian perspective on the seemingly intractable Israel-Palestine conflict. Taking aim at the hypocrisy of U.S. policy in the Middle East, he says that U.S. support for Israel’s brutal oppression of Palestinians is a betrayal of the ideals that Americans claim to uphold.

The Influence of America’s Postwar Occupation on Today’s Japan | 60 Min
Hiroshima survivor, career diplomat, and scholar of international affairs Akira Kawachi discusses the influence of America’s post war occupation on today’s Japan. With rare frankness, Professor Kawachi blasts the one-sided history of World War II imposed by the occupiers, and pays tribute to the spirit and search for objectivity and historical truth.

We thank all the kind support from MUFF supporters and members of the community who wrote to us supporting our important defence of unpopular speech here in Australia.

Viva Freedom of Speech! - Viva MUFF!

David Irving

AND DONT FORGET THESE GREAT PREMIERES STILL TO SCREEN AT THIS YEARS MUFF!

RAZOR EATERS WORLD PREMIERE
Dir: Shannon Young|2003|Australia|97 min|DVD
Our Closing Night spectacular features MUFF ingénue Shannon Young’s (“Stygian”, MUFF 2000) sophomore feature “Razor Eaters” a rip snorting battle of a bunch of politically motivated vigilantes video taping their crimes and murders. The plot as quoted from the guys’ press kit: “Five angry and motivated young men who launch an anarchistic crime spree against Melbourne, capturing all their nasty deeds on home video. The gang quickly grab the allegiance of the public by targeting members of society we’d all like to see ‘get nailed’. The task of stopping them falls to hardened detective Danny Berdan (Paul Moder), a man not afraid of bending rules to apprehend his prey.” Mayhem ensues. Very impressive guerrilla effort and another example of how we help foster, support and exhibit real talent here at MUFF with our naughty little festival. Skol.
Screening: Closing Night, George Cinemas, Sunday 13th July 7.30pm


NIGHTCLUBBER WORLD PREMIERE
Dir: Vincenzo Gallo, Dale Reeves|2003|Australia|100 min|Sp Beta
NC runs the biggest and most successful nightclub in Melbourne. His past is somewhat of a mystery. He lives with 2 young women. Many believe that they are his lovers. He is a fitness freak. He is a man of few words, he does not like to be bothered with the normal bullshit of day to day humdrum. NC has been beckoned. He is not sure why they would want him back. Then his lovers’ are kidnapped……….it is all too obvious. 10 years ago, whilst in government employ he acquainted himself with what he believed was a fellow student. Her name was Tetsuro. Unbeknown to NC Tetsuro spawned 2 children. A generation of pure love and understanding. NC’s children are the hunted, they must be destroyed so as the Rachman Church can continue its’ domination. The Red Shift has arrived, the Izan people believe that this event would heal the splinter and release the earth from its’ eternal shadow. The Mother Superiors, the devout leaders of the Rachman Church are under threat. NC was the finder………that was his gift whilst under the scrutiny of the Rachman Church. He knows that he can find Xara and Aphrodite…………….what is the purpose of his quest?
Screens with short film Infin8
Screening: George Cinemas, Thursday 10th July 9.30pm


IVAN’S XTC AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Dir: Bernard Rose|2001|USA|92 min|35mm
“ Ivan’s XTC” is a whacked out tale of a drug fucked Hollywood exec that draws interesting parallels to the notorious Don Simpson. There’s a fine line between success and excess. Ivan Beckman, the hottest agent in Hollywood, the heir apparent to the most powerful agency - Media Talent Agency - has suddenly died. Most people assume it was drugs, as Ivan has been partying hard. His colleagues scramble to prevent Ivan’s clients from defecting, in particular they are afraid of losing Don West (Peter Weller), the biggest star in the world. An intense and “moving meditation on mortality in Hollywood...” Pete’s selection at this years MUFF!
Proudly presented by Granada Productions
Screening: George Cinemas - Sunday 13th July 5.30pm

LOVESICK WORLD PREMIERE
Dir: Bill Mousoulis|2002|Australia|70 min|Sp Beta
A L’amour Fou tale of a couple who shut themselves off from the world with disturbing consequences. We are happy to present the doubly rejected from MIFF new feature film “Lovesick” from Melbourne film activist (see www.innersense.com.au) and prolific filmmaker Bill Mousoulis. Bill has been active since back in the day of the old Super-8 film group and has made over fifty films. Well, I’ll tell you, not playing “Lovesick” at MIFF is MIFF’s loss! Bill makes social realist films with a twist and his style is reminiscent of the best of the introspective French New Wave. Be sure to catch the public premiere of this important Melbourne underground filmmaker’s latest work.
Screening: George Cinemas, Friday 11th July 9.15pm


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