Melbourne International Film Festival: How the Blogathon Was Like A 6 Course Dinner

The MIFF 60 Films in 17 days blog-a-thon is a lot like eating a six-course dinner. I can account for this as I have now done both in the last month.

Melbourne International Film Festival: 60 Films in 17 days – Day 17

After a very late night attending the festival’s closing night party – though by no means as late as some MIFFsters – it was a struggle to get out of bed and into the city for Day 17. But I made it in with 10 minutes to spare, and hopefully no speeding fines in the mail to come.

Melbourne International Film Festival: 60 Films in 17 Days – Day 16

This past weekend has been a blur of films, alcohol, amazing conversations, a posse of PR company hired men dressed as Ryan Gosling from Drive, KFC chips and Neurofen 400 tablets. The same could be said for the entire festival, minus the Gosling impersonators, which sadly ended yesterday after 17 days and 60 films.

Melbourne International Film Festival: 60 Films in 17 Days – Day 15

Something strange has happened, it’s 2am and I’m still awake. I do believe I’ve got my second wind, just in time to get me through the final weekend of MIFF. Yes it’s finally here, or sadly here, depending on the time of day you ask me I feel both excitement and sadness on the eve of the final two days of the festival.

Melbourne International Film Festival: 60 Films in 17 Days – Spotlight on MUBI

MUBI is a MIFF partner this year and have a great selection of films playing on their site until August 7th, and the best part is they’re free! This may be a thorn in the side of anyone who has paid to see one of these films at the festival but for others unable to attend it means you can have a little piece of the festival in your very own lounge room.

Melbourne International Film Festival: 60 Films in 17 Days – Day 13 & 14

I don’t want to sound like a Sandy Sally but Day 14 has been my worst festival day so far. How is it possible I booked so many disappointing films all on the one day? It’s a shame this close to the end of MIFF that I should feel this way and no doubt the remaining days will make up for it but for the time being I reserve the right to feel slightly annoyed. Okay, I got that out of my system, moving on.

Melbourne International Film Festival: 60 Films in 17 Days – Day 11 & 12

Day 11 and 12 of the festival had me watching films about the French child protection unit, a husband and wife on a quest to look the same through plastic surgery, old men trying to net young lovers, a cheating husband leaving his family, a faithful wife searching for her husband’s illegitimate son, two musicians falling in and out of love, and finally a family comedy about a brother who acts before he thinks.

Melbourne International Film Festival : 60 Films in 17 Days – Day 10

Day 10 was an exciting day for me; I would finally sit down to watch my most anticipated film of the festival, Page One: Inside the New York Times. I would also end up seeing two of the best films of the year, A Separation and Mike Mills’ stunning sophomore effort, Beginners. And Day 10 brought Majority, which was indeed a film .

Melbourne International Film Festival: 60 Films in 17 Days – Day 9

I’ve fallen behind the blog-pack these last two days, with a family birthday and two friends fleeing the country the film festival had to take a back seat to real life. But there is still a week left of MIFF and plenty of time to reach that golden ’60 Films’ finishing line.

Melbourne International Film Festival – 60 Films in 17 Days – Day 6

I was wondering at what point during the festival I would be brought to tears. Day Six is when the flood gates opened and it wasn’t until around 5pm that I fully recovered from the cause of those tears, Project Nim.

Melbourne International Film Festival : 60 Films in 17 Days – Day 5

I’ve reached that point in the festival where I’m not entirely sure what day of the week it is at various points throughout the day, emerging bleary eyed into the ever-changing Melbourne weather.

Melbourne International Film Festival : 60 Films in 17 Days – Day Four

They say one is the loneliest number, but in the case of my MIFF Day Four, one was just the right number.

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