Night of the Living Dead + Day of the Dead (August 1st)
Trust the Astor Theatre to host the perfect tribute. George A. Romero, who passed away on the 16th of July, was one of the most defining figures to work in the Horror genre. He singlehandedly defined everything we would come to associate with the Zombie film all the while injecting his pictures with the kind of potent social commentary that all great Horror has.
Lipstick Under My Burkha – Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Opening Night (August 10th)
Hailed as a victory for Indian women, Lipstick Under My Burkha is a black comedy film written and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava that’s drawing all the right kinds of controversy. Following four women as they each experience their own starkly different sexual awakenings and reawakenings, Lipstick Under My Burka was denied certification in India on the grounds that “The story is lady orientated, their fantasy above life. There are contagious sexual scenes, abusive words, audio pornography and a bit sensitive touch about one particular section of society” which sounds more like an endorsement to me…
Fantastic Planet with Original Live Score by Krakatau (August 10th)
Not to be confused with the sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet, Fantastic Planet written by Roland Topor and directed be Rene Laloux is a stunningly unique animated sci-fi film first released in 1973. Consistently ranked one of the greatest animated films of all time, and winner of the Grand Prix special jury prize at the ’73 Cannes Film Festival, it’s an experience that’s truly unforgettable. See it at the Melbourne International Film Festival with an original live score by Melbourne prog rock group Krakatau.
MIFF 2017 Sci-Fi Marathon (August 12th)
From 9:30 PM ‘til midday the next, get ready and comfortable for this year’s sci-fi marathon brought by the Astor Theatre and the Melbourne International Film Festival. Including some of the stranger, lesser-known and under-appreciated films of the genre, from Tetsuo: The Iron Man to David Cronenberg’s eXistenZ, even the biggest sci-fi fans have got something to look forward to here.
I Am Not Your Negro – Melbourne Premiere at MIFF (August 13th)
One of the most famous and widely respected public intellectuals, when such a thing wasn’t a rarity, to live, James Baldwin only grows more relevant with every year that passes. Long overdue for a proper documentary portrait, I Am Not Your Negro has been sweeping up awards from festival to festival. Don’t miss it, and go buy Go Tell It On The Mountain while you’re at it.
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