The cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne is inarguably the premiere location for film fans down under (no matter what anyone from Sydney tells you). These weekly posts will take you beyond the multiplex and highlight the Top 5 movie alternatives worth checking out each week.
1. Tropfest (Sydney Myer Music Bowl)
It’s a fantastic week for film this week in Melbourne, with multitudes of screenings to chose from. My first pick is the 21st Annual Tropfest. Streamed live from The Domain in Sydney to the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, as well as locations in Queensland, the ACT and more, an audience of close to 150 000 people all around the country will tune in to watch sixteen short films and their creators compete for a $100 000 prize. Kicks off at 2pm and runs all afternoon and into the evening. Entry is free, so bring a picnic and a bunch of friends. (Sunday, February 17, 2pm)
2. Once Upon a Time in the West (The Astor)
Unfortunately, my first pick for this week clashes with my second, creating a veritable cinematic Sophie’s choice. Projected onto The Astor’s big screen in 35mm, Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West is considered by many to be one of the greatest Western’s of all time. And embarassingly, I haven’t seen it. Which creates a real dilemma for me come Sunday evening. (Sunday, February 17, 7pm)
3. Oscar Nominated Shorts (Cinema Nova)
With the 2013 Academy Awards barely more than a week away, Cinema Nova is screening all the nominted short films in the Live Action (Fiction) and Animated categories. Tickets for both programs are available, and there will be another lot of screenings the following weekend for anyone who misses out. (Sat, Feb 16, 6:30pm & Sun, Feb 17, 1pm. Repeats next week)
4. Jeanne Moreau Retrospective (ACMI)
ACMI’s career retrospective on French New Wave Starlett Jeanne Moreau continues this week; amongst the films being screened are Louis Malle’s The Lovers, Luis Buñuel’s Diary of a Chambermaid and, perhaps the most iconic film in which she appeared, François Truffaut’s Jules et Jim. All films in the program screen twice; click here for more details. (Thur, Feb 14 – Tues, Feb 26)
5. Transitions Film Festival (Cinema Nova & ACMI)
The sustainability themed Transitions Film Festival kicks off its third year in style on Sunday (there’s that date again) with the Australian premiere of Gus van Sant’s Promised Land, starring Matt Damon. The festival, which spans all week, boasts a bunch of national premieres, including doco’s Chasing Ice and A Fierce Green Fire, with organisers also holding post-film Q&A with prominent figures, including former Greens Senator Bob Brown. More info here. (Sun, Feb 17 – Sat, Feb 23)
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Like I said, I was spoiled for choice this week. And while I like arbitrarily restricting myself with top five lists as much as the next blogger, there are in this case a few more screenings I’d like to draw your attention to. Specifically, Blade Runner, which is playing at Rooftop at 9:30pm on Wednesday Feb 20, Goldfinger, playing at the Shadow Electric at sundown on Saturday Feb 16, and Pulp Fiction, at Moonlight Cinema in the Botonical Gardens, 8:30pm on Thursday Feb 21.
Was this a good week or what? Out of all my selections, which would you be most interested in checking out?
