MIFF Accelerator, the film director professional development program of the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), celebrates its 11th edition with 11 alumni directors featured in the MIFF 2014 program.
Helping tomorrow’s hottest filmmaking talent today, MIFF Accelerator is an intensive workshop that helps selected short filmmakers hone their skills, craft and contacts in preparation for their transition to feature-length film directing. A part of the MIFF 37°South Market suite of industry programs, the four-day program comprises talks, screenings, seminars, networking and discussions on the creative and business aspects of the film industry.
Over its 11 years, MIFF Accelerator has fostered some extraordinary talent including: David Michod (Accelerator 2007), who went on to direct the multi-award winning box office hit Animal Kingdom; Matthew Bate (2008), who directed the acclaimed Sundance 2011-selected feature documentary Shut Up Little Man, An Audio Misadventure; and Julius Avery (2008), who recently completed his feature debut Son of a Gun starring Ewan McGregor. Following this year’s intake, some 173 directors will have passed through the exclusive Accelerator program – for a full and detailed listing of alumni see http://miffindustry.com/alumni_update.
This year MIFF Accelerator is proud to welcome back 11 Alumni to the MIFF program with the following features: Fell from Kasimir Burgess (Accelerator 2007); Venice-selected Ruin from Amiel Courtin-Wilson (2004); and Sundance-and-Berlin-selected What We Do In Shadows from Taika Waititi (2004). Also returning with features are Hugh Sullivan (2008) with The Infinite Man, which after being picked-up by sales agent Shoreline from its 2013 MIFF 37°South Breakthru Screening, was selected for 2014’s SxSW; and Curtis Vowell (2012) with Fantail, which after being picked-up by sales agent Level K on foot of its 2013 MIFF 37°South Breakthru Screening, was selected for 2014’s Rotterdam Film Festival.
This year’s Australian Shorts program features four Accelerator Alumni: Hannah Moon (2013) with Dario; Mirrah Foulkes (2012) with Florence Has Left the Building; Jonathan auf de Heide (2008) with Two Devils; and Hurt’s Rescue from 2007’s Grant Scicluna who later this year will shoot his MIFF Premiere Fund co-financed feature debut Downriver. Two Accelerator Alumni feature in MIFF’s International Shorts program: Sotiris Dounoukos (2004) with A Single Body; and Kevan Funk (2011) with Destroyer.
Occurring during the MIFF Shorts & Centre-Piece Weekend, the mid-point of the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest and largest film festival, this year’s MIFF’s Accelerator has 16 participants who have short films at MIFF 2014 as follows: Jessica Barclay Lawton (Building Bridges); Lewis Attey (Rhododendron); Anna Mcgrath (She Was She); Jayden Stevens (Between Trees); Audrey Lam (Magic Miles); Sarah-Jane Woulahan (Acts of God); Mike Green (Mother); Hamish Bennett (Ross & Beth); Qiu Yang (The World); Abigail Greenwood (Eleven); Eddy Bell (Grey Bull); Alena Lodkina (There is no Such Thing as a Jellyfish); Matt Richards (Rabbit); Alyx Duncan (The Tide Keeper); Sean Kruck (Snowblind); and Ben Briand (Blood Pulls a Gun).
Audiences can see these up-and-coming filmmakers in two programs of shorts: Accelerator 1 on Saturday 9 August at 4pm (repeating Thursday 14 August 4pm) and Accelerator 2 on Sunday 10 August at 4pm (repeating Friday 15 August 4pm). Bookings at www.miff.com.au
MIFF Accelerator also offers express admission for a limited number of directors in partnership programs. This year, the following six directors are participating via Screen Australia’s Hot Shots program: Alex Murawski; Andrew Kavanagh; Rebecca Peniston-Bird; Billie Pleffer; Corrie Chen; and Rodd Rathjen.
For more information on all the 2014 MIFF Accelerator participants visit: http://miffindustry.com/2014-participants