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MIFF to open with Predestination

The 63rd Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is thrilled to announce that the 2014 Festival will open with the Australian Premiere of the Spierig Brothers’ new feature Predestination.

After tackling zombies (Undead, MIFF 03) and vampires (Daybreakers), the Australian filmmaking duo Peter and Michael Spierig take on time travel in this stylish, intelligent thriller, starring Ethan Hawke, Noah Taylor and Sarah Snook (These Final Hours, MIFF 13).

“We are completely captivated by this stylish mind-bender of a film and can't wait to present the Australian Premiere as our Opening Night film. Shot in Melbourne, with smart direction and thrilling performances, it will be a sure-fire conversation starter at the after-party,” says Artistic Director Michelle Carey.

Based on Robert A Heinlein’s All You Zombies, Predestination is the story of a temporal agent on the trail of a terrorist, in an intricate web of twists and secrets. Hawke gives a nuanced performance as the time-travelling agent, backed by an on-form Taylor as his enigmatic boss. Snook also dazzles with a revelatory and intimate turn, lending the film an uncommon emotional weight.

Offering a distinctive blend of sci-fi, noir and crime fiction with a Bukowskian streak, Predestination investigates questions of destiny and identity with wit and insight.

The German-born directors, now based between Brisbane and LA, will be in attendance for the red carpet event. "We are thrilled to have our Australian Premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Having shot our film in Victoria, it’s exciting to play Predestination to a hometown crowd," they say. Pinnacle Films will release the film in Australia following its MIFF premiere.

Opening Night marks the first event in MIFF’s 18-day program. This year’s Festival will include well over 300 films from around the globe in program sections including International Panorama, Documentaries, Accent on Asia and Backbeat, as well as the youth-focused Next Gen section, which will be announced on Monday 19 May. A further selection of the Festival’s program will be announced in First Glance on Tuesday 27 May. The full program will be announced Tuesday 8 July and tickets go on sale Friday 11 July. The Festival runs 31 July–17 August 2014. The Opening Night event will take place on Thursday 31 July at Hamer Hall with tickets on sale to the public from Thursday 15 May.

German luxury carmaker Audi is once again proud to be the major sponsor of the Melbourne International Film Festival and its Opening Night celebration.

Audi’s high performance sports cars have appeared in movies including Iron Man 3 and Wolverine, in heart-racing cinematic car chases (Ronin, Mission Impossible II and the Transporter movies) and futuristic concept films (I, Robot and Ender's Game). Audi is the red-carpet limousine of choice for opening nights and major film premieres.

“Film has the power to excite, educate and engage. As a progressive brand, we are proud of the association with MIFF and the wonderful opportunity it provides to film lovers throughout the state. We are pleased to be supporting the community through our partnership with this leading festival,” says Audi Australia’s Managing Director, Andrew Doyle.