What I’m seeing at MIFF 2009: Ronan

It was very tough, but i have made my bookings for MIFF 2009. What a great lineup of films this year. There is also a fair bit of controversy already.

Ken Loach. Not a fan of MIFF

Iconic Miserabalist director Ken Loach has pulled out his film, Looking for Eric, in a protest over MIFF accepting sponsorship money from the Israel government. {link}. This is a little unfair, given MIFF isn’t and doesn’t take sides over the Israel / Palestine conflict, instead choosing to show films from both POV, as long as they are well made. Correct me if I am wrong.

The Chinese Government is putting pressure on MIFF to remove the first film on my line up, 10 Conditions Of Love. {link}. MIFF have subsequently made extra sessions of this available, filling in some gaps on the program. A not so subtle response to China’s demand perhaps…

And does anyone know why Blank City  (featuring Deborah Harry) has been removed? I really wanted to see it.

Sorry about the screwy formatting below:

Date/Time

Venue	Session	Purchased
Sunday 26 July 2009
7:00 PM	ACMI 2	6015 – 10 CONDITIONS OF LOVE
Monday 27 July 2009
7:00 PM	Greater Union 3	5021 – MOONSELLING FAST
Wednesday 29 July 2009
7:00 PM	Forum Theatre	1033 – VAN DIEMENS LAND
Thursday 30 July 2009
4:45 PM	Kino Cinemas	8039 – I NEED THAT RECORD!
9:15 PM	Kino Cinemas	8041 – TREELESS MOUNTAIN
Friday 31 July 2009
7:00 PM	Greater Union 6	2046 – STOLEN
9:15 PM	Forum Theatre	1047 – UNMADE BEDS
Saturday 1 August 2009
9:15 PM	Greater Union 6	2054 – AN EDUCATION
Wednesday 5 August 2009
4:45 PM	Greater Union 3	5077 – MAID, THE
Thursday 6 August 2009
7:00 PM	Greater Union 4	4084 – LOVE EXPOSURE
Friday 7 August 2009
4:45 PM	Greater Union 3	5090 – EVERYONE ELSE
Saturday 8 August 2009
12:15 PM	Greater Union 4	4098 – LIVING TOGETHER
Sunday 9 August 2009
7:00 PM	Greater Union 4	4107 – TWO LINES

+ The Anna Karina talk at the Forum.

Almost made the list: Going Down, The whispering of trees, Burma VJ, The bastards, Amreeka, Dogtooth, Fish tank, Breathless, Sell Out!, All tomorrow’s parties, The Topp twins: untouchable girls, Hansel and Gretel, Action Boys, Prodigal son, White Lightin’, Defamation, Eden Lake, The Exploding Girl, The Sky Crawlers, United Red Army, Citizen Havel, A Lake, Post Punk Mixtape #1, The Beaches of Agnes, The Strangeluck of VS Naipul, Flicker, 12 Lotus, Like you know it all, Murch – Walter Murch on editing, Still walking, No one  knows about persian cats,

Hmm, I am pretty close to buying another mini-pass.

Miff Website {link}