Melbourne 2018: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 67th Melbourne International Film Festival

Dates:
August 2-19

About:
More than 200 new and recent features screen at this long-running Australian event, among them nearly 80 documentaries.

While the bulk of the nonfiction offerings includes work that has debuted at other notable festivals, Melbourne features a number of world premieres of Australian docs, among them: the fest’s closing night film, Sue Thomson’s THE COMING BACK OUT BALL MOVIE, about a gala event honoring LGBT elders, timed to Australia’s marriage equality vote; Genevieve Bailey’s HAPPY SAD MAN, an exploration of mental health among men; Nicholas Wrathall’s UNDERMINED: TALES FROM THE KIMBERLEY, a David vs Goliath tale of development threatening indigenous lands; Janine Hosking’s THE EULOGY, about a largely overlooked Australian pianist; and Jeremy Sims’ WAYNE, a portrait of a motorcycling racing champion.

Other Aussie docs screening at the festival include: Dylan River’s FINKE: THERE AND BACK, about a real-life MAD MAX off-road desert endurance race; Richard Todd’s DYING TO LIVE, a call to action to increas organ donor awareness; and Dominic Allen’s CARRIBERRIE, an immersive VR exploring the world of indigenous song and dance.