Sat, 15th, August, 2026: Al Cossar Artistic Director, Melbourne International Film Festival

We are officially at the halfway mark of the 74th Melbourne International Film Festival! Over 300 films, retrospectives, and red-carpet galas have been taking over Melbourne’s cinemas. But beyond the popcorn and packed theatres, what does the festival tell us about the state of cinema today—and where local Australian stories fit on the world stage? Joining us is MIFF Artistic Director, Al Cossar.

The 74th edition features over 300 films, shorts, and XR experiences. Due to record audience demand, MIFF expanded into Southbank (Village Cinemas Crown) alongside staple venues like ACMI, The Capitol, Kino, and The Forum.

There’s a strong presence of Australian feature premieres (including The Fox and Sweet Milk Lake in the $140,000 Bright Horizons competition), plus queer cinema highlights like John Cameron Mitchell’s live 25th-anniversary event for Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

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