MUFF 12 Call for Entries… and Bloodfest Fantastique!
January 24, 2011
MUFF 12: The Call for Entries.
Yikes all you zombies!
Your favorite trouble making Independent Australian Film Festival is back to cause fresh headlines and make waves in 2011.
That’s right MUFF 12 is now Calling for Entries!
MUFF has survived criticism, condemnation, censorship, public outrage, Police Raids, stalkers and yet is still miraculously standing ( a little wobbly granted) and back for more trouble in ‘11. You know you love it!
MUFF is fast becoming (and maybe already is already?) the most cutting edge and relevant independent film festival Australia has to offer. MUFF has what many other festivals would like but don’t have: Programming and editorial integrity. Oh, and some balls. You heard right some guts! Our rep is well earned after 11 festivals discovering the new voice in Australian cinema, fighting for freedom of speech and avant garde ideas and telling it like is about the state of the local Australian Film Industry.
Things have been looking up in the local film scene with the MUFF lead ‘turn to genre’ beginning to take hold with Animal Kingdom, The Loved Ones and Red Hill gaining world wide respect and praise and out shining the dull PC offerings that still turn up every now and then.
Good news: MUFF is here to continue the fight.
We are calling for Entries for our esteemed 12th festival. Down load the new Entry form here: http://www.muff.com.au
You have until: June 15, 2011 to get those entries in for MUFF 12 which will enter in to Being in late August.
MUFF 11 was our biggest and most successful event yet and MUFF 12 is going to surpass that and kick the ass of Australian and World cinema mediocrity. So get your boots on Indy cinema brethren and lets get a kickin’.
Get those Entries in.
But that’s not all! Two BIG announcements:
Mystery MUFF:
After the success of the naughty LA Zombie screening we are holding a new series of special event and one off screenings of cutting edge and controversial world cinema. We will be holding special monthly or bi monthly or so screenings to be called Mystery MUFF. You will not know the film until you get there. But I can assure you it will be worth it. The first event is coming soon, so stand by for details there. Join The Mystery MUFF Facebook group and stand by for details.
Bloodfest Fantastique: The new MUFF Horror and Science Fiction Film Festival.
Starting in late May will be new MUFF spin off event/festival specifically focusing on the wonderful genres of Horror and Science Fiction that we all love so much. Its name: Bloodfest Fantastique. Groovy Ghoulies! You can enter your Horror or Sci Fi Indy film here. You can enter it even if it has played MUFF the last two years. This new Horror and Sci Fi film festival will soon be a Premiere local event for blood, gore and science fiction geeks and fans. And you know that means most of us! Entries for Bloodfest Fantastique close on Friday March 18th. Muhhahaa. (Evil Laughter). Too cool!
MUFF Press Release on LA Zombie charges
January 24, 2011
FILM FESTIVAL DIRECTOR ADDRESSES POLICE CHARGES
Melbourne Underground Film Festival director, Richard Wolstencroft, has addressed charges laid against him by Victorian Police after he screened a banned copy of the Canadian film LA Zombie at last year’s festival.
“It is unfortunate that the year has begun with charges being laid against me and MUFF in relation to the screening of LA Zombie at the close of last year’s successful festival,” Wolstencroft said, defending his decision to screen the film on anti-censorship grounds.
“LA Zombie is a film made by a well-renowned and established queer filmmaker, Bruce LaBruce, who has had his work played at a number of established film festivals all over the world.”
“Our only intention was to play this important work of cinematic art to an appreciative adult audience after its screening was cancelled by the Melbourne International Film Festival due the OFLC’s absurd decision not to grant it exemption to screen.”
“We strongly reject the decision of the OFLC in this matter, considering it totally inappropriate and out of touch with community standards. Our screening at MUFF 11 went ahead and was a great success.”
“Two months later my home was raided by police searching for a copy of LA Zombie. Why an artistic director who runs an established film festival like MUFF should have such draconian tactics used and applied to him over a work of art in our day and age is another problem altogether. I had made sure two months earlier that I didn’t have a copy and that our only copy had been destroyed. Worldwide media attention followed, including an article in The New York Times.”
“We received letters of support from Bruce LaBruce and Camille Paglia, Jack Sargeant, and a host of other film industry luminaries, including the directors of Toronto and the Raindance Film Festival. I would like to thank all of those who offered their support.”
“Last Thursday, January 20, I was informed that I had a summons to pick up at my local police station. I did so and immediately contacted my lawyers. Attached to the summons was a diversion notice, agreeing to settle the matter without a felony on my record and with a donation to charity.”
“If the matter were to proceed to court, the charges carry a potential penalty of two years jail and a large fine.”
“Two of Melbourne’s top legal minds, Bryce Menzies and Barrister Peter Clarke, have come to my defense pro bono. I feel I would like to pursue this matter further, but have been put between the proverbial rock and hard a place.”
“I shall be discussing this matter further with friends, advisors and my legal team.”
Wolstencroft and his legal team said they would issue another press release on the matter when the time is appropriate.
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