The 2020 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival is set to begin June 30th. Due to the current COVID-19 situation, documentary fans will have the chance to take part in a special virtual screening of the films from home this year.
As always, the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival excels at selecting a diverse array of documentaries that are thought-provoking and emotionally evocative. This year is no different. With over 90 films in competition, the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, now in its 5th year, continues to be the ultimate champion of non-fiction film Down Under.
Even though festival-goer’s locations may vary this year and include sofas instead of cinema seats, viewers will still be able to find togetherness and inspiration through the work of this year’s selected films.
Here are 11 of those feature documentaries we think you’ll enjoy. . .
“Paradise Without People” directed by Francesca Trianni
“At the height of Europe’s refugee crisis, two Syrian women give birth in the same Greek hospital, with the same dream: to raise their children away from war. Their lives take unexpected turns as they navigate motherhood while seeking asylum.”
“Forman vs. Forman” directed by Jakub Hejna and Helena Třeštíková
“A look at the life and work of director Milos Forman, from the Czech New Wave to Hollywood.”
“Meat the Future” directed by Liz Marshall
“A close-up, personal look at the visionaries risking everything to innovate real meat without slaughtering animals, and without environmental degradation. With animal agriculture occupying roughly 45% of the world’s ice-free land surface, producing more greenhouse gases than cars, the prospect of meat consumption doubling by 2050 is a wake-up call for solutions.”
“Insert Coin” directed by Joshua Tsui
“The oral history of a team of geeks and misfits in the back of a Chicago factory creating the biggest video games (Mortal Kombat, NBA JAM, and others) of all time.”
“Man on the Bus” directed by Eve Ash
“Eve always thought there was something about her family. As a psychologist and filmmaker she explores her family background over a decade of filming. She follows unusual clues and makes a discovery that changes her life forever.”
“D’art” directed by Karl von Möller | Read our review here
“Over a glass of red wine one evening, fine artist Robert Clinch, and collector, Jeff Brown postulated a fun idea, “What if we could find a Goggomobil Dart sports-car and paint Robert’s signature paper darts on it?” And so the story begins. G, O, G-G, O! What starts as a simple “art car” project quickly reveals itself to be a fascinating mix of art and engineering, combining car racing, automotive design and a passion for collecting art and fascinating objects, in one documentary.”
“Poisoning Paradise” directed by Teresa Tico and Keely Shaye Brosnan
“Produced by Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Brosnan. Discover what’s at stake for Hawaii from local activists, scientific experts, and healthcare professionals as they expose the effects of pesticide use and the environmental injustice on a local population.”
“The World’s Best Film” directed by Joshua Belinfante | Read our review here
“Told he only had a short time to live, Joshua Belinfante sought out dedicated talents around the world striving their best at what they always wanted to do as kids; trying to find what he would do if given a second chance.”
“Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” directed by Posy Dixon
“As a Sci-Fi obsessed woman living in near isolation, Beverly Glenn-Copeland wrote and self-released Keyboard Fantasies in 1986. Recorded in an Atari-powered home-studio, the cassette featured seven tracks of a curious folk-electronica hybrid, a sound realized far before its time.”
“Descent” directed by Nays Baghai
“Dutch ice freediver Kiki Bosch swims in the world’s coldest waters without a wetsuit as therapy for a trauma she experienced, and to inspire others.”
“Can Art Stop a Bullet?” directed by Mark Street
“William Kelly speaks to some of the world’s most socially engaged artists to discuss if art can temper violence in the world when politics fails.”
For ticket information and to learn more about the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, visit: mdff.org.au / @mdffest / and the MDFF Facebook Group.
