Who provide stage for Rebiya Kadeer? Aug 13, 2009
She also had a documentary on her life screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Many Japanese and Australians later told Xinhua that they had known little about Kadeer before her visits. (Xinhuanet, China)
* EDITORIAL: Rio Tinto scandal hurts PRC the most Aug 11, 2009
In recent months, relations between Australia and China have become tense, largely the result of allegations of Chinese spying on Australian government officials and, in the past two weeks, Beijings campaign against the Melbourne International Film Festival over a film about the life of Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer. Since Deng Xiaopings (Hp) famous southern tour in 1992, China has dramatically improved its image as a place where foreign businesses can invest. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Uighur film annoys China Aug 8, 2009
The Chinese consul-general in Melbourne, Shen Weilian, requested an urgent meeting with Mr Doyle after the Melbourne International Film Festival moved the premiere of The 10 Conditions of Love to the 1500-seat Town Hall. Mary-Anne Toy. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Indigenous film's world premiere introduces some Bran Nue stars Aug 8, 2009
The movie, the closing feature at the Melbourne International Film Festival tonight, is the screen version of a groundbreaking Aboriginal musical first performed in 1989, and Dingo plays the same role he took in the stage production. He joins a cast that includes Geoffrey Rush, Tom Budge, Deborah Mailman and Magda Szubanski, with singers Missy Higgins, Jessica Mauboy and Dan Sultan making their acting debuts. (The Age, Australia -- Entertainment)
China's new film threat Aug 8, 2009
The Chinese consul-general in Melbourne, Shen Weilian, requested an urgent meeting with Cr Doyle after the Melbourne International Film Festival on Wednesday moved the premiere of The 10 Conditions of Love to the 1500-seat Town Hall. The move sought to cater for unprecedented demand created by earlier Chinese attempts to ban the film. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
* GIO criticizes withdrawal of the movie Miao Miao Aug 7, 2009
Government Information Office (GIO) Minister Su Jun-pin (T) said yesterday that he disapproved of the withdrawal of the movie Miao Miao () from the Melbourne International Film Festival. Su said the withdrawal of the film had been interpreted as support for some country or some area's oppression of human rights. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Govt reassures China over Kadeer visit Aug 7, 2009
The exiled activist, accused by the Chinese government of instigating riots between the Uighur and Han Chinese on July 5, is in Australia to attend the screening of a film about her life at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Mr Smith said Chinese authorities had urged Australia to deny Ms Kadeer a visa but the government had decided not to interfere with the approval process. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
* Protecting freedom of expression through film Aug 6, 2009
This years Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) includes showings of Australian director Jeff Daniels film 10 Conditions of Love, a documentary on the life of World Uyghur Congress president Rebiya Kadeer. Festival organizers have also invited Kadeer to speak at the festival and attend the films premiere on Saturday. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
* GIO angered by removal of film Aug 5, 2009
The Government Information office (GIO) yesterday expressed its displeasure at Fortissimo Films, the Amsterdam-based distributor of the movie Miao Miao (), following the controversial withdrawal of the film from the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF). We feel deep regret that Fortissimo pulled the movie without informing Taiwan in advance, said Frank Chen (e), director of the GIOs Department of Motion Pictures. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Taiwan)
Bran Nue festival fight Aug 5, 2009
The film will premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Saturday before a dual WA premiere in Broome and Perth, where dates are still to be arranged ... "The Melbourne International Film Festival is gaining a stature worldwide," he told 3AW.. (The Age, Australia)
Chinese govt lying about riots: Kadeer Aug 5, 2009
Ms Kadeer, who is at the Melbourne International Film Festival for a screening of a film about her life, has been accused by the Chinese government of instigating riots between the Uighur and Han Chinese in China's Xinjiang province on July 5. The 62-year-old US-based activist vehemently denies the claim. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
* China forced childrens accusation: Kadeer Aug 5, 2009
Kadeer, who lives in the US state of Virginia, is in Australia to attend the Melbourne International Film Festival, which will feature a documentary about her life. The festival has been besieged by objections to Kadeers appearance, and several Chinese filmmakers said they would boycott the gathering. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
* TECO could still fund film festival Aug 4, 2009
The Taipei Economic and Relations Office (TECO) in Australia said yesterday it had proposed to the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) that it resume its status as a cultural partner after sponsorship was annulled when a Taiwanese film was withdrawn by its Hong Kong production company last month. TECOs Information Division Director Jerry Chuang (w) told the Taipei Times in a telephone interview that his office had made the pitch to the organizer and was waiting for an answer. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Taiwan)
Infotainment Aug 3, 2009
Inglourious BasterdsMelbourne: German actress Diane Kruger poses on the red carpet at the Australian premiere of US filmmaker Quentin Tarantinos new film Inglourious Basterds at the Melbourne International Film Festival. afp. (Daily Times, Pakistan)
Tarantino's local knowledge Aug 3, 2009
QUENTIN Tarantino has always been a band apart and the Melbourne International Film Festival guest proved it again yesterday when he claimed no awareness of the festival s controversies, even after being in town for three days. He said he hadn t heard about any of that referring to the Chinese Government s outrage over the screening of a documentary on its minority Uighurs and the Ken Loach/Israeli funding brouhaha. (The Age, Australia)
* HK distributor pulls Taiwanese film from MIFF Aug 3, 2009
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Australia said in a statement that it was surprised and regretful that Fortissimo, the Hong Kong-based distribution company of the movie Miao Miao () by Taiwanese director Cheng Hsiao-tse ({A) and with mostly Taiwanese actors had pulled the movie from the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF). The withdrawal is the result of the recent boycott by the authorities of the Peoples Republic of China K against the Melbourne... (Taipei Times, Taiwan)
Kruger with a Luger Aug 3, 2009
Diane Kruger relished playing Bridget von Hammersmark in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, which had its Australian premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival yesterday ... Kruger, who was in Melbourne yesterday for the film s Australian premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival, plays a German movie star and speaks her native German and her second language, French, in the film, which is subtitled and features little English. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
They’re short, sharp and focused on much bigger things Aug 2, 2009
While the eyes of the film scene are focused on the Melbourne International Film Festival and its feature films such as Robert Connolly s Balibo and Ana Kokkinos Blessed, beyond the red carpets, younger filmmakers such as Just Desserts director Nigel Karikari are honing their skills on short films that will create the next generation of Australian movies. A short film doesn t come cheap filmmakers can easily burn through $100,000 for a quarter of an hour of cinema which is where Film Victoria s... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Hackers hit MIFF website Aug 1, 2009
Instructions educating Chinese citizens on how to sabotage the Melbourne International Film Festival are being circulated around the world, organisers say. In the latest attack on the festival's website, online ticket sales were shut down after Chinese hackers today booked out all film sessions through to next Thursday. (The Age, Australia)
Chinese hackers crash Australian festival website Aug 1, 2009
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The tangled web we weave Jul 31, 2009
People told me not to start the film with that, that it would be too alienating but I had to, says Timoner, who is in Melbourne for the Australian premiere of her Sundance Grand Jury prize-winning film, as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival. It gives a clear introduction to Harris, a man described as a dot. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
3rd Chinese Film Pulled From Festival Jul 30, 2009
Rebiya Kadeer's scheduled visit to the Melbourne International Film Festival on Aug. 8 has already prompted Venice Film Festival winner Jia Zhangke and Hong Kong director Emily Tang to withdraw their movies. Advertising agency Wieden and Kennedy Shanghai said in a statement on its Web site Thursday that it has pulled its short documentary "YB Box" from the Melbourne event. (Time.com)
Karina dines out on her iconic name Jul 29, 2009
When actress Anna Karina, icon of the French New Wave, actress, writer, singer, director and guest of the Melbourne International Film Festival, heard about the menu item created in her honour, she was keen to taste it for herself. She made her way to Bande a Part Pizza Bar in North Carlton, which takes its name from the 1964 movie Karina made with her then-husband, director Jean-Luc Godard. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
* Hackers in China are widening their nets Jul 29, 2009
This years Melbourne International Film Festival includes showings of Australian director Jeff Daniels documentary The 10 Conditions of Love, a portrayal of World Uyghur Congress president Rebiya Kadeer and her struggle for freedom and human rights in East Turkestan (Xinjiang) ... Until recently, Chinese hackers limited their activities to penetrating foreign government and commercial networks to steal confidential information, but recently they have turned their attention to ordinary Web... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
* Sino-Australian relations in crisis Jul 29, 2009
To complicate things further, the Melbourne International Film Festival is screening a documentary about Rebiya Kadeer, the Uighur leader in exile in the US. Beijing calls her a terrorist and blames her for recent unrest in Xinjiang. A Chinese consular official reportedly called the director of the film festival, demanding that the documentary be dropped. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
* EDITORIAL: Chinas next target: the film industry Jul 28, 2009
A perfect example of this was provided by the behavior of Chinese filmmakers last week at the Melbourne International Film Festival, which they boycotted because organizers refused to yield to pressure from Beijing not to screen Ten Conditions of Love, a documentary about exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer. Two Chinese directors pulled out of the festival, and the organizers Web site was hacked, possibly by Chinese agents. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Hackers put China flag on Australian film site Jul 28, 2009
The cyberattack on the Melbourne International Film Festival which also received a flurry of critical e-mails came after four Chinese films pulled out of the event and a Chinese diplomat protested the screening of a documentary about activist Rebiya Kadeer, whom Beijing says incited the violence this month between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese that left nearly 200 dead. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang criticized the screening and Kadeer's planned appearance earlier this... (MSNBC -- Crime)
Exiled Uighur leader visits Japan, angers Beijing Jul 28, 2009
Kadeer is the subject of a documentary called "Ten Conditions of Love" which premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Sunday. Festival director Richard Moore accused Chinese officials of trying to bully him into pulling the documentary, while Chinese directors withdrew their films in protest and hackers attacked the festival website. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
The young man and the sea Jul 27, 2009
The documentary, which Martin produced and directed with his friend and sailing companion Josh Schmidt, will screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival this weekend. In 2002, Martin decided to embark on another epic journey. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Uighur premiere a sell-out in Australia Jul 27, 2009
The Melbourne International Film Festival called in security guards for Sunday night's premiere of "Ten Conditions of Love" fearing trouble amid Chinese anger over the film about exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer. Festival director Richard Moore has accused Chinese officials of trying to bully him into pulling the documentary, while Chinese directors have withdrawn their films in protest and hackers have attacked the festival website. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Actors explore mother-child bond Jul 26, 2009
Speaking before the world premiere of Blessed at the Melbourne International Film Festival yesterday, the four women said they were drawn to the project because of the powerful bond between mother and child. "It's about mothers and children and I think that's something we probably all relate to," O'Connor said. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Chinese hack film festival site Jul 26, 2009
Content on the Melbourne International Film Festival site was briefly replaced with the Chinese flag and anti-Kadeer slogans on Saturday, reports said ... Richard MooreHead of the Melbourne International Film Festival ... Richard Moore, head of the Melbourne International Film Festival, told the BBC that he had come under pressure from Chinese officials to withdraw the film about Kadeer and cancel her invitation to the festival. (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Film directors supported at home after Melbourne withdrawal Jul 25, 2009
BEIJING, July 25 -- Leading Chinese film directors Thursday voiced support for the two directors who reportedly quit the 58th Melbourne International Film Festival, which opens Friday. Australian newspaper The Age reported Wednesday that two Chinese film directors, Jia Zhangke and Zhao Liang, had withdrawn their films from the festival in protest at the inclusion of a documentary about Rebiya Kadeer, leader of the World Uygur Congress (WUC), which the Chinese believed to be behind the deadly... (Xinhuanet, China)
At the scene00004000 of the grime Jul 24, 2009
After 23 years, it has been digitally restored and will be shown next week as part of the Punk Becomes Pop program at the Melbourne International Film Festival, along with the documentary We're Livin' on Dog Food, which started as a "making of" for Dogs in Space but turned into a testament to the era ... Dogs in Space screens at ACMI on August 1 (sold out) and We're Livin' on Dog Food is at ACMI on August 2 as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival, which opens tonight and runs until... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Chinese pull films from festival to protest Uighur Jul 24, 2009
Venice Film Festival winner Jia Zhangke and Emily Tang have withdrawn their films from the Melbourne International Film Festival because Rebiya Kadeer is attending the event to promote a documentary about her, producer Chow Keung told The Associated Press in a phone interview. The filmmakers believe Kadeer's appearance is offensive to Chinese people, said Chow, who served as producer for both of the movies. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Chinese directors shun festival Jul 23, 2009
Richard Moore, head of the Melbourne International Film Festival, said their films were pulled after he ignored political pressure from Beijing. He told the AFP news agency "It's hard to draw any other conclusion.". (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Tit for tat: Chinese films pulled from festival Jul 22, 2009
The Melbourne International Film Festival has been disrupted by the withdrawal of three Chinese films in what appears to be retaliation for its backing of a documentary about exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer. The Chinese Government had demanded the festival dump the Australian-made documentary The 10 Conditions of Love, which is about Ms Kadeer and her fight for greater rights for China's 10 million Uighurs. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Festival's glorious cavalcade of films is ready to roll Jul 19, 2009
THERE are treats aplenty on offer at this year's Melbourne International Film Festival. In addition to the hundreds of new features and documentaries from around the globe, there'll be the regular short film competition, local filmmakers presenting their work, big-name guests from overseas, and much more. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Screaming for more Jul 19, 2009
So big is the genre that the Melbourne International Film Festival, which starts this week, has a dedicated horror program, with fear brought to you from all around the world. Just as many horror watchers have had their own Poltergeist experience, so too have many of the films creators. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
* China urges Aussie film festival to drop Uighur documentary Jul 18, 2009
Qin did not confirm if Chinese diplomats had pressured organizers not to show the film about the US-based head of the World Uighur Congress at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Festival director Richard Moore said an official from the Chinese consulate called him on July 10 and urged him to withdraw the documentary Ten Conditions of Love by Melbourne film-maker Jeff Daniels. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Australian film on exiled leader angers China Jul 15, 2009
China and Melbourne International Film Festival ... THE Chinese Government has demanded that the Melbourne International Film Festival dump a documentary about an exiled minority leader whom it labels a terrorist and blames for instigating this month's ethnic riots in Xinjiang, which left more than 180 people dead. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Reel drama more fiction than fact or lost in translation? Jul 13, 2009
A translator from Australia's National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters will check the film before its next screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival on July 31. send photos, videos ffs to 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764), or us. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Tarantino to attend MIFF Jul 7, 2009
SELECTING films for the Melbourne International Film Festival is one kind of challenge, attracting overseas guests is another. The tyranny of distance makes it hard to lure international filmmakers and actors to MIFF.. (The Age, Australia)
The edge of nature Jun 19, 2009
Antichrist will screen as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival ... Antichrist will screen as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival, July 24-August 9. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Protesters step up campaign Jun 17, 2009
THE disputed documentary Stolen should be banned from the Melbourne International Film Festival, a Sydney representative of the Polisario Liberation Front, Kamal Fadel, said yesterday. Bondi filmmakers Violeta Ayala and Dan Fallshaw claim slavery exists in Western Saharan refugee camps. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Cannes Antichrist shocker heading to Melbourne Jun 16, 2009
Direct from the Cannes Film Festival, Quentin Tarantino's war fantasy Inglourious Basterds (Inglourious Basterds) and Lars Von Trier's controversial Antichrist will have their Australian premieres at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) next month. In Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino rewrites the history books, with Brad Pitt starring as the captain of a troupe of Jewish American renegades whose mission is to take down a group of Nazis. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
