MIFF Awards Ceremony, The Rydges Hotel. Photo: Alex De Paulis Alex De Paulis attended the closing night awards ceremony at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 29 and reports. Champagne flowed and filmmakers networked at the city's theatre district hotel The Rydges for the announcing of the MIFF (Melbourne International Film Festival) filmmaking winners. Deliberating on the Bright Horizons Award and the Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award is an esteem

Daniel Allen reviews the Melbourne Film Festival documentary Replica, which explores the new 'dating' world of AI companionship. Replica (courtesy: MIFF) Director Chouwa Liang's debut film, Replica, focuses on the rise of intimate connections between humans and chatbots in this quirky documentary expanding on Liang's previous short documentary, My AI Lover. Given the rapid rise in public debate over the ethical and moral use of AI in our daily lives, it was only a matter

Swinburne University recently launched what one expert describes as “the most visually mind-blowing thing on the planet.” Heidi Calopa reports. The new SVU (Swinburne Virtual Universe) experience launched on May 2, 2026, offers school-aged students an immersive educational experience as well as promoting participation in space-related studies at Swinburne. The SVU space boasts a 100m² curved LED wall with an immersive audio system, displaying real 3D scientific data and ima

When were you last at the circus? Genevieve Spiteri reviews the Circus Oz show for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. When was the last time you went to the circus? Do you remember the incredible acrobatics and hilarious antics of the performers? Now is the perfect time to experience it again with Circus Oz’s Here, There and Everywhere these school holidays at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. An absolutely seamless performance from start to finish,

Estonian clowns Piip and Tuut have landed in Melbourne to brighten your school holidays for Melbourne Comedy Festival, Genevieve Spiteri reviews. Welcome to Piip and Tuut at Concert! Two impatient janitors who can’t seem to sit still are here to entertain and delight your young ones this school holidays as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival . I had the absolute privilege of attending the "World-Famous known only in Estonia" clown duo Piip and Tuut ’s Mel

This weekend marks ten years of celebrating the achievements of women in filmmaking at the annual MWFF, but there's still work to be done, Matthew Parkhill reports. ACMI and Federation Square are lit up once again this weekend for the annual celebration of women and gender-diverse filmmakers, with ACMI theatres screening both domestic and international films and shorts, both old and new. Crash the party at this year's Melbourne Women in Film festival celebrating ten years of