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Musings from The Melbourne International Film Festival 2008.

For those who went ‘Oh! not another diss at the critics!!’ - Surprise!!! It aint!

This was the tag line for this years bonanza. In MIFF Exec. Director Richard Moore’s own words “it’s an acknowledgement of the collecive spirit that MIFF engenders in this great southern city”.

Can’t refute that!
But this is not just a Melbournite character these days. A simple google of the term film reviews will prove my point. But that’s besides the point.

I, normally, love the festival ID spot. It sets the tone before every movie apart from its usual advertising role . I would also like to believe that as we settle into the hall packed with strangers eager to watch the movie, the festival short kinda brings us all to a common plateau of empathy. If you are an avid festival goer, you will understand what i …

“I need 29 bags I need 29 bags”

There are six of us stuffing gift bags with various goodies for guests in the courtyard. Inside another twenty odd volunteers are busy getting gift bags ready for a different set of guests. The phone rings…

“Hi oz, this is Bipin…. Bipin Nadkarni”

My back hurts, my sinus headaches acting up in the chill flowing around AFI campus, I need my 29 bags for the event I’m managing, and in all that, the brain fails to register who is Bipin Nadkarni.

Mercifully the blank state of mind flows back into gear… darn that’s the brilliant director of Marathi Movies who’s movie has been selected for the festival.

Problem.

He’s at the airport.

Problem.

He’s trying to find his pickup… the volunteer sent to get him from the airport. Damn…

Pass the phone to Felicia.

Nitin, who handles the entire complex transport system for the festival, is off dialing the number of the …