Melbourne International Film Festival
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The Melbourne International Film Festival, or MIFF, has been running since 1951. The 56th MIFF was held from 25 July–12 August 2007. The festival showcases a diverse array of films from across the world.
Known as Australia's most critically acclaimed film festival, MIFF has enjoyed a period of rapid expansion over the past ten years, growing its audience size by 230% since 1996. The festival also boasts a rich history celebrating 56 years in 2007, making it one of the oldest film festivals in the world. The festival now enjoys annual admissions of 170,000 - 180,000, making it both a significant and iconic public event for Melbourne and the largest film festival (with respect to programme and audience size) in Australia.
In addition to screening films from around fifty countries, MIFF is Australia's largest showcase of new Australian cinema and most vocal champion of both emerging and established local film making talent.
In 2006 MIFF delivered more than $7 million into the local economy.
In recent years disagreements over the content and running of the festival have led to the formation of an alternative film festival, the Melbourne Underground Film Festival [1] or MUFF that champions authentic independent, genre and alternative Australian films.
The current director of the Melbourne International Film Festival is Richard Moore.
