MIFF 2008 will kick-off in grand fashion on opening night with the world premiere of Mark Hartley's much anticipated documentary Not Quite Hollywood (which we first mentioned here). Not Quite Hollywood promises to tell the "Wild, untold story of Ozploitation cinema", and MIFF Executive Director Richard Moore seems more than happy to have it as the festival's opening feature: "Mark Hartley's film is a rigorous and serious film exploring an untold story of Australian film but it's also tremendously entertaining - I can't wait to feel the audience reaction to its World premiere screening".

On to closing night, and Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza's [REC] will have the honour of brining the festival to an end. The film, which recently played locally as part of the Spanish Film Festival, was a box office hit in its native Spain and has been spooking the crap out of festival audiences the world over.

In-between those two features we can look forward to several must-see events, including a focus on Ozploitation cinema co-curated by Mark Hartley and featuring Aussie classics such as Turkey Shoot, Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, Dead End Drive-In, and Long Weekend, and an Umbrella Retrospect on the films of George A. Romero, as well as several screenings of horrific overseas films that we won't mention just yet.

The 2008 Melbourne International Film Festival will run from July 25 to August 10 and feature over 300 films, including 10 World Premieres. The full screening programme will be announced on July 11.

For more information visit the official site - www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au

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