MIFF Schools

MIFF Schools returns in 2024 as part of the festival’s 72nd edition. The program has been curated with a view to presenting high-quality, diverse films in some of the languages commonly taught in Victorian schools (French, Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish and German), and to align with several Victorian Curriculum learning areas and capabilities.

In-cinema tickets cost $14 per student and are free for teachers. Screenings will be held during the festival period (8–25 August), and will be complemented with free Professional Learning webinars delivered by MIFF’s film-analysis expert, Dr Josh Nelson (available closer to the festival).

Find out more about MIFF Schools here.

Alemania

Argentina/Spain (2023, dir. María Zanetti) – 87 mins

Language: Spanish

A teenager must choose between family and a life-changing adventure abroad in this tender coming-of-age story.

Future Council

Netherlands (2024, dir. Damon Gameau) – 80 mins

Language: English

Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film; 2040) takes eight kids on the ultimate school excursion: a road trip across Europe to seek solutions to the climate crisis.

Moving

Japan (1993, dir. Shinji Sōmai) – 124 mins

Language: Japanese

Caught between her divorcing parents, a little girl is forced to come to terms with her new reality in this touching family drama.

Normal

France (2023, dir. Olivier Babinet) – 87 mins

Language: French

A father–daughter dramedy with a distinctive flavour, this tale of dispiriting social services and living with disability is a true crowdpleaser.

Pigsy

Taiwan (2023, dir. Li-Wei Chiu) – 95 mins

Language: Mandarin

A lazy, self-absorbed porker becomes an unlikely hero in this wild and wondrous sci-fi riff on the Chinese classic Journey to the West.

She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones

China (2024, dir. Qu Youjia) – 107 mins

Language: Mandarin

Receiving the Berlinale’s Generation 14plus Special Mention, this playful and poetic coming-of-age story follows the intertwined lives of two Chinese students.

The Concierge

Japan (2023, dir. Yoshimi Itazu) – 70 mins

Language: Japanese

In this sparkling anime comedy set in a vibrant alternate world, the customer is always right – but they’re never human.

Winners

Germany (2024, dir. Soleen Yusef) – 119 mins

Language: German

Using football as her vehicle, director Soleen Yusef references her own refugee tale through the poignant journey of an 11-year-old’s new life in Germany.