All posts filed under: What’s On

Cine Latino Film Festival

Interview: Alex Castro | Cine Latino Film Festival

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This August, Melbourne cinephile will be treated to the first ever Cine Latino: A NewFestival of Latin American Cinema. With over 30 films from over 11 countries, the festival is dedicated to exploring the diverse and exciting Latin American cinema of now. We spoke to festival programmer, Alex Castro (former Melbourne Latin American Film Festival Director) ahead of the festival to find out his recommendations for the festival and the inspiration behind it.  This is a brand new film festival to Melbourne (and Australia). What inspired you to put together this festival? For many years now the Spanish Film Festival has presented excellent Spanish-language films from Latin American countries such as Argentina, Peru, Chile, Uruguay and Colombia. But too many great films were missing out. Cine Latino: Festival of Latin American Cinema gives us the chance to screen a greater number of these quality films, plus we get to see films from Latin America that are not in Spanish, especially Brazil. Latin cinema has become more and more popular here in Australia, why do you think that is? Latin America …

Burlesque Extravaganza

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If you have ever imagined being at the Moulin Rouge in 1920, or kicking back in a smoky club in Chicago in at the height of prohibition, Burlesque Extravaganza will deliver! Presenting some of the most stunning, sultry and hottest burlesque acts in Melbourne, Burlesque Extravaganza is a presentation that will transport you! Burlesque Extravaganza is a stunning, risque show featuring record holding burlesque artists at Australia’s only vaudeville theatre. Choose from shows with world-record speed twerking champion Lord Lovat, fan dancer Camilla cream or many others. You will never experience burlesque like it again. When: Until November 25 Where: Speakeasy HQ Visit the Burlesque Extravaganza website here.

Cine Latino

Cine Latino Film Festival Giveaway

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This August, the Cine Latino Film Festival will be bringing the sights, sounds and stories of Latin America to Melbourne. Screening at Palace Cinemas across Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne, the Festival will feature over 30 films from all across Latin America. Alongside the Opening Night film NERUDA, the Festival’s gala events include Sérgio Machado’s THE VIOLIN TEACHER, which follows the story of a former prodigal child violinist, as its Centrepiece while the stunning music and dance performance film ARGENTINA by master filmmaker Carlos Saura (Raise Ravens, Carmen) will close the Festival. Other program highlights include the latest work from cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, ENDLESS POETRY, a phantasmagorical memoir that played in official selection at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, veteran Colombian director and Gabriel Garcia Marquez collaborator Lisandro Duque Naranjo’s THE BRIBE OF HEAVEN and Daniel Rodríguez Risco’s THE WOMB, Peru’s first bona fide horror film and box office smash hit. We Know Melbourne exclusive: Win 1 of 10 double passes to the Cine Latino Film Festival. Tell us in 25 words or …

What’s On this August?

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We’re in the heart of winter, but fear not, there’s just one more month to go! To speed your winter up, we’ve handpicked our favourite events that will get you out and about this month. Just remember to bring that brollie! MIFF – Until August 14 With a program filled with the best international and local films, MIFF is always a favourite on our calendar. There’s still another 2 weeks left, so get the popcorn ready and check out our top picks of the festival here. Hot Chocolate Festival – Until August 31 If hot chocolates are your drink of choice during winter, the Hot Chocolate Festival is the perfect place for you. Take your chocolate obsession to new heights with 31 different flavours over 31 days in August. Live N Local –  August 20 – August 27 Get ready to rock n roll at Live N Local. The one week festival will feature over 50 emerging and established artists playing in traditional and some unexpected locations, right across the City of Port Phillip. Melbourne Writer’s Festival …

Heart of St Kilda Concert

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The Sacred Heart Mission 365 days of the year helps hundreds of people who are suffering from homelessness or living in poverty to find care, support and shelter and a hot meal. For the ninth year running, The Heart of St Kilda Concert, held at the beautiful Palais Theatre in St Kilda will play host to a fantastic line-up of comedy and music acts including Russell Morris, Kutcha Edwards, Shan Howard, Olympia and The Umbilical Brothers (with more artists to be announced closer to the date) and raise much needed funds for the Mission and it’s work. The Sacred Heart Mission serves up over 160,000 meals every year from its Grey Street, St Kilda dining hall, and last year the concert raised a massive $79,000 for the Mission’s program which helped to feed nearly 20,000 people in need. This St Kilda concert will feature RockWiz host Brian Nankervis as MC, tickets start from $79 (available via Ticketmaster) and will sell out quickly. Acess to the concert is a piece of cake, take either tram number …

Live n Local

Live N Local hits St Kilda this August

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One week. Over 50 artists. Non-stop music. For those about the rock, get on this. Returning again to St Kilda this August, Live N Local showcases Melbourne’s diverse and incredible music talent across local venues in St Kilda and the wider Port Philip community. St Kilda is renowned for its eclectic music and pub scene, and Live N Local promises quality emerging and established artists, roving performers and outdoor activities in all the usual haunts PLUS a few unexpected locations, which the organisers are keeping under wraps for now. (Check their website for updates). Full program is expected to be launched 19 July. The best part about Live N Local? The gigs are free. So if you are looking for something to do at the tail end of this Winter, grab your mates and head over to St Kilda for some fab tunes from some names you know and some names you may not. And whilst you are there, check out some of the nearby bars like Mavis Browns for a beverage for two. No …

MIFF: Our Top Picks

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Clear your calendars, the Melbourne International Film Festival, has officially begun. Held over two and a half weeks and attracting over 200 000 visitors each year,  MIFF showcases the best of the best cinema from Australia and around the world. If the thought of choosing between over 300 films sounds daunting to you, we’ve picked out our flicks that we think you’ll want to see: Tickled | Documentary It seemed like an innocent investigation at first: journalist David Farrier had accidentally come across the world of “competitive endurance tickling”, in which a company offers all-expense paid trips to Los Angeles for men who are willing to be filmed being tickled. A mystery that begins as a curiosity turns into a full-blown investigation as co-directors David Farrier and Dylan Reeve navigate an extraordinary series of twists and turns to uncover the revelations at the heart of this peculiar subculture. Executive produced by Stephen Fry, Tickled is both a gripping cautionary tale and a top-notch piece of investigative journalism. In Jackson Heights | Documentary Jackson Heights, Queens, might …

Collins234 Striking Film Festival

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In an exciting night of opportunity, emerging and student filmmakers will be exhibiting their short films at the Collins234 Striking Film Festival. The first of its kind to be held at the stylish CBD retail destination on Thursday 4 August, the film festival will see $10 from every ticket sold donated to the Melbourne City Mission Evolution Arts Program. “The Evolution Arts Program is for young people aged from 16 to 24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, not currently studying or employed and have an interest in creating art. The Program keeps these young people connected and engaged whilst learning new skills,” said Sherri Bruinhout, Director of Homelessness and Justice Services from Melbourne City Mission. The Striking Film Festival has over $2,500 in prize money to be awarded on the night. Awards include: Most Outstanding Film, Best Student Film, Best Film Over $5,000, Best Film Under $5,000 and the People’s Choice Award. The prizes will be awarded by a panel of celebrities and film industry experts. The event is currently running on …

Emerson Rooftop

Winter in Asia – Emerson Rooftop

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This winter, escape to an Asian winter wonderland at  The Emerson Rooftop’s ‘Winter in Asia’ series. Strung with festive paper lanterns, blossoms, floral arrangements, fans and silk drapes, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in an Asian paradise, except without the jetlag. Collaborating with the beautiful Susie Wong, the Winter in Asia series will offer diners an array of delicious south-east Asian and Japanese bites in place of  the regular Emerson menu. Susie Wong owner and chef Peter Capurso have designed a menu of delectable dumplings, rice paper rolls, banh mi and teppanyaki skewers to warm heat-seekers up from the inside out. Standout dishes include soft shell crab banh mi with yuzu mayo or chicken, prawn and crispy five spice pork belly with caramel, apple and radish salad. If you’ve got more of sweet tooth, you won’t want to miss Susie’s bitter chocolate cardamon fondant with vanilla bean ice cream and mandarin dust. Up for a foodie challenge?  Take part in  ‘Dump DV Challenge’ every Thursday and see how many dumplings you can smash in 2 minutes. …

Supernormal Welcomes Chef Perry to the Kitchen

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This month, Supernormal welcomed a new Head Chef to the kitchen,  Perry Schagen, bringing with him years of culinary experience. Formerly Executive Chef at the Graham in Port Melbourne, Schagen has a long-standing friendship with Andrew McConnell, having worked together at Circa the Prince. Perry has introduced some delicious new additions to the winter menu, which we can’t wait to try! We took a few minutes to chat with Perry about his background, inspiration and favourite winter foods. Can you tell us a bit about your background and your journey to becoming the new head chef at Supernormal? Originally from Perth, I moved to Melbourne in 2000 and since have worked at Circa, Taxi Dining Room and a stint at The Graham before taking a few months off to wait for the right job to come along.  Throughout the years has your inspiration and influences changed with your approach to food? Yes, 15 years ago fine dining consisted of overworked food and luxury ingredients. Now I prefer to work with simple, super fresh, seasonal, local produce as …