The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has just dropped a massive tease for its 74th edition, unveiling a “First Glance” lineup of 25 films and special events that will heat up the winter cinema season in Melbourne from August 6 to 23.
Featuring fresh cuts from Cannes, Berlin, and Sundance, the early announcement is stacked with returning auteurs, huge Hollywood stars, stellar Australian talent, and unforgettable live events that will bring
Previewing the blockbuster 2026 program, MIFF Artistic Director Al Cossar said, “From the year’s most anticipated films to bold new voices and discoveries, this selection offers a glimpse of the festival to come: a world on screen, alongside the very best in new Australian storytelling.”
Here are the biggest highlights from MIFF’s first look at 2026:
Live Events to Die For
One of the festival’s most anticipated bookings is John Cameron Mitchell Presents: Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Celebrating the cult rock musical’s 25th anniversary, the award-winning director and star will be in attendance for a live commentary screening of the film in a stunningly restored 4K format.
Also returning is the beloved Hear My Eyes series, presented with Arts Centre Melbourne. This year, Christopher Nolan’s defining debut thriller, Memento, gets the treatment. The mind-bending masterpiece will screen in restored 4K, accompanied by a blistering live score from a yet-to-be-announced local artist.
Star-Studded Premieres
Hollywood heavyweights are out in full force in this year’s international selection. A major headliner is Dead Man’s Wire, a black comedy recounting a notorious 1970s Indianapolis kidnapping. The film boasts a powerhouse cast including Bill Skarsgård, Al Pacino, Colman Domingo, and Aussie Dacre Montgomery.
Also making their way to Melbourne screens:
- Rose: Starring Academy Award-nominee Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall) in a 17th-century folktale that won her the Silver Bear at Berlinale.
- The Sun Never Sets: Mumblecore pioneer Joe Swanberg returns with a heartfelt love-triangle dramedy starring Dakota Fanning.
- Queen at Sea: A complex drama starring Juliette Binoche and Tom Courtenay, tackling the devastating effects of dementia.
- Minotaur: Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Cannes Grand Prix-winning thriller, setting a wealthy CEO’s unraveling against the machinery of Putin’s war. It was one of the highlights at the Sydney Film Festival and we can’t wait to see it screen locally in Melbourne.
Outstanding Aussie Stories
MIFF remains one of the biggest champions of local cinema, and the Premiere Fund is delivering six world premieres. Hugo Weaving stars in The Airport Chaplain, a prestige drama series set in the controlled chaos of Melbourne Airport, alongside Shabana Azeez and Claudia Karvan.
For music lovers, Jebediah: Are We OK? offers a candid, thirty-year documentary deep-dive into the highs and lows of the beloved Perth alt-rock quartet.
Genre fans will want to keep an eye on Mad Rush, a gritty micro-budget thriller that turns Melbourne’s CBD into an urban wonderland of dread, and Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant, a gleefully gloopy sci-fi body-horror comedy about a millennial dealing with an extraterrestrial bun in the oven.
When and How to Get Tickets
The 74th Melbourne International Film Festival runs from August 6–23 across Melbourne, with regional screenings across Victoria (August 14–23) and MIFF Online streaming nationally until August 30.
If you want to secure your spot for the special events, pre-sales for Hear My Eyes: Memento open on Monday, June 15, with general sales starting Wednesday, June 17 via Arts Centre Melbourne. Tickets for John Cameron Mitchell Presents: Hedwig also go on sale to the general public on June 17.
For all the details and to grab a MIFF Membership for early access, head to the official MIFF website. We recommend grabbing your tickets as early as possible as they will sell out!
