In this episode of In The Queue (IndieFilmNation #3), hosts Michael Smith and Barry Mandingo dive deep into the Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF) with its founder and director, Richard Wolstencroft. Recorded in July 2005 during the festival's sixth year, the conversation explores the controversial "MUFF Manifesto," the festival's lack of government funding, and the challenges of independent filmmaking in Australia. Wolstencroft passionately defends MUFF's role as a vital platform for discovering raw, underground talent and critiques the mainstream industry's conservative approach. The episode also features the hosts' reviews of key festival screenings, including Vincent Gallo's polarizing The Brown Bunny, the indie comedy The Garth Method, and Frank Howson's Flynn.

Key Takeaways

•The Genesis of MUFF: Richard Wolstencroft explains the origins of the Melbourne Underground Film Festival, emphasizing its mission to showcase provocative, low-budget, and independent films that are often overlooked by mainstream festivals like MIFF.

•The MUFF Manifesto: A major talking point is the "MUFF Manifesto," a bold declaration aimed at addressing the perceived crisis in the Australian film industry. Wolstencroft argues that the manifesto, despite its aggressive tone, is meant to spark dialogue with organizations like Film Victoria to revitalize local cinema.

•Funding and Independence: Wolstencroft expresses frustration over the lack of government support for MUFF, noting that despite championing successful filmmakers like James Wan (Saw) and Scott Ryan (The Magician), the festival remains entirely self-funded and fiercely independent.

•Discovering New Talent: The interview highlights MUFF's track record of discovering and supporting emerging talent before they break into the mainstream, proving the festival's value as an incubator for Australian cinema.

•Festival Reviews: The hosts review several films screened at MUFF 2005, offering high praise for Vincent Gallo's The Brown Bunny (despite its controversial reputation), commending the comedic elements of The Garth Method, and finding unexpected accessibility in Frank Howson's Flynn.

Connect with our Guest

Follow Richard Wolstencroft and the Melbourne Underground Film Festival:

Instagram: @richardwol777

LinkedIn: Richard Wolstencroft

Website: muff.com.au

In this episode hosts Michael Smith and Barry Mandingo sit down with prolific Melbourne-based independent filmmaker Mark Savage. Recorded on July 9, 2005, during the height of Melbourne's festival season, the conversation explores the dynamic between the mainstream Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) and the controversial Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF). Mark Savage shares candid stories from his decades-long career making thrillers, crime, and exploitation films, discussing the challenges of self-distribution, the impact of Australian censorship, and his unyielding addiction to obscure world cinema.

Key Takeaways

•Navigating the Festival Circuit: Savage highlights the importance of underground festivals like MUFF in providing a platform for independent films that might otherwise be ignored by mainstream distributors or rejected by conservative audiences.

•The Struggles of Self-Distribution: Drawing from his experience self-distributing his film Sensitive New Age Killer (originally titled Hitman's Hero), Savage discusses the immense difficulty of competing against Hollywood blockbusters without massive advertising budgets, emphasizing the need for targeted, word-of-mouth art-house releases.

•Censorship and the Australian Film Industry: The conversation touches on the reluctance of local distributors to pick up challenging or violent films due to fears of clashing with the Australian censorship board, which severely limits the visibility of domestic genre cinema.

•A Global Cinematic Appetite: Savage reveals his deep passion for international and obscure cinema, particularly Asian films. He champions controversial works like the Chinese horror film Dumplings and Japanese pink films, demonstrating how a broad cinematic diet influences his own filmmaking style.

•The "MUFF Manifesto": The hosts and Savage debate the "MUFF Manifesto" written by festival director Richard Wolstencroft, analyzing whether its aggressive marketing tactics and calls for industry reform actually help or hinder the perception of Australian independent film.

Connect with our Guest

Follow Mark Savage's latest projects and updates:

Instagram: @thesavagedirector

LinkedIn: Mark Savage

Website: (Note: Mark Savage does not currently maintain a personal official website; his filmography and updates can be tracked via his IMDb page or his official Instagram).