The Best Special Events, Shorts And XR Experiences At MIFF 2026

Another year of the Melbourne International Film Festival brings a range of films and experiences that go beyond traditional screens, along with short films and special anniversary screenings.

Starting things off is John Cameron Mitchell, who will present a special 25th-anniversary screening of Hedwig and the Angry Inc. There’s the returning ‘Footy Shorts.’ At the same time, in the shorts area, MIFF is launching its first ‘Sovereign Shorts Gala,’ in partnership with NITV and VicScreen.

This year’s ‘Premiere With Purpose Gala’ is Silenced, and the MIFF XR program, now in its tenth year, will include Firestorm, The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up and The Dollhouse. There will also be a retrospective dedicated to the German filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger and the Hollywood star Kim Novak, among other highlights.

Tickets for MIFF 2026 are on sale now. Are you planning on attending? Which films are you looking forward to checking out? Let me know in the comment section below.