Melbourne

Colombian Gem ‘A Poet’ Triumphs with Bright Horizons Award at Melbourne International Film Festival

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Melbourne, Australia — Colombian filmmaker Simón Mesa Soto’s latest film, “A Poet,” has garnered the prestigious Bright Horizons Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF). The award, valued at $140,000, recognizes outstanding contributions to contemporary cinema, marking a significant achievement for the director as well as this year’s festival, which showcased numerous innovative films. A panel of industry experts, led by filmmaker Charlotte Wells, chose “A Poet” for the award. The jury included notable figures such as Australian actress Tamala, American filmmaker Alex Ross Perry, Greek director Athina Rachel Tsangari, IMDb founder Col Needham, … Read more

Melbourne International Film Festival Unveils 2025 Award Winners, Celebrating Creative Excellence with Over $300,000 in Prizes

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Melbourne, Australia – The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has revealed its winners for the 2025 MIFF Awards, with over $300,000 in prizes awarded. The prestigious Bright Horizons Award, valued at $140,000 and backed by VicScreen, was given to the film A Poet, directed by Simón Mesa Soto. In recognizing A Poet, the jury described it as a "tragicomic satire" that artfully captures themes of hope and despair. The film follows Óscar, a former poet who becomes an unintended mentor, grappling with his ambitions and potential self-destruction. The jury praised its innovative use of 16 … Read more

Suspended Lawyer Faces Justice: Convicted of Sexual Assault in Melbourne Kebab Shop Incident

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Melbourne, Australia — A suspended lawyer has been convicted and fined $5,000 for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl outside a kebab shop. Glenn Thexton, 46, maintains that he did not inappropriately touch the young woman during the incident, which occurred on September 25, 2019. Following a ten-day contested hearing, Magistrate Andrew Waters found Thexton guilty of a single charge of sexual assault. The verdict was delivered to Thexton on April 22, with Waters describing the act as “quick and opportunistic” but significant enough to warrant legal consequences. On that night, Thexton was out with friends … Read more

Excitement Builds as Melbourne International Film Festival Reveals Nominees for Best Australian Director and Uncle Jack Charles Award

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Melbourne, Australia — The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has announced this year’s nominees for its prestigious Best Australian Director prize and The Uncle Jack Charles Award, setting the stage for next month’s celebration of cinema. Leading the nominees for the $50,000 Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award is James J. Robinson, who is also in the running for the $140,000 Bright Horizons Award for his film, First Light. He is joined by Zoe Pepper (Birthright), Samuel Van Grinsven (Went Up the Hill), and Sophie Somerville (Fwends). The winner will be selected by an esteemed … Read more