UPDATE: The Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival 2016 has been pushed back to Oct. 20-22 due to the anticipated impacts of Hurricane Matthew. We’ll be back at the beautiful Premiere Theaters Oaks Stadium 10 in Melbourne, Florida.
Here’s the detailed schedule with show times and ticket links. Choose “MIFFALL” under any of the ticket links to get the all-access pass for $65 (the smaller fee displayed is for each individual event). This MIFF VIP pass gets you into all the movies, events and parties for the entire weekend (except the dinner Thursday night).
MIFF 2016 schedule
All films are R-Rated equivalent except Culinary Arts
All proceeds to benefit the No Limits Academy
Buy tickets: $65 for all-access pass (choose MIFFALL)
Thursday, Oct. 20
6-7 p.m. Special festival kick-off
Buy tickets: $7.50
“Fetch” directed by Joe Taranto. A kind grandson learns the bear necessities for following instructions while dog sitting. 0:30
“King of the Ring” directed by Joe Taranto. An edgy expose of an unexpected athlete at the pinnacle of her game. 5:00
“Monty and the Runaway Furnace” directed by Joe Taranto. A kind, old maintenance man is in love with the furnace that powers the factory he works at because he thinks it’s his deceased wife, and he has to save it from the new owner who wants to replace it. 33:43
7:30 p.m. Special Middle-Eastern Real Food Real Kitchens dinner
Featuring progressive Lebanese cuisine with Chef Toni Elkhouri at Cedars Cafe, 4100 N. Wickham Road #137, Melbourne, FL – cedarscafe.com
Friday, Oct. 21
2-4 p.m. Matinee Magic
“Shiva’s Redemption” directed by Ashok Patel
Bunty, a victim of bullying, meets an unusual friend who helps him find his inner strength — strength to stand up, fight back and break free from his shackles. 14:40
“Launda Naach” directed by Shafaq Khan
Bihar, the northern state of India, is home to a folk dance called Launda Naach. This is an art form where men dress up as women and dance to entertain at social functions and festivals. 27:00
“A Shadow of Dara” directed by Kirill Proskura
A leader of a rebellion risks everything to find a powerful commander of an alien world who’s been captured by enemies. 14:15
“A Blind Man” directed by Joel Black
As a blind man copes with the passing of his beloved wife, he reluctantly accepts a service dog and is guided to a fuller life. 14:44
“White Odourless Bitter” directed by Lucas Haynes
The repercussions of the ’70s drug movement play out on an unassuming 7-year-old kid as his abusive father influences his future. 13:28
“All Men Are Flowers” directed by Shirley Kim-Ryu
Kara misses an opportunity to ask out her first high school crush before going away to Korea for the summer. 16:30
“On Your Street” directed by Michelle Brown
Two sisters find themselves unwillingly drawn into the world of human trafficking. 18:23
4-7 p.m. Culinary Arts & Reception
“Bagels in the Blood” directed by Jonathan Keijser and Daniel Beresh
“Life & Hummus” directed by Alex Matros
“Real Food Real Kitchens” featuring James Beard Foundation award-winning Chef Toni Elkhouri and Cedar’s Cafe. Special short documentary about her James Beard award-winning burger. A special food-tasting reception will follow on the VIP balcony.
7 p.m. Comedy Feature
A Special Sneak Peek of a Work in Progress — “In Between Days,” directed by the Herbert Brothers
Best-selling author Rick Gray has it all; fame, fortune, and adoring fans. But as the ball drops on his fortieth birthday, he finds himself alone and fearing mid-life crisis. What follows is a comedy of errors, mishaps, and ultimately a journey of self-discovery. 105 minutes
9 p.m. “The Fits” directed by Anna Rose Holmer
Buy tickets: $10
An 11-year-old tomboy (Royalty Hightower) tries to fit in with her peers after joining an all-girl dance team. Co-written and produced by Lisa Kjerulff, who grew up in Melbourne Village. A New York Times critics’ pick and No. 4 of Esquire‘s top 25 films of 2016. 72 minutes
10:30 p.m. Fright Night Friday Horror Show
Buy tickets: $10
“Shibari The Devourer” directed by Augusto Barranco
A father’s sleep disorder and his daughter’s fear of the dark may be the answer to the question: Are there really monsters under the bed? 10:14
“The Funspot” directed by Jake Hammond
An angsty young boy, stuck at his little sister’s birthday party, encounters a malevolent presence hiding within the ball pit of a sprawling indoor playground. 6:33
“The Devil’s Waltz” directed by Steven Shea
Two foster girls find themselves in an estranged murder plot, with a rich girl who has no idea of their terrifying past. 10:30
“Ripe for the Picking” directed by Sarah Murray
Peter the farmer goes for a tour of his field and runs into a very ripe fruit. 0:55
“Prayers” directed by Edda Manriquez
An experimental horror piece that explores the mysticism of the occult and its ritualistic practices. 1:30
“The Dead Under My Bed” directed by Robert Massetti
Is it the guilt he feels that keeps him awake at night, or is his father really back from the grave and wanting to take revenge? 6:11
“Attack of the Killer Donuts” directed by Scott Wheeler
A chemical accident turns ordinary doughnuts into blood thirsty killers. Now it’s up to Johnny, Michelle, and Howard to save their sleepy town from … Killer Donuts. 87 minutes
Saturday, Oct. 22
9 a.m. Florida Filmmakers Matinee
Buy tickets: $10
“A Nice Day” directed by Jeffrey Rose
An unsuspecting store customer is driven to the brink of madness by a cashier and her evil ATM/Credit Card Reader machine. 9:04
“Blood Initiate” directed by Thomas Ardavany
The murder of JoJo’s mother and father, who were killed brutally in 1999 during a robbery attempt, sets the tone for the rest of her life as she seeks to carry on the tradition in grand style. 23:05
“Spot On” directed by David Karner
A pro sniper and his protégé are targeting a woman at a café from a rooftop. Will the newbie pressure the pro into making a mistake? 5:24
“Heart of the Matter” directed by Susan O’Hara
Sometimes it takes a little divine love to get right down to the heart of the matter. 10:52
“2” directed by Joey Harrison
All Justin wants is for someone to look at him. 6:11
“I’m Crazy” directed by Jo Ann Johnson
A glimpse of an Elemental Love for the Earth. 5:00
“The Wrong Lane” directed by Roy L. Garton
Two couples, unfamiliar with each other, are brought together through supernatural intervention and forced to confront a dark secret two of them have been hiding. 15:09
“Stunning” directed by Vincent Anton Obriskie and Dominic Traverzo
A woman meets a man at her mother’s funeral and goes to extreme measures to see him again. 3:00
“Undertaking” directed by Kevin O’Neill
Roy Maynard (Eddie Jemison) collects roadkill and, like the vultures that prey on the weak, the town’s people prey on him. 23:40
“Sick” directed by Virginia Anzengruber
Music Video for the song “Sick” by Matt Rose. 3:01
“The Final Kick” directed by Tom Loomis
An old man is forced into an assisted living facility. But … is he really helpless? 6:45
“The Golden Rule” directed by Felix Crumsby
A rich man helps a homeless man and is helped in return. 3:25
“Good and Evil” directed by Cara Albert
A young man discusses the potential of his newly acquired superpowers with his best friend. 8:47
“The Shardai Cousineau Story” directed by Paulette King
The power of the human spirit. 12:03
“Never More” directed by Sue Dontell
How much can a woman take before saying “Never More”? 18:17
“Day at the Beach” directed by Christina and Jolie L’Heureux
Fun in the sun! 0:52
“Manifest Destiny” directed by TL Westgate
A western about a brother and sister trekking across the countryside with a young girl in tow. But what are they up to? 10:05
“Fortune” directed by Darren Houle
Two old friends encounter an unexpected event that tests their friendship and their mettle. You shouldn’t let someone else pick your fate. 4:22
“Not Today” by Bill Ronat
Papa just wants to keep his granddaughter safe, but it’s no walk in the park. 4:56
“Gynecologist: The Musical” directed by Andy Byrd
An unsuspecting woman is in for the surprise of her life when she visits her new gynecologist’s office for the first time. 7:32
12-1 p.m. Meet the Filmmakers Roundtable Q&A
1-2 p.m. Lunch break
2-4 p.m. “Caged No More” directed by Lisa Arnold
Buy tickets: $5
Inspired by real events, “Caged No More” is the story of Aggie Prejean, a grandmother on a desperate search to find her two granddaughters, Skye and Elle, who have been kidnapped by their sinister father. As the details behind the girls’ disappearance begin to unravel, it’s discovered he has taken them overseas to be sold into slavery to settle his drug debt. Aggie enlists the help of the girls’ uncle, a well-respected local philanthropist, and his son Wil, who is former Special Forces. A global hunt ensues, and the team will stop at nothing to see the girls safely returned home. “Caged No More” is a drama meant to engage and educate audiences on the realities of human trafficking. 90 minutes
4-6 p.m. “Paying Mr. McGetty” directed by Michael Baumgarten
Buy tickets: $5
Tyrell (R. Marcos Taylor) has the worst day of his life after waking up with a mobster’s daughter (Alissa Schneider), dealing with his angry girlfriend (Anita Clay) and fending off bad guys (Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Jonathan Lee, Wade Williams) who wish to do him harm. 85 minutes
6 p.m. Red Carpet
7 p.m. VIP Program
“Hedge Hero” directed by Lauren Hammond
When his friend is taken by a dastardly serpent chef, Ned the hedgehog must gather the courage to become the superhero he’s always been inside. 2:38
“Emma Inspired” directed by Nicole Machon
Emma is a recent college grad, unsure of her next move in life. Her friends and family are constantly parading around their accomplishments, and her love life is uneventful at best. She has a job, but it’s cleaning up vomit at a skating rink. She’s a little behind, but she’s gonna figure it out eventually. 12:22
“Built to Serve” directed by Dylan Chase
An on-the-run service-robot gets his leash yanked when the only thing between him and freedom is a little girl and her dead dog. 2:09
“You Won’t Believe” directed by Arielle Cole
When Amy, a writer for a website that promotes viral videos, discovers her dishwasher repairman has collapsed in her kitchen, she attempts to capture her rescue on video. Armed with her smartphone and selfie stick, Amy uses the repairman’s injury as her potential ticket to viral fame. 4:23
“Reversed” directed by Alexandrina Andre
In a world where gender roles have switched, an average guy’s life is thrown off balance when he finds out he is pregnant. 5:32
“Copycat From Bellarat” directed by Stig Wemyss
Fueled by a lifetime of abuse and pushed to the brink by relentless torment from his boss, Tom exacts his revenge in a copycat performance that will strike fear into every bully, on every school ground and in every workplace. 9:31
“The Lord of Catan” directed by Stuart C. Paul
A husband and wife are pushed into an apocalyptic rivalry over a game of Settlers of Catan. 13:14
“Loose Ends” competition: “Victimless” & Awards Ceremony
8:45 p.m. VIP After-Party and more awards
Party at The Oaks upstairs, catered by Courtyard at the Oaks and featuring entertainment by recording artists Robin & Eddy and the Secrets (VIP and all-access ticket holders and filmmakers only)
Robin & Eddy