How the Melbourne International Film Festival began 70 years ago
In 1952 the town of Olinda in Victoria hosted Australia’s first ever film festival.
Showcasing international films from Europe and Asia, it was so popular that the town ran out of accomodation for visitors.
70 years later it has grown into the Melbourne International Film Festival, one of the oldest festivals for cinema in the world.
Professor Lisa French, Dean of the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University, explains the impact the Olinda festival had on Australia’s film culture.
To learn more about the history of the Melbourne International Film Festival check out Dr. French’s article in The Conversation.
