Tim Burstall Remembered Pioneering filmmaker Tim Burstall, who passed away recently at age 76, was justifiably credited with revitalising the Australian film industry in the 70s. With films such as Stork (1971) and Alvin Purple (1973), Burstall ushered in an era of bold and commercially successful films, both at home and abroad.

MIFF acknowledges Burstall's important place within the Festival commencing with his film The Prize, which opened our Festival, and then went on to win a prize at the Venice Film Festival, in 1960. We are proud to remember a true cinematic legend with a selection of Burstall's short films and his 1974 feature, Petersen.

Hot Centre of the World Australia

A dramatic encounter on St Kilda Pier between two derelicts, played by George Whaley (Alvin Purple 1973 and Stork 1971) and Dennis Miller (Stir 1980, Eliza Fraser 1976) and a would be suicide played by Peter Cummins (Storm Boy 1977, Sunday Too Far Away 1975). An award winning short written by John Powers.

D/P Tim Burstall S John Powers WS ScreenSound Australia TD Video/B&W/1971/12mins

Black Man and His Bride: Australian Paintings by Arthur Boyd Australia

An early documentary by Burstall that utilises camera and editing techniques to animate Arthur Boyd's series of paintings 'The Black Man And His Bride', which tells of an aboriginal man and his half-caste wife. Winner of the 1960 AFI Award Silver Medallion (Experimental).

D Tim Burstall P Patrick Ryan WS ScreenSound Australia TD 16mm/B&W/1960/6mins

Tim Burstall was born in England, UK in 1927. Films include: Two Thousand Weeks (1969), Stork (1971), Alvin Purple (1973), Eliza Frazer (1974), Kangaroo (1986).