Michelle Carey.
This year’s Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) will be the last for its artistic director Michelle Carey.
Carey has decided to step down after 10 years with the festival. She was appointed programmer in 2008 and was promoted to her current role in 2011.
The well regarded executive will move to Germany where her partner Danny Fairfax has been given a doctorate appointment at a Frankfurt university.
“After 10 years with MIFF and eight years as artistic director the festival has become my home away from home and the organisation and staff like family,” said Carey.
“I will miss it – and them – incredibly but am so proud of the contribution I have made to Victorian film culture and industry through this much-loved, must-attend film festival.
“In a rapidly changing film exhibition landscape the festival has thrived and evolved to become the film event of the year. I leave it in excellent shape for an exciting next chapter in an already rich history.”
The 67th edition will run from August 2-19. MIFF has advertised the position and applications close on April 27.
Palace Films said on social media the festival has been reliably well-curated over the years but Carey’s shoes as artistic director are “gonna be hard to fill.”
The submission deadline for features, VR and short films has been extended to April 14.
The program and MIFF members’ pre-sales will be launched on July 10 and tickets go on sale July 13.