The Melbourne International Film Festival – aka MIFF 2025 – is back this August, returning to Naarm with their First Glance lineup of 26 new films.

From buzzy Cannes breakouts to daring local debuts, the 73rd edition is already promising 18 days of excellent cinema. But if you don't know where to start, these are the films the RUSSH editors wouldn't be missing this year.

1. It Was Just an Accident

Winner of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or, It Was Just an Accident sees director Jafar Panahi at his most unflinching, crafting a masterful road thriller that twists moral ambiguity into unforgettable cinema. Made between Iran, France, Luxembourg, and against all odds – under house arrest and censorship – this deeply humanistic tale of memory, guilt and consequence solidifies Panahi’s place as one of the world’s most essential filmmakers.

2. One More Shot 

One More Shot hurls us back to Y2K, where a tequila-soaked house party spirals into a never-ending time loop. With a killer Aussie cast and a soundtrack of late-90s bangers, this debut from Nicholas Clifford proves some nights are better not repeated.

3. Sorry, Baby 

Winner of Sundance's Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, Sorry, Baby is Eva Victor’s fearless debut – a darkly funny, emotionally raw dramedy about a college professor navigating life after trauma. Produced by Barry Jenkins and acquired by A24, the film features standout performances from Naomi Ackie and Lucas Hedges.

4. Lurker

Alex Russell, Emmy-winning writer-producer of The Bear and Beef, makes a striking directorial debut with this psychological thriller that premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and screened at Berlin's Berlinale Special Gala. Starring Théodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe (of Saltburn fame), the film delves into the dark side of fame as a retail worker insinuates himself into the life of a rising pop star.

5. Marlon Williams: Two Worlds — Ngā Ao E Rua

This is a deeply personal documentary chronicling the acclaimed New Zealand musician's four-year journey to create his first album entirely in te reo Māori, Te Whare Tīwekaweka. Directed by Ursula Grace Williams, the film captures Williams' exploration of his Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tai heritage, his collaboration with language mentor Kommi, and features intimate moments with artists like Lorde, Aldous Harding, and Florence Welch.

6. Julia Holter: The Passion of Joan of Arc

Experience a rare cinematic and musical fusion as avant-garde composer Julia Holter brings her acclaimed live score for Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 silent masterpiece, The Passion of Joan of Arc, to Melbourne Recital Centre for its Australian premiere. Presented by MUBI, this exclusive two-night event features Holter alongside her ensemble and the 36-voice Chorus of Opera North, delivering a hauntingly beautiful soundscape woven from medieval chants, organ, and electronics.

7. Twinless

Dylan O’Brien delivers a knockout dual performance in Twinless, earning both the Special Jury Award for Acting and the Audience Award at Sundance 2025. Directed by Straight Up’s James Sweeney, the film follows Roman as he joins a support group after the death of his twin, Rocky – who still appears to him in surreal, often absurd ways. With a sharp, queer-leaning script and a score by Parasite composer Jung Jae-il, this one's a darkly funny, emotionally layered portrait of grief.

8. When the World Came Flooding In

Premiering at MIFF 2025 in collaboration with Now or Never, When the World Came Flooding In is an immersive VR installation by acclaimed artists Van Sowerwine and Isobel Knowles. This powerful piece invites audiences to step into the lived experiences of flood survivors, offering a deeply personal lens on climate crisis and community resilience.

9. Blue Moon

Richard Linklater’s lates offers a poignant, one-night glimpse into the life of lyricist Lorenz Hart, featuring Ethan Hawke, Andrew Scott and Margaret Qualley. Set on 31 March 1943 – the opening night of Oklahoma! – the film unfolds almost entirely within Sardi’s bar, where Hart grapples with his fading career and personal demons.

10. Dreams

Michel Franco's Dreams reunites him with Jessica Chastain in a provocative drama that delves into the complexities of immigration, privilege, and power dynamics. Premiering at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, the film follows Jennifer McCarthy (Chastain), a wealthy American philanthropist, and Fernando Rodriguez (Isaac Hernández), a young Mexican ballet dancer, whose passionate relationship exposes the stark inequalities between their worlds.

For more information on programming and tickets, visit the MIFF website.