Win Tickets to the Melbourne International Film Festival's Opening Night Gala

in partnership with

After drip-feeding us film announcements, the final program is out and the 2016 Melbourne International Film Festival will kick off on Thursday, July 28. To celebrate their 65th birthday (whatta milestone!), MIFF will be holding their annual Opening Night Gala. This year, they've partnered with Grey Goose to throw one hell of a party at Hamer Hall, complete with a 'blue' carpet, cocktails, canapes and world premiere of Aussie sci-fi film The Death and Life of Otto Bloom.

The film follows Otto Bloom, played by Xavier Samuel as he experiences his life in reverse. Neuropsychologist Dr Ada Fitzgerald (Rachel Ward) is called in to determine if he's a psychic, time traveller, madman or living proof of Einstein's theory of relativity. Sure, it all sounds a little like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, however don't expect the first feature from Melbourne writer/director Cris Jones to simply rehash its Brad Pitt-starring predecessor. In fact, 2014's The Infinite Man and Predestination already proved that Aussie filmmakers can handle intriguing concepts like time travel and multiple versions of the same person with the best of them, so consider The Death and Life of Otto Bloom the latest effort in a growing local group of science fiction-leaning content.

After the film, you'll want to stick around — that's when the festivities really kick off. Indulge in a post-film debrief with canapés, music, a dance and Grey Goose Le Fizz cocktails in the surrounds of the Hall. It's the best way to celebrate the festival before you sit in a cinema for the next two and a half weeks.