Baz Luhrmann Is Coming to Vivid to Chat About 'Elvis', 'Moulin Rouge!' and Everything In-Between

If you're a fan of dazzling Australian cinema, and one particular director with a style like no other, then this year's Vivid Sydney comes bearing spectacular spectacular news. It's an announcement worth breaking out a ballroom dance for, or popping on your blue suede shoes, too — because filmmaker Baz Luhrmann has just joined the already-packed lineup.

The reason: a little film called Elvis, Luhrmann's biopic about the king of rock 'n' roll, which hits cinemas in late June. He's taking to the Vivid stage before then, on Sunday, June 5, in line with the movie's Sydney premiere — in a separate conversation session called The Business of Baz, where he'll chat through the flick, his entire career and his distinctive directorial approach with Marc Fennell.

Luhrmann will be in the building at the State Theatre, for an hour-long chat starting at 3pm. On the agenda: everything from Strictly Ballroom through to The Get Down — yes, including Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, Australia and The Great Gatsby in-between — as well as the power of storytelling, how he finds creativity in chaos, and his partnerships with costume designer Catherine Martin and screenwriter Craig Pearce.

Warner Bros Pictures

Attendees will be saying "thank you, thank you very much" to behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Elvis, as well, plus details about Luhrmann's path from from Narrabeen High School on Sydney's Northern Beaches to Hollywood, his passion and singular vision, and just what makes him tick in general.

Happening the day after the film's Australian premiere on the Gold Coast — and shortly after its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival — the Vivid chat doesn't include a screening of Elvis. But the premiere is happening afterwards, from 6pm, also at the State Theatre, with Luhrmann, Martin, and actors Austin Butler (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Dead Don't Die) and Olivia De Jonge (Better Watch Out) in attendance. If you're keen to go along to that as well, you can purchase premiere package tickets that include both the in-conversation talk and the screening.

Vivid Sydney 2022 runs from Friday, May 27–Sunday, June 18, with The Business of Baz taking place from 3pm on Sunday, June 5. For further information and tickets, head to the event's website.

Top image: Destination NSW.