HULKING hero Eric Bana has thrown his weight behind the Melbourne International Film Festival, taking on the role of ambassador, which kicks off next month.

He leads a list of celebrities being signed to glam up the festival, which has Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush as its patron.

Tipped to join the fold is Australian director Fred Schepisi.

Bana, star of Chopper, The Incredible Hulk and The Other Boleyn Girl, said before last night’s festival launch the role was an honor.

“It’s my home town’s film festival and it’s much closer than Cannes, Toronto, Sundance or Telluride,” he says.

“Not to mention, they’re letting me program one of my favourite films of all time — it’s going to be incredible to see Mad Max 2 on the big screen in all its glory.”

The car-racing buff will introduce Mad Max 2, which he screened for his cast and crew during filming of Romulus, My Father, while Rush will present Schepisi’s 1978 classic The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.

Festival executive director Richard Moore rates glamour, theatrics and audience thrills as important as programming.

Bold and audacious are the keywords for his opening and closing night films, and much of the 400-movie marathon from July 25-August 10.

“Not Quite Hollywood, the opening film, will be a night of glamour and decadence for the Australian film industry,” Moore says.

“It ain’t Picnic at Hanging Rock, it’s the other story about what was going on in the ’70s and ’80s, the untold story about the Australian film industry.

“It took someone like Mark Hartley to dig it out and turn it into an entertaining romp that fits the spirit of ‘stick the finger up the Australian film culture’.

“It’s full of loud noises, it’s full of nudity, it’s full of everything that’s bawdy and belligerent and funny.”

The festival, which drew 180,000 people last year, will end with the Spanish horror film REC.

“I have never had such an exciting experience in my life and heard such an audience reaction to a film,” Moore says of his late-night viewing in Rotterdam.

Moore has picked everything from mainstream favourites and a record number of winners from Cannes. You can see Steve McQueen’s Hunger, Peter Greenaway’s Nightwatching, Paul Cox’s Salvation and actor Matt Newton’s Three Blind Mice.

There’s a focus on Romania, Africa and Israel/Palestine, Next Gen films and Ozploitation, which includes Bruce Beresford’s Barry McKenzie Holds His Own.

Moore has unveiled some hidden gems, including 10 world premieres.

“It’s corny to say it, but it’s a very inclusive program in the sense that it’s very, very broad,” he says.

Melbourne International Film Festival, July 25-Aug 10. Go to www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au

Source: Herald Sun