MIFF - In Conversation: Warren Ellis & Justin Kurzel

Ahead of the world premiere of the MIFF Premiere Fund–supported film Ellis Park, join musician and composer Warren Ellis and director Justin Kurzel to talk about their work and recent collaboration.

Ballarat-born Warren Ellis is a member of The Dirty Three and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and performed with Grinderman. His award-winning film scores with frequent collaborator Nick Cave include The Proposition (2005), The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), Blonde (2022) and, recently, Back to Black (2024). His book Nina Simone’s Gum was published in 2021, and the animal sanctuary he co-founded in the forests of Sumatra is the subject of the film Ellis Park.

Known for his bold, uncompromising vision and strong visual storytelling, award-winning director Justin Kurzel’s filmography includes Snowtown (2011); Macbeth (MIFF 2015), starring Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender; True History of the Kelly Gang (2019) and the MIFF Premiere Fund–supported Nitram (MIFF 2021), which was nominated for the Cannes Palme d’Or. He is the director of Ellis Park.

Presented by The University of Melbourne. Fed Square is the Official Venue Partner of MIFF In Conversation.