Melbourne 2015: Opening Night Avoids Genre For Intensely Personal Australian Drama

The 64th Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is thrilled to announce this year's Festival will open with the Australian premiere of Paul Cox's new feature Force of Destiny, starring David Wenham, Shahana Goswami and Jacqueline McKenzie. These key cast members, along with Paul Cox, will be in attendance as part of the Opening Night red carpet celebrations.

Force of Destiny is a powerful film from the director of Man of Flowers, Innocence and Human Touch, who received a life-saving liver transplant on Christmas Day in 2009.

"All of us at MIFF are very excited to be opening this year's festival with Force of Destiny. One of Paul Cox's most revealing films, it provides a glimpse into the personal life of one of Australia's most respected and prolific film-makers," said Artistic Director Michelle Carey.

A moving love story with a sumptuous aesthetic, Force of Destiny stars David Wenham as Robert, a sculptor who meets the love of his life just as he's reeling from a cancer diagnosis. New hope comes when he's placed on the transplant waiting list.

Filmed in Melbourne and India, Force of Destiny also features a beautiful score by Australian composer Paul Grabowsky.

Now living with cancer again, Cox remains an auteur of international acclaim, with forty-seven features, shorts and documentaries to his name. "Force of Destiny is born from years of personal research, a lifelong love of India and my forty odd years as a film-maker based in Melbourne. I am truly humbled that the Melbourne International Film Festival is honouring the film and these experiences on Opening Night," said film-maker Paul Cox.