In this episode hosts Michael Smith and Barry Mandingo sit down with prolific Melbourne-based independent filmmaker Mark Savage. Recorded on July 9, 2005, during the height of Melbourne's festival season, the conversation explores the dynamic between the mainstream Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) and the controversial Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF). Mark Savage shares candid stories from his decades-long career making thrillers, crime, and exploitation films, discussing the challenges of self-distribution, the impact of Australian censorship, and his unyielding addiction to obscure world cinema.

Key Takeaways

•Navigating the Festival Circuit: Savage highlights the importance of underground festivals like MUFF in providing a platform for independent films that might otherwise be ignored by mainstream distributors or rejected by conservative audiences.

•The Struggles of Self-Distribution: Drawing from his experience self-distributing his film Sensitive New Age Killer (originally titled Hitman's Hero), Savage discusses the immense difficulty of competing against Hollywood blockbusters without massive advertising budgets, emphasizing the need for targeted, word-of-mouth art-house releases.

•Censorship and the Australian Film Industry: The conversation touches on the reluctance of local distributors to pick up challenging or violent films due to fears of clashing with the Australian censorship board, which severely limits the visibility of domestic genre cinema.

•A Global Cinematic Appetite: Savage reveals his deep passion for international and obscure cinema, particularly Asian films. He champions controversial works like the Chinese horror film Dumplings and Japanese pink films, demonstrating how a broad cinematic diet influences his own filmmaking style.

•The "MUFF Manifesto": The hosts and Savage debate the "MUFF Manifesto" written by festival director Richard Wolstencroft, analyzing whether its aggressive marketing tactics and calls for industry reform actually help or hinder the perception of Australian independent film.

Connect with our Guest

Follow Mark Savage's latest projects and updates:

Instagram: @thesavagedirector

LinkedIn: Mark Savage

Website: (Note: Mark Savage does not currently maintain a personal official website; his filmography and updates can be tracked via his IMDb page or his official Instagram).