Filmmaker Ian Pringle is excited to see the Melbourne International Film Festival returning to regional areas.
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The MIFF Premiere Showcase arrives at Star Cinema in Eaglehawk this week with Pringle's film The Legend Maker one of several to feature over the weekend.
Cut Snake, My Mistress, Electric Boogaloo and Galore will also screen at Star Cinema.
Pringle said it was important for cinema-goers to experience something different and learn to appreciate different film-making types.
"There are a good range of Australian films coming. I think the Bendigo audiences will be quite interested and intrigued," Pringle said.
"What get through mainstream cinemas is a diet of US films.
"Aussies need to stand on their own and can do that by embracing (film festivals) and learn from other (filmmakers).
"It's important for Bendigo and other places to have chance to see what works in different parts of the world."
The Legend Maker is Pringle's third film at the MIFF. He previously showed Isabelle Eberhardt (1991) and Wrong World (1985) at MIFF.
Pringle said the heart of any film festival is getting to see films from all over the world.
"You get to see such different work that you don't see at (commercial) cinemas," he said.
"I've had three films in MIFF over 20 years. (Film) has always been, for me, a very important part of life.
"When I started making films there were no film schools, film festivals were film schools for me.
"That’s why it's good to get to rural areas. People with an interest in making films get to see what's going on in Melbourne and the rest of the state."
Pringle's film The Legend Maker focuses on a professional but ageing forger who makes new identities for people.
But when the criminal underworld begins to threaten his world, he must find a way out.
Pringle said The Legend Maker was inspired by a meeting with a forger he met by circumstance.
"The character isn't based on the forger I met but I thought it was a good idea to write a story about that world," he said.
Pringle said the film was made on a small budget in 17 days.
"It was an ultra-low budget, less than the price of a second-hand Toyota," he said.
"And it was a 17 or 18 day shoot. For most feature films that is no time at all but we designed the films so we could work with what was available."
The MIFF Premiere Showcase is at Star Cinema from Friday, September 5, to Sunday, September 7.
For information and session times log on to www.starcinema.org.au/MIFFshowcase