LA Confidential's Curtis Hanson will attend the Melbourne International Film Festival when the US director's Wonderboys opens the event.

Hanson will also participate in a q&a session during the 19-day event, which runs from July 19 to August 6.

Home-grown talent will be showcased on the closing night, with the local premiere of writer-director Vincent Giarrusso's debut Mallboy, the only Australian title in official selection at Cannes this year. Two films by Paul Cox, Innocence and Molokai, will also be part of the Australian line-up at the festival's fourth edition.

Festival director Sandra Sdraulig announced that she is stepping after this year.