EXCLUSIVE: The Melbourne International Film Festival has partnered with online platform Festival Scope and will create a special section for its 60th edition (July 21 - August 7) called TeleScope.

The industry platform already works with festivals including Cannes, Venice, Berlin and Rotterdam.

“We are thrilled to work with MIFF and focus on emerging talent from Australia and Europe, both online and in theatres. It’s an innovative way to create an ideal exchange, helping Australian filmmakers to reach professionals around the world and European films to have an excellent opportunity to screen in Australia at such a prestigious festival,” Festival Scope’s Mathilde Henrot said.

Australian filmmakers wil be able to screen their MIFF films on Festival Scope.

Also, European directors will attend MIFF to present their films as well as engaging with emerging Australian filmmakers through panels and discussions. Those emerging filmmakers will also show works on Festival Scope.

MIFF Artistic Director Michelle Carey said: “I am hugely excited to work on this project with Festival Scope, whose passionate drive to promote independent cinema from all around the world is in accord with MIFF’s. Not only can we look forward to creative exchanges between European and Australian filmmakers during the Festival, with view to more in the future, but I cannot think of a more auspicious time to do this, given we are on the precipice of the digital opportunities in film viewing We hope the endeavour will be creatively challenging and rewarding for all involved.”