The Melbourne International Film Festival opened on July 25th with the World Premiere of Mark Hartley's Not Quite Hollywood. 17 days, 280 feature films, 10 World Premieres, 81 short films, 51 international guests and 67 Australian guests later, the 57th Melbourne International Film Festival came to a close on Sunday night with a "collective screaming" of Spanish horror film, [REC] at the Greater Union cinemas.

2008 witnessed a 6% increase in box office. A greater number of available opening and closing night tickets contributed to the box office increase as well as a record number of mini passes purchased, which sold out by the first week of the festival. Demand was so great, that the Box Office had to create another allotment. Overall, attendances were up by 1.5%, totalling 185,000.

"I'd like to thank the Melbourne community for coming out again in such substantial numbers this year - its heart warming to see such support particularly in the context of an uncertain economic climate and faced with major opposition like the Olympics. As a cultural icon MIFF has firmly established itself as a true Winter Masterpiece" said Executive Director Richard Moore.

Out of 464 sessions, 91 sold out - up by 37 sessions from last year. Four of the MIFF Premiere Fund Films sold out - Not Quite Hollywood, Rock'N'Roll Nerd, Celebrity and Bastardy. One of the more popular program strands was Next Gen - in its sophomore year audiences nearly trebled. The new membership benefits program was a huge success, almost quadrupling MIFF members.

The Wackness won the audience award for most popular feature and MIFF International Ambassador Morgan Spurlock's Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden won the audience award for best documentary.

Following on from The Wackness, came Persepolis, Otto; Or Up With Dead People, Boy A, Lorna's Silence, In Bruges, The Wave, Waltz With Bashir, Son of Rambow and Katyn. In the documentaries after Where in The World Is Osama Bin Laden came Encounters At The End of the World, A Complete History of My Sexual Failures, Rock'n'Roll Nerd, Bastardy, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S Thompson; Respect Yourself: Stax Records, Celebrity: Dominick Dunne, In My Father's Country and MIFF Footy Shorts.