This year’s Melbourne International Film Festival includes a few treats for music fans, including a major retrospective of Melbourne’s post-punk scene of the late 1970s/early ‘80s.

Punk Becomes Pop: the Australian Post-Punk Underground will feature films, video clips, live concerts and rare footage of The Boys Next Door, Primitive Calculators, the Models,Birthday Party, Essendon Airport, Plays With Marionettes and Crime & the City Solution.

Highlights will include a digitally restored version of Richard Lowenstein’s post-punk classic starring Michael Hutchence and Noah Taylor Dogs in Space as well as Living on Dog Food a behind the scenes doco about the making of the film. The post-punk mixtape sessions compile music videos and short films made by and staring many of the bands involved in Melbourne’s early 80’s punk scene.

There will also be a series of reformation gigs at Ding Dong, with The Primitive Calculators and Gossip Pop on Wednesday 29th July and feedback improvisers Botborg, Cathy Vogan and Arf Arf playing on Thursday 30th July. The Ears will also play a one-off gig with Steve Kilbey, Sean Kelly, Nick Barker, Hugo Race, David Bridie, Brian Hooper and DJ Ollie Olsen at the Corner Hotel on Sunday 16th August.

Other musical treats are on offer in the Backbeat section of the film festival with docos about New York’s famed CBGB’s, the decline of the record shop, Cuban diva Celia Cruz and the All Tomorrow’s Party’s festival – which sadly won’t be happening in Australia next year.

Julian Temple’s film of Madness’ new concept album The Liberty of Norton Folgate captured in concert also gets a screening, while It Might Get Loud brings Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White together to chat about their love affair with their guitars and indulge in a jam session.

The festival bar at the Forum also gets in on the musical action, hosting shows from Dave Graney, Blackeyed Susans, Princess One Point Five, Ronit, Guy Blackman, Grand Salvo and Dynamo.

Of course there’s also an amazing program of films from across the globe featuring everything from Nazi Zombies to a retrospective on Godard’s muse Anna Karina and local films including the opening night film Balibo staring Anthony LaPaglia.