Artistic director Michelle Carey unveiled the full programme for the 2013 Melbourne International Film Festival on Tuesday night.

Pedro Almodovar's "I'm so Excited" is the opening night film, while the Robert Redford starrer, All Is Lost, directed by J.C. Chandor will be the closing film.

This year's program includes a strong line-up of Asian films, which comprise of a retrospective on the cinema of North Korea.

Centre For-ward, Hong Kil Dong, A Broad Bell Flower and The Flower Girl are the titles included in the retrospective.

Moreover, a selection of popular films from the 1970s and 1980s will be showcased, plus two films helmed by overseas directors working in North Korea such as Aim High In Creation, a film within a film based on the creative manifesto of the late dictator Kim Jong Il, by Australian director Anna Broinowski; and Comrade Kim Goes Flying, a 2012 British-Belgian-North Korean comedy.

In addition, Chinese filmmaker and festival regular Jia Zhangke will be screening his new crime film, A Touch of Sin.

MIFF will also feature local films including the world premiere of The Turning, an adaptation of Tim Winton's 17 short stories directed by 17 filmmakers, which includes actors Cate Blanchett, Mia Wasikowski and David Wenham in their directorial debut.

Meanwhile, another actor, Jared Leto, will also have his film, Artifact, shown as part of the Backbeat Music Program. Other films included in this section are The Punk Singer and Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer.

French filmmaker and winner of the 2013 Cannes Best Film Director, Alain Guiraudie, will present his controversial film Stranger by the Lake in the festival; while Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore, best known for his film Cinema Paradiso, will showcase his English-language film The Best Offer, starring Geoffrey Rush.

Catch the Melbourne International Film Festival on July 25 to August 11. Visit the MIFF Web site for information on tickets and schedules.

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