Alia Shawkat in Conversation

It’s almost like that episode of Arrested Development when Maeby accompanies her father to an audition, and ends up becoming a film exec: Alia Shawkat is calling the shots.

Maeby Fünke, the droll teenage con-artist, was of course the role that made Shawkat famous. In the years since the original Arrested Development series wrapped, Shawkat has sought out offbeat roles in some great film and TV productions – including Whip It, Ruby Sparks, Drunk History and hilarious guest appearances on Portlandia and Broad City. But more recently, she’s been racking up writing and producing credits.

In the first season of cult TV comedy Search Party, she was both star and producer. For her recent film, Duck Butter, she’s star, executive producer and co-writer. Alongside her film and TV work, Shawkat dabbles in jazz singing and is an accomplished painter.

In Melbourne for the Ethan Hawke-directed biopic, Blaze, which is screening at MIFF, the funny and multi-talented Shawkat will talk to Lorin Clarke about her life, career and charting her own creative course.

MIFF Talks presented by the Age and Melbourne International Film Festival.