Immerse Yourself In Drama And Romance At The Alliance Française French Film Festival
With over 42 feature films, you'll see the best of contemporary French cinema.
Be swept away by French culture and language at the Alliance Française French Film Festival. Back for its 33rd year, this is the largest contemporary French film festival outside of France. Discover 42 feature films and documentaries, spanning a wide range of genres. During the festival, there will be several Australian and international premieres, as well as new directors and actors to discover. The Alliance Française French Film Festival will run in Melbourne from March 3 to April 6, with encore screenings from April 7 to 10.
Alliance Française French Film Festival in Melbourne
Prepare for Cannes highlights, fantastic premieres, romance, drama and more at this film festival.
“The festival’s 2022 edition is a French cinematic adventure, which not only captures our current society, but also shines a light on the future society we strive to build,” said Artistic Director Karine Mauris. “We invite you to escape and head on enchanting journeys with our beautiful characters, whilst also finding comic relief during these often daunting times.”
Throughout the film festival, there will be a series of special events to enjoy.
Opening Night Soirée
Kick of the festival on opening night with a screening of Lost Illusions. Directed by Xavier Giannoli, this film will make its Australian premiere. Enter the scandal and drama of 19th century France, as a young and lower class poet falls in love with a baroness. He is then driven to Paris, where he starts to write controversial and banal articles for revenge.
This will take place at The Astor Theatre on Thursday March 3. There will be a reception at 6:15pm, with a glass of champagne, wine or beer on arrival, as well as a food box and gift bag. The film will then start at 7pm.
International Women’s Day
Head to Kino Cinemas for a screening of Between Two Worlds. Based on The Night Cleaner, a bestselling non-fiction book by French journalist Florence Aubenas, this arthouse drama depicts everyday women trying to survive in the modern world.
This event will take place on Wednesday March 9. It includes drinks and a food box to try.
Ladies Night
Catch a screening of The Young Lovers and enjoy a modern and nuanced romantic drama about a woman who enters an affair with a younger, married man. Follow the couple as she wrestles with her feelings, and his life is turned upside down.
Ladies Night will take place at Palace Balwyn Cinema on Wednesday March 16. There will be drinks and a food box on arrival.
Closing Night
The film festival will close at Palace Cinema Como on Wednesday April 6 with a screening of Fly Me Away. Inspired by a true story, this feel-good movie by Christophe Barratier will end the festival on an inspiring note. It follows a brotherly bond between a university drop-out and a young boy, and shows that family can be found in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Once again, there will be drinks and a food box at reception.
Click here to see other special events at the Alliance Française French Film Festival.
Other festival highlights
There’s so many other wonderful films to discover during the film festival. Recommendations from festival organisers include:
- Petite Maman – an enchanting modern fairy tale about mother-daughter relationships.
- Mali Twist – a powerful love story set in 1960s Mali. It explores post-Colonial Mali and captures the tension between tradition and revolution.
- Maigret – a crime thriller featuring the legendary Gérard Depardieu. Based on Georges Simenon’s internationally best-selling novels, it follows Inspector Maigret as he solves a murder mystery.
- The Braves – two best friends are chasing their dreams to become theatre actors, when adversity threatens their plans and their friendship.
- Farewell Mr Haffmann – a suspenseful tale full of twists and turns. Beginning in Nazi-occupied Paris, this film explores an unusual pact between a Jewish jeweller, who seeks refuge for his family from his French Catholic employee.
That’s just scratching the surface of all the amazing movies at the festival this year. To see the full list, as well as dates, times and locations, click here.