Just a heads up here of all the dates of the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2023, even though the content of this article relates to Melbourne only. Sydney - 7 Mar-5 Apr; Melbourne & Perth - 8 Mar-5 Apr ; Canberra - 9 Mar-5 Apr; Hobart - 9-19 Mar; Brisbane - 15 Mar-12 Apr; Byron Bay - 16 Mar-5 Apr; Adelaide - 23 Mar-19 Apr; Parramatta - 29 Mar-16 Apr; Gold Coast - 29 Mar-16 Apr; Margaret River - 31 Mar-2 Apr; Victor Harbour - 3-10 Apr and Bendigo - 21-23 Apr.
Get ready for the fantastic and highly anticipated French Film Festival landing in Melbourne on 8 March until 5 April 2023 at Palace Cinemas in Balwyn, Pentridge, Brighton Bay, Cinema Como, Westgarth, Astor Theatre, and The Kino. Find the online program here in PDF format, and the website's Melbourne Festival Lineup. You're going to have to cruise through the whole program and start booking as the 2023 edition is bursting with exciting new content and the best in new French cinema - packed to the brim with tales of life, resilience, and as always, hope. It's touted as the most dynamic lineup to date.
Be whisked from your cinema seats to Paris, Cannes, Greece and beyond with an utterly captivating lineup of films. Expect to see charming period dramas, whimsical comedies, tantalising thrillers, and timeless classics starring French cinema legends like Gérard Depardieu, Juliette Binoche, Jean Dujardin, Laure Calamy, and beloved Virginie Efira. There are also 5 films presented as special School Screenings with discounted group prices, dedicated morning sessions and teaching kits available. Click the link for more details. It's also a good heads-up for parents looking for kid appropriate films.
Have you heard the news? Alliance Française de Melbourne are opening a cultural pop-up at Madame Brussels Lane at 50 Lonsdale Street. Find exhibitions, a book club and community events, a reading corner and talks and conversation groups. Come along to discover the exhibition of the AF FFF (Alliance Française French Film Festival) from Tuesday 28 February 2023. In other exciting news, be one of the first to get a taste of the Festival with an exclusive Alliance Française member preview of Cedric Jimenez's captivating new thriller November. Keep the 1st of March free for a glass of speciality French wine on arrival and be the first to see previews of the major highlights. Buy your tickets here and get ready for an edge-of-your seat deep-dive into one of the most incredible manhunts in European history.
Led by an all-star cast of iconic talent, November powerfully explores the perspective of the lead investigators of the French anti-terrorism services, working against the clock in the aftermath of the 2015 attacks across Paris. The unit led by Héloise (Sandrine Kiberlain, Another World AF FFF22) and her closest associates, Fred (Jean Dujardin, The Artist) and Inès (Anaïs Demoustier, Anaïs in Love, AF FFF22), having been caught off guard, assembles under immense pressure. With the Interior Ministry pushing for results, and almost overwhelmed with the weight of the responsibility, they're faced with the near-impossible task of catching the culprits before they can strike again.
This year's Festival Highlights has the sexy, deadly combinations of love, lust and manipulation in Masquerade; take the ultimate girl's trip to the Greek Islands with Two Tickets To Greece and an all-star cast and sink your teeth into a delightful tale of female camaraderie; The Colours of Fire brings you a tale of vengeance when Madeleine Péricourt is done out of her financial empire in Paris 1927; Sugar and Stars is a story of triumph against all odds, sprinkled with heart and prepared with a whole lot of soul.
Ténor is a cinematic musical experience where Opera meets Rap comes Ténor - navigating the worlds of street rap and the Opéra Garner. Annie's Fire brings another unstoppable performance from festival favourite Laure Calamy in a story of one couple's pursuit for freedom and safe family planning in a time of terrible judgement and control. Maria Into Life is a feature film debut - a beautifully crafted romantic story of a humble cleaner who is able to hit a reset on her stagnant life with the help of a group of art students.
Save yourself some dollars and become an AFM Member. Enjoy the usual Melbourne Special Events at the Masquerade Opening Night Gala on Wed 8 Mar at the Astor Theatre, which includes a drink and food box, plus an afterparty at 9pm. Ladies Night at Two Tickets to Greece on Thu 16 Mar also includes a drink and food box at Palace Brighton Bay. As does Sugar and Stars (drink and food box) on Sun 19 Mar at Kino Cinema. The same goes for Silver Rockers (drink and food box) on Wed 29 Mar at Palace Balwyn.
Last but not least, the Closing Night Reception at Freestyle; a heart-warming edition following a road trip between two strangers: an anxiety-ridden woman trapped in her car and a young rascal. Watch an unlikely friendship form between the two as they learn to enjoy life and embrace the thrill of the unknown together. Get your drink and food box at Palace Cinema Como. Find session times for all other films in Melbourne here. Stay in touch for updates via Facebook.
