The HSBC Spanish & Latin American Film Festival returns to Australia from 10 June – July 2026, bringing a vibrant celebration of contemporary cinema, culture, music, passion and storytelling from Spain and Latin America to cinema screens nationwide.

Queensland audiences can experience the festival at Palace Barracks Brisbane and Palace James St, with a spectacular line-up of award-winning dramas, feel-good crowd pleasers, documentaries, romance, music and historical epics.

Festival highlights include the Opening Night film NOTHING BETWEEN US, a charming and intimate romantic drama starring acclaimed actors Gael García Bernal and Natalia Oreiro; the Festival Centrepiece SUNDAYS, winner of the Golden Shell at the 2025 San Sebastián Film Festival and recipient of five Goya Awards; and Special Presentation THE CAPTIVE, an ambitious historical adventure from Oscar-winning director Alejandro Amenábar exploring the early life of Don Quixote author Miguel de Cervantes.

Other standout films include the vibrant salsa documentary LA SALSA VIVE, intoxicating culinary drama ISABEL direct from the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, and the inspiring true story ANOTHER LEAGUE, following young women fighting for the right to play football in 1970s Spain.

Celebrating its 29th edition in 2026, the HSBC Spanish & Latin American Film Festival invites Queensland audiences to discover unforgettable stories, acclaimed filmmakers and the warmth, rhythm and spirit of Spanish and Latin American cinema on the big screen.

2026 HSBC Spanish & Latin American Film Festival
Canberra 10 June – 5 July: Palace Electric Cinema
Adelaide 10 June – 5 July: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Brisbane 11 June – 5 July: Palace James Street and Palace Barracks
Perth 11 June – 1 July: Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville and Luna on SX
Melbourne 12 June – 5 July: The Astor Theatre, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Church St,
Palace Penny Lane, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Palace Balwyn and Pentridge Cinema
Ballarat 12 June – 5 July: Palace Regent Cinema
Sydney 18 June – 12 July: Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park and Palace Central
Byron Bay/Ballina 18 June – 12 July: Palace Byron Bay, Ballina Fair Cinemas
www.spanishfilmfestival.com

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Competition will be drawn June 9, winners will be notified by email.

This year’s festival Centrepiece is AMRUM, the celebrated new feature from multi award-winning director Fatih Akin. The film is a moving and deeply poignant drama about a 12-year-old boy named Nanning who lives on Amrum Island in 1945, during the final days of the war. Nanning braves the treacherous sea to hunt seals, goes fishing at night, and works the nearby farm to help his mother feed the family yet despite the hardship, life on the beautiful, windswept island almost feels like paradise. But when peace finally comes, it reveals a deeper threat: the enemy is far closer than he imagined. Starring Laura Tonke, Diane Kruger and Matthias Schweighöfer, plus a brilliant performance from the young lead Jasper Billerbeck, Amrum is based on the real-life story of co-writer Hark Bohm.

Cannes Film Festival Jury Award winner SOUND OF FALLING (In die Sonne schauen) is the festival Special Presentation. Directed by Mascha Schilinski, the haunting drama follows four girls across four generations experiencing their youth on the same farm in northern Germany. A sensory and poetic epic, this beautifully crafted film has garnered much critical acclaim and was Germany’s entry into the 2026 Academy Awards©.

From Switzerland comes a warm and humorous portrait of a unique Swiss cultural phenomenon in HELLO BETTY (Hallo Betty). Set in 1956, Hello Betty follows Emmi Creola, a talented copywriter who defies a male dominated workplace by inventing “Betty Bossi”, a fictional housewife who becomes Switzerland’s culinary icon. As Betty’s popularity skyrockets, Emmi struggles to balance the expectations of her public persona with her role as a wife,
mother and professional. A warm and humorous portrait of the 1950s, Hello Betty explores female ambition, identity and the timeless tension between public image and private life.

The popular ‘Kino for Kids’ sidebar, presented by the Goethe-Institut Australia, returns with a superb selection of films for younger cinemagoers and families. From Austria is THE SECRET FLOOR (Das geheime Stockwerk), a playful time-travel adventure shot in stunning Alpine locations. Twelve-year-old Karli moves with his parents to an old hotel in the Alps and discovers an elevator that transports him through time to 1938 where he makes new friends and must help solve a mystery.

The magical phenomenon returns with SCHOOL OF MAGICAL ANIMALS 4 (Die Schule der magischen Tiere 4). The highly anticipated fourth instalment of the successful franchise School of Magical Animals, based on Margit Auer’s bestselling book series, featuring stunning visual effects and valuable life lessons.
BARRY & ME (Mein Freund Barry) is a breathtaking live-action adventure inspired by the legend of Switzerland’s most famous rescue dog, the St. Bernard. A boy called Georg raises a puppy in secret in a timeless story of friendship, bravery, and survival in late 18th century Switzerland.
Featuring the legendary German children’s character Pumuckl, first created in 1961, PUMUCKL’S BIG MIX-UP (Pumuckl und das große Missverständnis) is a charming and entertaining tale that combines live action and animation, following the adventures of a quiet craftsman in Munich and his mischievous and invisible goblin friend Pumuckl.

In the charming, observant coming-of-age film TOMORROW I’LL BE BRAVE (Ab morgen bin ich mutig) tween angst and young love is explored with a touch of humour and tenderness.

The 2026 HSBC German Film Festival takes place from 6 May – 27 May
Canberra: 6 – 27 May, Palace Electric
Brisbane: 6 – 27 May, Palace James St, Palace Barracks
Adelaide: 6 – 27 May, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Perth: 7 – 27 May, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX & Palace Raine Square Sydney: 7 – 27 May, Palace Norton Street, Palace Central, Palace Moore Park Byron Bay and Ballina: 7 – 27 May, Palace Byron Bay, Ballina Fair Cinemas
Melbourne: 8 – 27 May, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Church St, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, The Astor Theatre, Pentridge Cinema, Palace Penny Lane
Ballarat: 8 – 27 May, Palace Regent Ballarat
www.germanfilmfestival.com.au

From November 5, the 2025 Russell Hobbs British Film Festival, presented by Palace, will open in cities across the country screening at Palace Cinemas, Palace Nova and Luna Palace Cinemas. This year’s sensational lineup showcases British brilliance at its best with hotly anticipated new releases, documentaries and restrospectives.

Opening the festival is the Australian Premiere of THE CHORAL, a sweeping wartime drama with a stellar cast, led by Ralph Fiennes and directed by Nicholas Hytner. As a group of choralists discover the joys of singing, the young male members must also come to terms with their imminent conscription into the army. Exploring humour and humanity at the heart of a community facing an uncertain future, the film also stars Roger Allam, Mark Addy and Amara Okereke.

The Special Presentation is Oliver Hermanus’ THE HISTORY OF SOUND starring an electric Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor. A decade spanning romance centered around the power of music, this gorgeous period drama is a film of lingering melancholic beauty.

Marking the highly anticipated return to the screen of Daniel Day-Lewis, ANEMONE is this year’s Festival Centrepiece. Heralding the directorial debut of son Ronan Day-Lewis, with whom Daniel Day-Lewis co-wrote the script, ANEMONE also features superb performances from Sean Bean and Samantha Morton as it explores the complex and profound ties that exist between brothers, fathers, and sons.

Closing the festival is Oscar winner Chloé Zhao’s (Nomadland,The Rider) radiant adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel HAMNET, starring Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare and Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare. In the sensitively observed, magnificently crafted tale about the complexities of love and the healing power of art and creativity, the couple’s tragic shared experience sets the stage for the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

The festival is delighted to once again welcome naming partner Russell Hobbs — the iconically British appliance brand that’s been adding style, charm, and a proper cup of tea to everyday life since 1952. Dean Hammerton, Marketing Manager, Asia Pacific, says:

“We’re thrilled to be back for another year as naming partner of the Russell Hobbs British Film Festival. We’ve always embraced that classic British mix of innovation, tradition, and a dash of style — values that align beautifully with the films being showcased. It’s a real pleasure to once again celebrate the best of British culture, on screen and beyond.”

A standout selection of real-life stories feature in this year’s lineup profiling iconic British identities including John Cleese, Twiggy and John Lennon. In what might be his final European tour, JOHN CLEESE PACKS IT IN is a wry, behind-the-scenes portrait of a comedy legend on the road, battling various ailments, chaotic travel, and his own stubborn refusal to stop.

Exploring the final decade in the life of John Lennon, BORROWED TIME – LENNON’S LAST DECADE is a gripping documentary charting Lennon’s turbulent post-Beatles years of art, activism, and reinvention. Evolving beyond the Beatles, he created music and stood at the forefront of anti-war protests that would make him one of the most influential pop culture icons of all time.

In celebrated documentary TWIGGY, the meteoric rise of the 1960s style icon—bold, sharp, and unforgettable – is explored. A dazzling portrait of reinvention and influence, the film showcases the fashion, fame, and fearless individuality of Twiggy, during a culturally significant period of British history.

To complement the documentary, Ken Russell’s THE BOY FRIEND (1971), Twiggy’s first film role, will also screen in the festival. Bursting with glitz, glamour, and cheeky charm, Twiggy shines as an understudy turned star in this dazzling, tap-dancing love letter to 1920s musicals.

From the director of BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM, Gurinda Chadha, comes the Australian premiere of CHRISTMAS KARMA, based on the classic Dickens story A Christmas Carol. In Chadha’s Bollywood style musical adaptation, the all-star cast including Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, Eva Longoria and Boy George, bring the story to life in a modern day, diverse London.

Premiering to rave reviews at the recent Toronto International Film Festival, I SWEAR is a biographical comedy/drama directed, written, and produced by Kirk Jones starring Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson and Peter Mullan. Based on the true story of John Davidson who was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at a time when it was barely identifiable, the film is a heartwarming, comedic and moving story of his journey.

A riotous spoof of period drama mixing forbidden romance, aristocratic scandals, and razor- sharp wit, FACKHAM HALL premieres at selected sessions just prior to the official release in the UK. With an all-star cast and Jimmy Carr’s absurdist flair, the film skewers tradition while serving nonstop laughs and intrigue.

Actor Harris Dickinson’s searing directorial debut URCHIN follows Mike, an unhoused ex- prisoner, in his fight for redemption. Highly lauded at the 2025 Cannes International Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI Film and Best Actor prizes, the unforgettable odyssey of survival, empathy, and fragile hope is led by an incredible Frank Dillane as Mike.

The majestic drama THE NORTH, has been described as the ‘ultimate hiking film’. It is an adventurous tale of two old friends who embark on a 600-kilometre journey through the Scottish Highlands, seeking to reconnect not only with nature but with each other and the parts of themselves they have lost.

In icy suspense thriller DEAD OF WINTER, British icon Emma Thompson plays Barb, a woman travelling alone through snowbound northern Minnesota. Barb interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl, and hours from the nearest town and with no phone service, she realises that she is the young girl’s only hope.

MOSS & FREUD is the biopic about the life of era-defining supermodel Kate Moss and her relationship with British artist Lucian Freud. When Freud offered to paint Moss nude during the nine months of her pregnancy in 2002, it prompted her to embark on an intense journey of self-discovery.

Documentary BECOMING HITCHCOCK – THE LEGACY OF BLACKMAIL dives into the groundbreaking 1929 film that launched Hitchcock’s signature style. Also screening is Hitchcock’s thriller BLACKMAIL about a woman who kills a man in self-defence but falls victim to a blackmailer, considered a bridge between the silent era and that of the ‘talkies’.

Another must-see for Hitchcock fans, the retrospective HITCHCOCK: THE BEGINNING featuring ten rarely screened, early silent and talkie films from the 1920s to 1930s from the iconic director including NUMBER 17, the last of the era, CHAMPAGNE, MURDER!, THE SKIN GAME and Hitchcock’s only foray into screenwriting, THE RING.

Set in the Scottish Highlands, GLENROTHAN is a powerful tale of two estranged brothers played by Alan Cumming and Brian Cox, in his directorial debut. Drawn home by loss, the pair open old wounds and test family bonds, with the pull of tradition igniting a transformative journey.

In a film adapted from an acclaimed novella, THE THING WITH FEATHERS charts the struggle of a young father, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, and his sons after a sudden family loss. As they struggle to hold their world together, they start to experience how love endures in the strangest, most unexpected forms.

Fueled by powerhouse performances from Vicky Krieps, Aidan Gillen and Colm Meaney, RE-CREATION is a razor-sharp courtroom drama. Director Jim Sheridan reimagines a trial (based on a real story) that never happened with questions, guilt, bias and memory at the centre of a tense chamber where truth itself is on trial.

Dev Patel and Rosy McEwen electrify in chilling folk-horror RABBIT TRAP where music, myth, and obsession collide. Filmmaker Bryn Chainey’s debut blurs reality into an eerie, unforgettable nightmare that draws the viewer in and never lets go.

With a brilliant ensemble cast led by enigmatic festival favourite Bill Nighy, & SONS is the story of a world-renowned but reclusive novelist who believing he is about to die, summons his estranged sons to his home. An adaptation of the novel of the same name, the family drama also stars Johnny Flynn, George MacKay, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West.

Stories that focus on the older generation include FOUR MOTHERS, a riotous, heartfelt comedy where one man’s burgeoning career implodes as four eccentric mothers of his friends, off on a trip to a Pride festival, invade his Dublin home; and drama DRAGONFLY, starring Brenda Blethyn and Andrea Riseborough, about a neglected pensioner who finds an ally in a younger neighbour in what has been described as a fierce and wonderfully acted film.

A story of resilience, friendship and hope against an unforgiving system, LOLLIPOP is a raw, heartfelt drama. Starring Posy Sterling as Molly, a mother recently released from prison, her fight to reclaim her children and give them a life she never had is unrelenting.

In contemporary noir thriller with a twist ISLANDS, Sam Riley stars as a tennis coach at a holiday resort who befriends a couple with unnerving results and in WORDS OF WAR, the true story of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who battled for press freedom in Putin’s Russia, is portrayed by an incredible cast including Maxine Peake, James Lawtey, Jason Isaacs (The White Lotus), Ellie Bamber and Ciarán Hinds.

In a special Retrospective entitled BRITISH BRILLIANCE, six iconic British films that have all won Best Picture at the Academy Awards are showcased on the big screen including CHARIOTS OF FIRE, GANDHI, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, THE ENGLISH PATIENT and from 2010, THE KINGS SPEECH.

Rounding out the superb selection of documentaries is the quirky THE GOLDEN SPURTLE and I AM MARTIN PARR. The contestants of the annual World Porridge Making Championship battle with oats and ladles in a Highland village, celebrating tradition and community in THE GOLDEN SPURTLE; while the playful, provocative portrait I AM MARTIN PARR reveals the iconic British photographer behind the lens and his extraordinary eye on the everyday.

In a celebration of 25 years since its release, BILLY ELLIOT remains a heartwarming tale of grit and grace, following an 11-year-old boy who defies expectations, trading boxing gloves for ballet shoes in a celebration of passion, identity, and the courage to chase dreams.

The Australian premiere of GROW will delight families in an exuberant tale full of giant pumpkins, madcap characters, and a little girl who just might be a pumpkin-growing savant starring Nick Frost, Alan Carr and Jane Horrocks.

The Russell Hobbs British Film Festival opens on Wednesday 5 November in Sydney, Melbourne, Ballarat, Adelaide, Perth, Byron Bay, Canberra and Brisbane, concluding on Sunday 7 December in all cities.

The Russell Hobbs British Film Festival presented by Palace screens in the following locations from NOV 5 – DEC 7:
Melbourne: The Astor Theatre, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Penny Lane, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, Palace Church St Ballarat: Palace Regent Ballarat
Canberra: Palace Electric Cinemas
Brisbane: Palace Barracks, Palace James Street
Adelaide: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Perth: Palace Raine Square, Luna on SX, Leederville and Windsor
Byron Bay: Palace Byron Bay, Ballina Fair Cinemas
Sydney: Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central
www.britishfilmfestival.com.au

Presented by Palace, the 2025 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival’s annual Spring escape to Italy is one step closer with the announcement of the full programme. From 17 September for four weeks, a bellissimo selection of box office hits and award-winning films will dazzle screens in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Ballarat, Byron Bay and Ballina. Returning as Festival Ambassador is the multi-talented Italian-born chef, TV presenter and host Silvia Colloca, who will be opening the festival in Sydney and for the first time in Brisbane.

The festival opens with Paolo Genovese’s record-breaking hit SOMEBODY TO LOVE (FolleMente), a romantic comedy with an all-star cast including Edoardo Leo, Pilar Fogliati and Vittoria Puccini. Following the global success of Perfect Strangers (IFF 16), writer/director Genovese’s latest film reveals the innermost thoughts and uncertainties of a modern Italian couple on their awkward first date.

Following its World Premiere at the Opening Night of the 2025 Venice International Film Festival later this month, Oscar winner Paolo Sorrentino’s latest film LA GRAZIA is this year’s Festival Centrepiece. The highly anticipated drama stars Toni Servillo, Anna Ferzetti and Massimo Venturiello.

This year, the festival showcases migrant stories from two different sides of the globe with SIGNORINELLA: LITTLE MISS (from the team behind LYGON ST – Si Parla Italiano) and NAPOLI – NEW YORK. Celebrating the tenacity and spirit of Italian women who helped shape the Italian-Australian community, SIGNORINELLA: LITTLE MISS, narrated by Greta Scacchi, profiles their incredible life stories. NAPOLI – NEW YORK, from Academy Award-winner Gabriele Salvatores, is based on an original screenplay by Frederico Fellini and Tullio Pinelli. Featuring festival favourite Pierfrancesco Favino and a stellar cast, it is a compelling and hopeful account of the migrant experience, the search for identity and pursuit of a better life that follows two Neapolitan children as they journey from Naples to New York in 1949.

Closing the festival and celebrating its 25th anniversary this year is the Australian coming-of-age classic LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI starring Pia Miranda, Greta Scacchi and Kick Gurry. Audiences new and old can delight in the stunning 4K restoration of the much-loved film whose themes still resonate over two and half decades later.

The Festival Special Presentation is the critically acclaimed, 2024 Venice Film Festival Grand Jury prize winner THE MOUNTAIN BRIDE – VERMIGLIO (Vermiglio). Maura Delpero’s atmospheric, visually breathtaking film portrays a family caught between tradition and modernity in the final year of WWII.

From acclaimed filmmaker Ferzan Özpetek comes the stunning, female led drama DIAMONDS (Diamanti). An ode to the beautiful craftsmanship of film costume designers and seamstresses, Luisa Ranieri and Jasmine Trinca star as sisters running a couture costume design house in 1970s Rome.

Elio Germano delivers standout performances in dramas SICILIAN LETTERS (Iddu) and THE GREAT AMBITION (Berlinguer. La grande ambizione). Toni Servillo joins Germano in a story of dangerous liaisons set in early 2000s Sicily in SICILIAN LETTERS, during Cosa Nostra boss Matteo Messina Denaro’s three decades as a fugitive from Italian justice. In the meticulous biopic THE GREAT AMBITION Germano transforms into Enrico Berlinguer, the former leader of the Italian Communist Party between 1973 and 1978. His performance won him Best Actor at the David di Donatello Awards.

A box office sensation in Italy, moving drama THE BOY WITH PINK TROUSERS (Il ragazzo dai pantaloni rosa) features rising star Samuele Carrino in a powerful performance. Exploring the real story behind Italy’s first publicised case of online bullying, the film garnered much attention in Italy and sparked important discussions about the issue.

From acclaimed writer/director Mario Martone comes FUORI, an elegant biopic drama that follows a decisive event in the life of renowned Italian feminist writer Goliarda Sapienza. A brilliant Valeria Golino stars as Sapienza in an inspiring story of friendship, female solidarity and freedom in the early 1980s. And in thoughtful drama MY PLACE IS HERE (Il mio posto è qui), set during the aftermath of WWII in a rural village in southern Italy, a single mother befriends the local wedding planner and begins to understand her rights as a woman. The film stars Ludovica Martino and Marco Leonardi (Cinema Paradiso) and is based on the eponymous novel by Daniela Porto.

The common thread of family focused stories is at the heart of several films in this year’s lineup including THE LIFE APART (La vita accanto), an enthralling and music-imbued drama set in beautiful Italian art city Vicenza that follows a wealthy family whose daughter must contend with profound rejection due to her appearance; in VITTORIA, a hairdresser from Naples with three loving sons and a devoted husband risks everything to pursue her dream of having a daughter, in a deeply moving drama based on true events; Ivano de Matteo’s compelling drama MY DAUGHTER (Una Figlia) stars Stefano Accorsi as a widowed father whose 16-year-old commits a serious crime, testing his ability to forgive; personal tale THE TIME IT TAKES (Il tempo che ci vuole) from filmmaker Francesca Comencini pays homage to her father Luigi Comencini and their connection with cinema; the debut feature from director and writer Sara Fgaier, WEIGHTLESS (Sulla terra leggeri) delivers a sensitive drama about the power of memory, love and how to fi

Hotly anticipated Italian comedies include popular comic duo Ficarra & Picone and festival favourite Toni Servillo in THE ILLUSION (L’Abbaglio), a fun re-imagining of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s 1860 campaign that unified Italy; the adventures of the Rovelli family continue in WHEN MUM IS AWAY…WITH THE IN-LAWS (10 Giorni con I suoi) with a trip to Puglia in the hit comedy directed by Alessandro Genovesi and starring Fabio De Luigi and Valentina Lodovini; and set in 1980s-1990s Italy, DIVA FUTURA is an entertaining reimagining of Riccardo Schicchi’s agency Diva Futura that revolutionised mass culture by turning free love into porn, making stars of Ilona Staller (Cicciolina), Moana Pozzi and others in an intoxicating story of private and widespread desire.

The story of fashion icon Gianni Versace, from his youth in Reggio Calabria in the 1960s to his rise in the world of fashion design is explored in GIANNI VERSACE – EMPEROR OF DREAMS (Gianni Versace: L’Imperatore dei sogni). The witty biopic from director Mimmo Calopresti intertwines fiction and documentary, reconstructing the world, life and creativity of the famous designer. In HOLD TIGHT, MISSY! ISABELLA DUCROT UNLIMITED (Tenga Duro Signorina! Isabella Ducrot Unlimited) 90-year-old artist Isabella Ducrot is followed for two years as her incredible story of her rise as an artist unfurls. Ducrot is sought after by leading galleries the world over after devoting herself to art at the age of 55.

In historical drama BATTLEGROUND (Campo di Battaglia) a powerful story of courage and compassion emerges when two military doctors, who work at a clinic in Northern Italy in the final year of WWI, must face the devastating Spanish flu as it strikes the city. Inspired by true events that remain powerfully resonant 20 years on, dramatic thriller THE NEGOTIATOR (Il Nibbio) stars Claudio Santamaria as Nicola Calipari, deputy director of operations of the Italian secret service who sacrificed his life to save journalist Giuliana Sgrena.

In special encore screenings, gripping historical drama THE TASTERS (Le assaggiatrici), from multi award- winning writer/director Silvio Soldini and adapted from Rosella Postorino’s bestselling novel At The Wolf’s Table, is inspired by the incredible true story of Margot Wölk, a woman who was conscripted to be one of Hitler’s food tasters.

For an unforgettable plunge into the dark heart of cinema, the festival retrospective this year focuses on Italy’s Giallo cinema. Born from Italy’s yellow jacketed crime paperbacks, this selection of classic thrillers are not for the faint of heart! Showcasing a stunning new 4K restoration of DEEP RED (Profondo Rosso), widely regarded as one of Dario Argento’s greatest films and a cornerstone of Italian horror cinema, it blends mystery, artistry, and psychological terror in unforgettable fashion.

Also included is A LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN (Una lucertola con la pelle di donna) Lucio Fulci’s surreal giallo that blends psychedelic visuals and an Ennio Morricone score to create a truly unique experience; BLOOD & BLACK LACE (Sei donne per l’assassino) a founding classic of the genre that follows a masked killer stalking fashion models and said to have pioneered the modern slasher aesthetic; Pupi Avati’s THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS (La casa dalle finestre che ridono) renowned for its slow-burn suspense and shocking finale; and the hypnotic ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK (Tutti i colori del buio) which follows a traumatised woman who is drawn into the occult, starring Edwige Fenech and featuring a Bruno Nicolai score.

Festival tickets are now on sale.

The 2025 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival presented by Palace screens in the following locations:
Canberra 17 September – 15 October
Adelaide 17 September – 14 October
Sydney 18 September – 15 October
Melbourne 19 September – 16 October
Ballarat 20 September – 16 October
Brisbane 24 September – 22 October
Byron Bay and Ballina 25 September – 15 October
Perth 25 September – 22 October
www.italianfilmfestival.com.au

The party will start with Opening Night comedy SAMANA SUNRISE (Amanece en Samaná), featuring an all- star cast including Luis Zahera, María Luisa Mayol, Luis Tosar and Bárbara Santa-Cruz. The story follows two Spanish couples celebrating their 20-year friendship with a trip to a beachside resort in the Dominican Republic, where a confession about the past leads to a reality shifting ‘Sliding Doors’ moment.

The Centrepiece of the Festival is the highly acclaimed EL 47, which recently won five Goya Awards including the coveted Best Film. Inspired by a true story, from writer/director Marcel Barrena (Mediterraneo: The Law of the Sea), this biographical drama starring Eduard Fernández follows a bus driver in an act of peaceful dissidence that transformed modern Barcelona during the city’s boom in the 1970s.

A 2025 Special Presentation is UNDERCOVER (La infiltrada), co-winner of Best Film at the 2025 Goya Awards (sharing it with EL 47). This gripping crime thriller set in the Basque Country is based on the real-life story of Aranzazu Berradre Marín, the pseudonym for the only police officer in Spanish history to infiltrate the terrorist organisation ETA.

From celebrated auteur Julio Medem comes OCHO (8), a romantic drama that spans almost a century of Spanish history. Over 90 years, eight encounters mark Octavio and Adela’s tumultuous and passionate relationship, mirroring pivotal moments in the country’s history.

In this year’s New Spanish Cinema selection is THE GOLDSMITH’S SECRET (El secreto del orfebre), an epic romance adapted from Elia Barceló’s critically acclaimed novel. It stars Mario Casas as a goldsmith who revisits his Spanish hometown, reconnecting with a great love affair from 25 years prior.

Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and fully funded by NFTs is Goya Best New Director nominee THE QUIET MAID (Calladita). This compelling class conflict drama with a satirical edge follows a Colombian maid working tirelessly in a luxurious mansion on the Costa Brava, until she realises how to find her own ways of enjoying the summer.

Gripping moral thriller MARCO, THE INVENTED TRUTH (Marco) stars Eduard Fernández in a standout performance as a charismatic man who spent years harbouring an unimaginable lie. The film is based on the unbelievable true story of Enric Marco who served as the speaker of the Spanish association of Holocaust victims for years, while maintaining a complex web of lies.

Icíar Bollaín’s taut, gripping drama I AM NEVENKA (Soy Nevenka) explores consent and structures of power and is inspired by the true case of Nevenka Fernández, a young woman in 1990s Spain who courageously reported harassment by her employer; powerful drama THE STEPMOTHER’S BOND (Tras el verano), about the fragility of relationships in blended families, is inspired by debut director Yolanda Centeno’s own experiences and LITTLE LOVES (Los pequeños amores) is an intense and emotional duel from up-and- coming director Celia Rico Clavellino that delves into the complexities of mother-daughter relationships.

The ever-popular Spanish comedy selection includes the No. 1 box office hit WOLFGANG (Wolfgang Extraordinario) direct from its release in Spain. This heartwarming comedy and emotional tribute to fatherhood follows the journey of a nine-year-old boy forced to live with his newfound father in Barcelona.

Audience favourite Paco León stars as a carefree man living a hedonistic lifestyle in the Canary Islands who is suddenly thrust into fatherhood, in Spanish box office hit BABIES DON’T COME WITH INSTRUCTIONS (Sin instrucciones).

Dani Rovira leads a stellar ensemble in THE BUS OF LIFE (El bus de la vida), a music-centred, life-affirming journey and feel-good tale about a music teacher facing his fears; based on incredible true events, MAY I SPEAK WITH THE ENEMY (Es el enemigo? La película de Gila) is a witty yet sensitive tribute to comedian Miguel Gila, who pioneered stand-up comedy in Spain, exploring his experience of the Spanish Civil War; in bittersweet dramatic comedy SUMMER IN DECEMBER (Verano en diciembre) four generations of women gather in Madrid for a family reunion, featuring an all-star cast including Carmen Machi; and NO GUILT (Culpa Cero) a highly resonant tragicomedy about a successful self-help writer whose life is shaken up when she is accused of plagiarism in the media.

This year’s Cine Latino selection features a strong representation of Argentinian cinema including crime thriller A SILENT DEATH (Una muerte silenciosa) in which Joaquín Furriel leads a stellar ensemble in a gripping tale of guilt, suspicion and truth set in the depths of Patagonia in the 1980s.

WHAT WE WANTED TO BE (Lo que quisimos ser), heralds the long-awaited return to directing of one of the great names of contemporary Latin American cinema Alejandro Agresti, along with veteran actors Luis Rubio and Eleonora Wexler who star in a stunning and intimate story of the illusion of love and a tribute to cinema.

Drawing comparisons to the work of Wes Anderson, quirky thriller EL JOCKEY tells the story of a legendary jockey’s self-destructive behaviour which begins to outshine his talent and threaten his relationship with his girlfriend. Set in vibrant Buenos Aires, it stars Nahuel Pérez Biscayart and Úrsula Corberó (Money Heist, The Day of the Jackal).

Directed by and starring Adrián Suar, Argentinian box office hit MAZEL TOV is a bittersweet and heartfelt family drama about forgiveness, sibling rivalry, letting go, and coming home. Also family-themed is Mexican/US co-production LAS TRES SISTERS, an adventure comedy about three Mexican-American sisters who embark on an adventure to follow in the footsteps of their grandmother while working to repair their relationships.

Paulina García stars as a woman who has a chance to free herself from her past in Uruguayan drama MILONGA, when she meets a man with whom she re-discovers her passion for tango. From Peru is the poignant tale of resilience and community THROUGH ROCKS AND CLOUDS (Raíz). An eight-year-old alpaca herder excitedly follows Peru’s World Cup chances, whilst the actions of a mining company threaten his village and their way of life in a remote village in the Andes.

Two standout documentaries in this year’s line-up feature a focus on distinctive aspects of Spanish culture – food and music. Winner of the Culinary Zinema Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, MUGARITZ. NO BREAD, NO DESSERT (Mugaritz. Sin pan ni postre) invites the viewer behind the scenes of the avant-garde kitchen of fine-dining, Michelin starred restaurant Mugaritz. The film charts the off-season innovation of the famed Basque restaurant as chefs craft experimental dishes.

Winner of the Best Documentary and Best Original Song at the 2025 Goya Awards is THE FLAMENCO GUITAR OF YERAI CORTÉS (La guitarra flamenca de Yerai Cortés). A unique musical experience featuring some spectacular set pieces of flamenco, this superb documentary about love, passion, forgiveness and family explores the artistic process of the rising flamenco star.

Themes of seduction, pleasure and romance feature in ASK ME WHAT YOU WANT (Pídeme lo que quieras), adapted from the best-selling novel by Spanish romance writer Megan Maxwell. It stars Gabriela Andrada and Mario Ermito in a story of passion, pleasure and secrets; tensions simmer in compelling drama LINDA, when a captivating housemaid with unique charm unveils a family’s secrets; dramatic thriller ELECTROPHILIA (Los Impactados), stars Mariana Di Girolamo as a woman forever changed after being struck by lightning and waking up from a coma; and queer drama BABY, writer/director Marcelo Caetano’s vibrant and empathetic ode to found family, survival and the city of São Paulo.

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the brilliant and highly lauded crime thriller NINE QUEENS (Nueve reinas), the Festival will close with the 4K remastered classic starring festival favourite Ricardo Darín and Gaston Pauls.

The 2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival will take place nationally from 11 June to 9 July (dates vary by city) in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Melbourne, Ballarat, Sydney, Ballina and Byron Bay. Tickets are now on sale.

2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival
Canberra 11 June – 2 July: Palace Electric Cinema
Adelaide 11 June – 2 July: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Brisbane 11 June – 2 July: Palace James Street and Palace Barracks
Perth 12 June – 2 July: Palace Raine Square Cinemas, Luna Leederville and Luna on SX
Melbourne 13 June – 2 July: The Astor Theatre, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Palace Balwyn and Pentridge Cinema
Ballarat: 13 June – 2 July Palace Regent Theatre
Sydney 19 June – 9 July: Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema
Byron Bay 19 June – 9 July: Palace Byron Bay
Ballina 19 June – 9 July: Ballina Fair Cinemas
www.spanishfilmfestival.com

Opening this year’s festival is the Australian Premiere of BLITZ, Steve McQueen’s visually stunning period drama depicting pivotal moments of World War II in London and starring Saoirse Ronan, Paul Weller and brilliant newcomer Elliot Heffernan. Closing the festival is another exciting exclusive, the premiere of the highly anticipated WE LIVE IN TIME. With beautifully nuanced performances from Oscar nominees Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, this heart rendering romance delves into the profound question of how to make the most of the time we have in this world.

The 2024 Festival Centrepiece is Mike Leigh’s latest film HARD TRUTHS, which reunites him with the brilliant Marianne Jean-Baptiste in a darkly humorous and insightful exploration of family dynamics. The film examines a hypersensitive woman’s impact on her family, blending compassion with Leigh’s signature attention to detail.

Fresh from its UK release comes THE OUTRUN with Saoirse Ronan once again in the lead role. After a turbulent life in London, Rona returns to the untamed beauty of Scotland’s Orkney Islands, her childhood home, seeking to reconcile with her troubled past and find healing.

Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche star in THE RETURN, an adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey. Exuding the classical essence of the Greek epic with a distinctly British spin, The Return offers a meticulously measured classical work with an all-star cast. The film premieres in the festival ahead of the UK release.

British/French co-production WIDOW CLICQUOT tells a rousing true story offering an effervescent portrait of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, the “Grande Dame of Champagne,” otherwise known as Veuve Clicquot.

Another Australian Premiere is Aylin Tezel’s directorial debut FALLING INTO PLACE. This tender drama follows Kira (played by Tezel) and Ian, each fleeing their own personal struggles, who cross paths during a winter weekend on the Isle of Skye. Their connection is profound but when they return to London, they must confront their past. We are delighted to announce that Tezel will be joining audiences in person in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for a series of Q&A events.

Plunging audiences into Tudor times is the historical drama FIREBRAND. Set during the final months of King Henry VIII’s reign, his sixth wife, Katherine Parr, faces the perilous challenges of the Tudor court. Alicia Vikander and Jude Law lead a gripping historical drama about power and survival.

In special screenings the adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name, CONCLAVE, stars Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence who is entrusted with the secretive task of selecting a new Pope, but in the Vatican’s sacred halls, uncovers secrets that could destabilize the Roman Catholic Church.

Pierce Brosnan and Helena Bonham Carter lead a commanding ensemble cast in FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE, Polly Steele’s tender story follows Nicholas and Isabel who are destined for each other, but their path to true love is anything but straightforward.

Other romantic dramas include THE SALT PATH starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs in career best performances as a couple who embark on a 630-mile coastal walk after losing their home and facing a terminal diagnosis. And THIS TIME NEXT YEAR about Minnie and Quinn who are born just one minute apart on the same day, yet their lives take completely different paths. Years later, a chance encounter offers the perfect moment to take a chance on love.

Andrea Arnold’s latest film BIRD follows 12-year-old Bailey, who seeks solace in nature as her distracted father remarries. Through a mysterious encounter, Bailey gains strength to confront her mother’s abusive partner, exploring themes of identity and resilience. The film stars Barry Keoghan.

In a special music themed sidebar ‘Brit Rock to Brit Pop’, renowned documentarian Nick Broomfield uncovers the true story of Brian Jones, the creative force and heartbreaker behind what would become the world’s greatest rock band The Rolling Stones in THE STONES AND BRIAN JONES; Iconic rock band Led Zeppelin’s electrifying 1973 Madison

Square Garden performances are captured in THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME, interwoven with surreal fantasy sequences reflecting the band members’ personas. Fast forward to the Brit Pop era with BLUR: LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM, an epic two-hour concert film immortalising Blur’s historic 2023 show at Wembley Stadium which saw the band perform their iconic and much-loved songs for 150,000 adoring fans plus doco BLUR: TO THE END, depicting the most recent chapter in the band’s story, captured during the period in which they made a surprise – and emotional – return with their first record in 8 years, the critically acclaimed #1 album The Ballad of Darren.

Unconventional rom-com AND MRS tells the tale of a hesitant bride-to-be who loses her fiancé unexpectedly. She is determined to proceed with the wedding, pledging to defy public opinion, legal barriers, and the objections of her loved ones; offbeat comedy, THE RADLEYS, depicts the family of the same name who appear to be an ordinary family, but are hiding a dark secret: they’re vampires. And in CHUCK CHUCK BABY, Helen’s dull life takes an unexpected romantic twist when her charismatic childhood friend Joanne returns.

Moving, funny, and charming, this musical rom-com set in a Welsh chicken processing plant is delightfully unexpected.

Guaranteed to deliver a chuckle is THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE. Festival favourite Colm Meaney and US comedian Paul Reiser star as estranged cousins who, despite never having met, must resolve a generation’s worth of family disputes – before they start another one!

Time-bending dark comedy TIMESTALKER follows a woman’s obsession with the same bad boy spanning six centuries offering a razor-sharp commentary on obsession and desire; whilst in TUESDAY, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, a mother and daughter are forced to face Death when it appears in an unexpected form.

POISON is an intimate exploration of grief and healing, featuring powerful performances by Tim Roth and Trine Dyrholm. Focusing on Lucas and Edith, a once-married couple estranged for ten years who reunite under unexpected circumstances.

In EDGE OF SUMMER, two 11-year-olds, drawn together during a summer holiday, embark on an adventure to uncover the mystery of who or what is calling to them from the depths of an abandoned tin mine, inspired by an old folk tale; GREY MATTER is a drama based on true events following troubled teen Chloe Isles as she becomes her grandmother Peg’s carer and in LIES WE TELL, an orphaned heiress battles her sinister uncle’s schemes to claim her inheritance. As danger mounts, she defies Gothic conventions, seizing control of her fate in a feminist reimagining of Uncle Silas.

Marking its 25th anniversary and presented in a new 4K restoration is Lynne Ramsay’s stunning and confident debut feature RATCATCHER, a haunting portrayal of a troubled childhood.

In tribute to the late Dame Maggie Smith, James Ivory’s classic melodrama A ROOM WITH A VIEW will be screened in the festival. The film follows Lucy, a young Englishwoman on a tour of Florence (played by Helena Bonham Carter) who is chaperoned by her cousin (played by Smith), as a series of events challenge her societal expectations.

A newly released documentary MERCHANT IVORY focuses on the 44-film collaboration of Ismail Merchant and James Ivory who delivered decades of acclaimed dramas to audiences. Now, at 95, Ivory and key collaborators reflect on the production company’s lasting impact on arthouse cinema.

THE SHAMROCK SPITFIRE follows Brendan “Paddy” Finucane, an Irishman who rises from eager RAF recruit to legendary fighter ace and the youngest Wing Commander during WWII, leading his squadron to historic fame.

A retrospective entitled ‘History Restored’ features a selection of British classics that are all historic dramas. Presented in a new 4K restoration, iconic work A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS examines Sir Thomas More’s moral stand against King Henry VIII’s divorce, and won six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor; based on the novel by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, James Ivory’s epic melodrama HEAT AND DUST explores two parallel stories of love and cultural clash in 1920’s India; Kenneth Branagh’s 1989 rendition of HENRY V is a gritty adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, acclaimed for his direction and performance; THE LION IN WINTER starring Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn in a tale of King Henry II’s family power struggles and THE MUSIC LOVERS, a bold exploration of classical composer Tchaikovsky’s tumultuous life, with intense performances from Richard Chamberlain and Glenda Jackson.

The festival opens on Wednesday 6 November in Melbourne, Ballarat, Adelaide, Perth Byron Bay, Canberra and Brisbane and Thursday 7 November in Sydney, concluding on Sunday 8 December in all cities.

Tickets are now on sale!

The Russell Hobbs British Film Festival presented by Palace screens in the following locations:
Melbourne: 6 November – 8 December, The Astor Theatre, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Penny Lane, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema
Ballarat: 6 November – 8 December, Palace Regent Ballarat
Canberra: 6 November – 8 December, Palace Electric Cinemas
Brisbane: 6 November – 8 December, Palace Barracks, Palace James Street
Adelaide: 6 November – 8 December, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Perth: 6 November – 8 December, Palace Raine Square, Luna on SX, Leederville and Windsor
Byron Bay: 6 November – 8 December, Palace Byron Bay
Sydney: 7 November – 8 December, Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central
www.britishfilmfestival.com.au

Opening the festival is GLORIA! the directorial debut of dynamic Italian singer, songwriter and actor Margherita Vicario, who also co-wrote the film which depicts the ebullient, music-filled story of a maid at a Venetian refuge whose hidden talent helps inspire an uprising.

Margherita will be visiting Australia as a special guest of the festival to introduce the film at Opening Night Gala events in Sydney and Melbourne. Joining her will be festival Ambassador Silvia Colloca, multi-talented Italian-Australian food writer, TV producer and host, who is about to release her latest book ‘The Italian Homecook’.

Closing the 2024 festival is the Papal thriller CONCLAVE. Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci lead a brilliant ensemble cast including Sergio Castellitto in director Edward Berger’s stunning adaption of Robert Harris’ high-stakes drama, in which Cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect a new Pope.

The Festival Centrepiece is PARTHENOPE, the new film from Academy-Award winner Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty, Youth, The New Pope) is a visually and aurally stunning, decades-spanning romantic drama about a Neapolitan woman named after the mythical siren who once lent her name to the city of Naples.

Festival Special Presentations include the playful comedy from acclaimed writer/director Christophe Honoré, MARCELLO MIO, led by acting royalty and real-life mother-daughter duo Catherine Deneuve and Chiara Mastroianni, focusing on the legacy of the great Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni; plus Italy’s biggest film of 2023, THERE’S STILL TOMORROW (C’è ancora domani), the directorial debut of Paola Cortellesi who also stars in the film. Set in post-war Rome, it follows a woman breaking traditional family patterns and aspiring to a different future.

Daniele Luchetti’s award-winning psychological thriller TRUST (Confidenza), scored by Thom Yorke of Radiohead, follows a fiery love affair and a dark secret, featuring an all-star cast including Elio Germano, Federica Rosellini and Vittoria Puccini.

The 2023 Venice Film Festival opener COMANDANTE is a gripping maritime thriller starring festival favourite Pierfrancesco Favino. Favino delivers a powerhouse performance as a Naval Captain who commands the Italian Royal Navy submarine Cappellini in the Battle of the Atlantic and is faced with a moral dilemma.

Blending elements of film noir, legal drama and investigative mystery, A DARK STORY (Una storia nera) sees a separated family reunite for a child’s birthday but secrets come to light when the father disappears, and an investigation commences. Also set to thrill audiences is neo-noir drama WE WERE CHILDREN (Eravamo bambini), a captivating combination of revenge thriller and coming-of-age tale featuring a stellar ensemble cast.

In celebration of 25 years of the festival, there will be special screenings of the much-loved, inaugural Opening Night festival film, BREAD AND TULIPS (Pane e Tulipani). Enjoying an extended run during its original release in 2000, the film tells the heartwarming story of Rosalba, a neglected housewife who starts a new life in Venice and finds romance and self-discovery against the city’s charming backdrop.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic, Academy-Award winning THE GODFATHER PART II, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film continues the Corleone family’s saga, exploring Michael Corleone’s consolidation of power and moral struggles, alongside Vito Corleone’s rise from immigrant to crime lord and will be shown in a lavish 4k restoration, including intermission.

The 2024 lineup features a strong selection of new Italian dramas including the gripping and emotionally charged MIA starring Edoardo Leo as the protective father of fifteen-year-old Mia, whose world is forever altered when she crosses paths with an enigmatic older boy; ensemble drama FAMILY MATTERS (Sei fratelli), led by Riccardo Scamarcio, which explores the relationships in an extended and dysfunctional family; Italo-French co-production MARIA MONTESSORI (La Nouvelle Femme) starring Jasmine Trinca as the famed Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, whose revolutionary methods are still used across the globe today and GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARY (Vangelo secondo Maria), a fascinating tale of love, destiny, duty, and rebellion, starring Benedetta Porcaroli and Alessandro Gassmann as the biblical couple Mary and Joseph.

Alba Rohrwacher delivers a transformative performance in compelling new drama IN THE MIRROR (Mi fanno male i capelli). An elegant homage to the legendary actress Monica Vitti, it explores the power of dreams, set to music by Japanese composer Shigeru Umebayashi.

Starring in THE BEAUTIFUL SUMMER (La bella estate) is Deva Cassel, daughter of actors Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel. Written and directed by Laura Luchetti and inspired by Cesare Pavese’s novel, the lyrical coming-of-age story captures the intricacies of friendship and love as it follows a young seamstress in the artistic world of 1938 Turin.

Lovers of Italian comedies, will delight in the box office hit A WORLD APART (Un mondo a parte) starring Antonio Albanese as a teacher who relocates to a tiny school in a remote village in Abruzzo and faces amusing challenges in his quest to adapt to small-town life; LIFE’S A BEACH (Come può uno scoglio) starring comedy duo Pio and Amedeo who reunite with Belli Ciao director Gennaro Nunziante in a laugh-out-loud adventure through Italy; and ensemble comedy VOLARE from Margherita Buy in her directorial debut, about an actress with a severe phobia of flying who decides to take the plunge and join a course to face her fears.

And for bambini and nonni alike, THE WAR OF THE NONNI (La guerra dei nonni), a fun family comedy starring Vincenzo Salemme and Max Tortora as competing grandfathers.

BAD CONSCIENCE (Cattiva coscienza) is a playful and fantastical romantic comedy about the divide between passion and reason, in which a man’s conscience must descend to Earth to bring him to his senses, starring Beatrice Grannò (The White Lotus S2).

Naples is at the heart of CARACAS starring Marco D’Amore and Toni Servillo. The nocturnal drama and enthralling portrait of Naples follows a Neapolitan writer who returns to his hometown after a long absence and finds himself drawn into the city’s dark underbelly.

The famous city is also the focus of documentary AN ODE TO NAPLES (Posso entrare? An Ode to Naples), from Trudie Styler. A fascinating journey into the soul of the city of Naples, it tells the story of the city and its people, its music and the challenges it faces.

Also showing with a special event screening in Sydney and Melbourne is THE RISE OF ESPRESSO, a documentary charting the expansion and evolution of the coffee market through a collection of personal stories.

Festival tickets are now on sale!

The 2024 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival presented by Palace screens in the following locations:
Sydney 18 September – 16 October, Palace Moore Park, Palace Norton St, Palace Central, Chauvel Cinema
Canberra 19 September – 16 October, Palace Electric Cinema
Brisbane 19 September – 16 October, Palace Barracks, Palace James Street
Melbourne 20 September – 17 October, The Astor Theatre, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, Cinema Nova
Byron Bay and Ballina 26 September – 16 October, Palace Byron Bay, Ballina Fair Cinemas
Adelaide 2 October – 22 October, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Perth 3 October – 23 October, Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema
www.italianfilmfestival.com.au

Festival Curator Elysia Zeccola says about this year’s edition “The Nordic countries always create such memorable cinema and this year’s films are no exception. From thrilling Scandi noir to breathtaking ice-capped dramas these unmissable highlights are only a taste of what is to come.”

Festival Centrepiece THE TUNDRA WITHIN ME (Eallougierdu) from Norway is a powerful drama exploring community, heritage and identity. Featuring beautiful cinematography, it follows Sámi artist Lena who returns to her hometown in northern Norway where she finds an unexpected new love and is forced to confront her past.

Icelandic film TOUCH (Snerting), a romantic drama directed by renowned filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur, is a festival Special Presentation. Based on the best-selling eponymous novel, this beautiful and thrilling story spans several decades and continents as it follows one man’s emotional journey to find his first love who disappeared 50 years ago.

Danish box office hit BOUNDLESS (Den grænseløse) is a gripping thriller based on the bestselling Department Q novel. It follows Detective Mørck and his team who become embroiled in a cold case on the remote Danish Island of Bornholm, providing a spectacular backdrop.

Set during the Cold War in 1961, HAMMARSKJÖLD – FIGHT FOR PEACE (Hammarskjöld) is a political thriller that follows the true story of Swedish diplomat and economist Dag Hammarskjöld, who served as Secretary-General of the United Nations. A key figure during this pivotal time, iconic actor Mikael Persbrandt (In a Better World, Sex Education) stars as Hammarskjöld, the man who John F. Kennedy once called ‘the greatest statesman of our century’.

Hugely popular in Finland, epic historical drama STORMSKERRY MAJA is based on the book series by Anni Blomqvist. A tale of female empowerment set in the 1840s, it follows Maja and her husband through the breathtaking Finnish seasons on the windswept and remote Åland archipelago.

The 2024 Saxo Scandinavian Film Festival will take place from 17 July to 14 August (dates vary by location).

The full programme will be announced later in June when tickets go on sale.

2024 Saxo Scandinavian Film Festival
Adelaide: 17 July – 7 August, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas
Brisbane: 18 July – 7 August, Palace James St, Palace Barracks
Melbourne: 19 July – 7 August, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Penny Lane, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor Theatre
Canberra: 23 July – 14 August, Palace Electric
Sydney: 24 July – 14 August, Palace Norton St, Palace Moore Park, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema
Perth: 25 July – 14 August, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Palace Raine Square
Byron Bay and Ballina: 26 July – 14 August, Palace Byron Bay, Ballina Fair Cinemas
www.scandinavianfilmfestival.com

This year’s festival Centrepiece is THE TEACHER WHO PROMISED THE SEA (El Maestro que Prometió el Mar), which recently won the Audience award at the 2024 Gaudí Awards. The acclaimed drama stars Enric Auquer (the lead from last year’s festival hit Two Many Chefs) and Laia Costa, and tells the true story of Antoni Benaiges, a teacher who brought progressive teaching methods to a small village in 1930s Burgos.

Featuring in the New Spanish Cinema selection is JOKES AND CIGARETTES (Saben aquell), directed by multiple Goya Award winner David Trueba. The drama stars a transformative David Verdaguer as Eugenio, the famous chain-smoking Catalan comedian of the 1960s and 70s, known for his deadpan delivery, tinted glasses and trademark black attire. A special festival preview of this film will take place one week prior to the opening of the festival.

The 2024 Special Presentation is a collection of films that encapsulate the themes of ‘Female Liberation, Sexuality and Empowerment’ including UN AMOR and VERA AND THE PLEASURE OF OTHERS (Vera y el placer de los otros). A striking drama from prolific director Isabel Coixet, UN AMOR stars Laia Costa and

Hovik Keuchkerian as new neighbours in a village in rural Spain who become entangled in a web of passion. VERA AND THE PLEASURE OF OTHERS is a comedic and erotic tale about growing up, that follows 17-year- old Vera, as she divides her days between volleyball, school, and a secret hobby: listening to other people’s pleasure.

The Cine Latino selection includes a quietly powerful coming-of-age drama A RAVAGING WIND (El viento que arrasa), that explores a young woman’s path to change her fate. This Argentinian gem is from acclaimed writer/director Paula Hernandez.

From Mexico, comes UPON OPEN SKY (A cielo abierto), about three siblings who embark on a tense journey of revenge. The searing, morally thorny tale is set in early 1990s Mexico, from a screenplay by legendary Mexican scriptwriter Guillermo Arriaga.

The 2024 HSBC Spanish Film Festival will take place nationally from 11 June to 10 July (dates vary) in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane, Ballina and Byron Bay.

The full programme will be announced and tickets on sale mid-May.

Tickets for the festival preview go on sale on Wednesday 8 May.

HSBC Spanish Film Festival 2024
Canberra 11 June – 3 July: Palace Electric Cinema
Adelaide 12 June – 3 July: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas
Brisbane 13 June – 3 July: Palace James Street and Palace Barracks
Perth 13 June – 3 July: Palace Raine Square Cinemas, Luna Leederville and Luna on SX
Melbourne 14 June – 3 July: The Astor Theatre, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Palace Balwyn and Pentridge Cinema
Byron Bay 21 June – 10 July: Palace Byron Bay
Ballina 21 June – 10 July: Ballina Fair Cinemas
Sydney 19 June – 10 July: Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema
www.spanishfilmfestival.com

A smash hit at the Italian box office, writer/director Andrea Di Stefano’s stylish new film stars the always-excellent Pierfrancesco Favino (The Traitor, Nostalgia) as an honourable Milanese police lieutenant whose spotless record comes undone over the course of one fateful night.

After 35-years of service, well-liked policeman Franco Amore (Favino) is retiring from the force, having never even fired his gun. But on his final night, as his younger and far more worldly second wife Viviana (Linda Caridi, The Ties) is preparing a surprise celebration for him, Franco’s world is turned upside down. His best friend and colleague, Dino (Francesco Di Leva, Nostalgia), has been found dead on a highway in the city centre, one of several casualties after an apparent shootout. As he arrives to investigate the perplexing crime scene, it quickly becomes apparent that Franco knows more than he is letting on, and, having crossed a line, may now be in over his head…

Driven by a breathtaking central set piece, Di Stefano’s twisty, suspenseful thriller of principles, trust and family ties spectacularly mixes the fatalism of classic film noir with emotional heft, especially elevated by the dynamite pairing of Favino and Caridi who provide the film with its beating heart. Superbly crafted – with sleek nocturnal cinematography by Guido Michelotti and a smoky, propulsive score – it’s smart, compulsive big screen entertainment.

A Special Gala Selection of this year’s Berlin Film Festival and the Opening Night selection of the recent Italian Film Festival, THE LAST NIGHT OF AMORE is a highly entertaining, sophisticated crime drama you won’t want to miss.
www.thelastnightofamore.com.au