The 2025 Russell Hobbs British Film Festival, presented by Palace, will land in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Ballarat, Byron Bay and Ballina this November with a spectacular line up of exquisite dramas, fascinating documentaries, much-loved retrospectives, comedies and more at Palace Cinemas, Palace Nova and Luna Palace Cinemas.

The festival Centrepiece is the highly anticipated drama ANEMONE starring Daniel Day- Lewis, Sean Bean and Samantha Morton, in the directorial debut from Ronan Day-Lewis. In a script co-written by Daniel Day-Lewis and son Ronan, the film explores the complex and profound ties that exist between brothers, fathers, and sons. The explosive drama is Day- Lewis’ first film in eight years in which he portrays a former British soldier who lives in the remote woods who must confront his past.

In icy suspense thriller THE DEAD OF WINTER, 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 the acclaimed British artist Lucian Freud, starring Ellie Bamber and Derek Jacobi as 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.

At the age of eighty-five, the inimitable John Cleese sets off on what might be his final European tour in JOHN CLEESE PACKS IT IN. Covering five countries, sixteen cities, twenty-three shows, and retaining just two original body parts, 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.

Scenic drama THE NORTH is an adventurous tale of two old friends who embark on a 600- kilometre journey through the Scottish Highlands. They seek to reconnect not only with nature but with each other and the parts of themselves they lost.

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 full programme to be announced and tickets on sale in mid-October.

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

It is with great delight we announce that the festival will include the recently opened Palace Regent Ballarat in Victoria in its national locations, bringing the first taste of the Palace film festival experience to the region.

The Festival is also pleased to welcome aboard naming partner Russell Hobbs, the iconically British appliance brand, established in Britain in 1952.

Dean Hammerton, Brand & Communications Manager, Asia Pacific says “We are very honoured to lead the partnership with Palace Cinemas at this year’s Russell Hobbs British Film Festival. Since the day Bill Russell and Peter Hobbs founded Russell Hobbs in Surrey UK, we’ve always done things in a recognisably British way with the goal of making everyday life a little bit easier. As a proud British brand, with a dash of style and history intertwined – we are very excited to support the celebration of British cinema and culture.”

Opening this year’s festival is the Premiere of BLITZ, Steve McQueen’s visually stunning period drama depicting pivotal moments of World War II in London. The powerful and sweeping portrayal of British life during these events, which arrives direct from its London Film Festival Premiere, features stellar central performances from Saoirse Ronan and Paul Weller, in addition to exceptional newcomer Elliot Heffernen who plays 9 year old George.

Closing this year’s Festival is the exclusive Australian Premiere of the highly anticipated WE LIVE IN TIME. Featuring 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.

Screening in special Festival previews one week prior to official opening, and during the festival, is WIDOW CLICQUOT. This British/French co-production based on a true story offers an effervescent portrait of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, the “Grande Dame of Champagne,” otherwise known as Veuve Clicquot.

Aylin Tezel’s directorial debut FALLING INTO PLACE is screening in its Australian Premiere at the Festival. The 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 both confront their past.

The Festival is excited to present the romance FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE, featuring a commanding ensemble cast including Pierce Brosnan and Helena Bonham Carter. Polly Steele’s beautiful story follows Nicholas and Isabel who are destined for each other, As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull them together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.

The Russell Hobbs British Film 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.

The full programme to be announced and tickets on sale in mid-October.

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

The festival’s largest line up to date opens nationally from 11 June at Palace Cinemas, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Luna Palace Cinemas.

Based on a popular novel and directed by multi award-winning director Lone Scherfig, THE MOVIE TELLER (La Contadora de Películas) is this year’s star-studded Opening Night selection. A moving tribute to cinema and the magical power of storytelling, the film follows a young woman’s coming-of-age in a Chilean mining town and stars Bérénice Bejo, Antonio de la Torre, Daniel Brühl and brilliant newcomer Alondra Valenzuela.

The 2024 Special Presentation brings together female led films exploring the themes of ‘Liberation, Sexuality and Empowerment’. In the comedic yet sensual drama MAMACRUZ, Kiti Mánver delivers a compelling central performance as a religiously devout woman in late middle age who rediscovers the transformative power of her own sensuality. Channelling the voices of three women over 65 into one, MEMORIES OF A BURNING BODY (Memorias de un cuerpo que arde) is a heartfelt drama exploring pleasure and desire.

The sixth feature from talented director Juana Macías, THE GIRLS AT THE STATION (Las chicas de la estación), is a powerful drama inspired by real events starring three outstanding newcomers as friends entering adulthood who face incredible obstacles. In dark comedy thriller SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN (Que nadie duerma), Malena Alterio, who was awarded a Goya for her performance, plays a woman whose life takes a definitive turn when she loses her job.

Acclaimed filmmaker Isabel Coixet’s new film, UN AMOR, is a striking drama starring Laia Costa and Hovik Keuchkerian as new neighbours in a Spanish rural village who become entangled in a web of passion. VERA AND THE PLEASURE OF OTHERS (Vera y el placer de los otros), a comedic and erotic tale about growing up, follows 17-year-old Vera, as she divides her days between volleyball, school, and a secret hobby: listening to other people’s pleasure.

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

Closing the festival is THE HOLY MOUNTAIN (La montaña sagrad), which recently marked its 50th Anniversary and was famously co-funded by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Alejandro Jodorowsky’s surreal and visually stunning avant-garde odyssey has been fully restored in lavish 4K presenting a mesmerising journey through a series of bizarre and symbolic experiences, exploring themes of spirituality, enlightenment, and the quest for transcendence.

Celebrating 120 years since the birth of Salvador Dalí, is a showcase of films from and about the surrealist master. Featuring fabulous archival footage, the documentary SALVADOR DALÍ: IN SEARCH OF

IMMORTALITY is an intimate and revelatory examination of the one-of-a-kind genius who managed to live a life that is a work of art unto itself.

Famous Hitchcockian psychological thriller SPELLBOUND follows a psychiatrist (Ingrid Bergman) who helps an amnesiac (Gregory Peck) uncover his true identity and features a not to be missed surreal dream sequence by Salvador Dalí.

Two short films, UN CHIEN ANDALOU & L’AGE D’OR, will be screened together as one session. A 1929 avant-garde short film by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí, Un Chien Andalou is a dreamlike, surrealistic exploration of the subconscious whilst L’Age d’Or is a surrealist tale of a man and a woman who are passionately in love, but their attempts to consummate it are thwarted by their families, the Church, and bourgeois society.

This year’s New Spanish Cinema selection embraces a range of styles and subjects from A.I. to the art of winemaking and a biopic of one of Spain’s most beloved comedians. Directed by multiple Goya Award winner David Trueba, drama JOKES AND CIGARETTES (Saben aquell) stars a transformative David Verdaguer as Eugenio, the famous chain-smoking Catalan comedian of the 1960s and 70s; RIOJA: THE LAND OF A THOUSAND WINES (Rioja, la tierra de los mil vinos) explores the vibrant evolution of the Spanish wine industry through the human stories behind the vines in the famous region of Rioja; and taut political thriller set in the near future ARTIFICIAL JUSTICE (Justica Artificial), stars Verónica Echegui as a judge who must assess new Artificial Intelligence software for use in the justice system and is drawn into a high stakes conspiracy with powerful interests at play.

Spanish box office hit CHECKMATES (Menudas Piezas) starring Alexandra Jiménez is based on a powerful and inspiring true story of a group of marginalised schoolkids who set out to win the Spanish Chess Championship against all odds.

CHINAS, the superb third feature from writer-director Arantxa Echevarria (Carmen & Lola), is a delicate and fascinating drama about two sisters that explores childhood, belonging, integration and the search for identity. Featuring a cast of up-and-coming talent, THE GIRLS ARE ALRIGHT (Las chicas están bien) is an enchanting, breezy drama that follows a group of actresses and a writer who come together in a country house for a week to rehearse a play.

Winner of Best Spanish Film at the 2024 Málaga Film Festival, SATURN RETURN (Segundo premio) is a tale of music and passion with a hypnotic soundtrack. Set in the late 1990s, this story about an indie rock group is inspired by, but not based on, the story of the legendary Spanish band Los Planetas.

An adaptation of the graphic novel from Paco Roca, award-winning drama LA CASA starring David Verdaguer (also seen in Jokes and Cigarettes) and Luis Callejo reunites three siblings at their childhood home. In the suspenseful drama FREE FALLING (Caída libre), Belén Rueda stars as a controlling national rhythmic gymnastics’ coach who does not contemplate failure as an option; In the psychological thriller THE SLEEPING WOMAN (La mujer dormida), strange things start happening a nursing assistant to when she becomes attracted to her patient’s husband; and in dramedy A HOUSE ON FIRE (Casa en flames), comedy director Dani de la Orden explores the darker side of families.

The festival is delighted to announce a Spotlight on Spanish director Isabel Coixet with a selection of the acclaimed director’s work presented alongside her newest release UN AMOR. Based on the novel The Dying Animal by Philip Roth and starring Ben Kingsley and Penélope Cruz, ELEGY explores the themes of love, desire and aging as it follows a distinguished professor who becomes romantically involved with one of his students. THOSE WHO LOVE (A los que aman), a subversive period piece about love, guilt, and redemption, features a luminous leading performance from Monica Bellucci as a passionate teacher entangled in a tumultuous affair. YESTERDAY NEVER ENDS (Ayer no termina nunca) is an absorbing character study from Coixet about a couple who reunite after five years apart, with one turning their history into a novel.

The Cine Latino selection includes a quietly powerful Argentinian drama from acclaimed writer/director Paula Hernandez, A RAVAGING WIND (El viento que arrasa), that explores a young woman’s path to change her fate. From Mexico, comes UPON OPEN SKY (A cielo abierto) set in early 1990s Mexico from a screenplay by legendary Mexican scriptwriter Guillermo Arriaga and the acclaimed drama TOTEM (Tótem) which takes place over the course of a single day in a bustling Mexican household, seen through the eyes of a seven-year- old.

Set in the post #MeToo era is BAD ACTOR (Un Actor Malo), a nuanced and incisive drama focused on a case of misconduct on a film set that triggers a series of unavoidable events in the search for truth and justice.

THE BLUE STAR (La estrella azul) is inspired by the life of 1990s Spanish rock star Mauricio Aznar and his journey through picturesque Argentina to reconnect with his passion for music. And hailing from the Dominican Republic, the science fiction thriller AIRE: JUST BREATHE (Aire) is set in the year 2147 as a conservation biologist battles the extinction of humanity with the help of an A.I. system.

From Colombia comes THE OTHER SON (El otro hijo), an emotionally charged semi-autobiographical tale and a moving portrait of adolescence. The world of wellness is explored in THE PRACTICE (La práctica), a witty, dark comedy about two recently separated yoga instructors; plus war-of-the-sexes satire THE TENDERNESS (La ternura) which stars Emma Suárez and Gonzalo de Castro.

Lovers of Spanish comedies will be thrilled with this year’s amusing selection. A box office hit in Spain and the third installment in the highly successful Spanish Affair movie franchise, A MOROCCAN AFFAIR (Ocho apellidos marroquís) sees the Díaz-Aguirre family’s lives flipped upside down with a trip to Morocco. In IDOL AFFAIR (Buscando a Coque) Alexandra Jiménez (also in Checkmates) and Hugo Silva star as a couple who must deal with an unexpected scenario involving the other’s idol.

ONE HELL OF A HOLIDAY (¡Vaya vacaciones!) features an all-star ensemble cast and pays homage to all grandparents, as fun adventures await when two are left looking after their grandchildren yet again; and JUST ONE SMALL FAVOUR (El favor) sees the adult children of a wealthy family facing the skeletons in their closets when their late nanny leaves a series of letters for them.

The 2024 HSBC Spanish Film Festival will take place nationally from 11 June to 10 July (dates vary – and ending 17 July in Sydney) in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane, Ballina and Byron Bay. Tickets are now on sale.

2024 HSBC Spanish Film Festival
Canberra 11 June – 10 July: Palace Electric Cinema
Adelaide 12 June – 10 July: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas
Brisbane 13 June – 10 July: Palace James Street and Palace Barracks
Perth 13 June – 10 July: Palace Raine Square Cinemas, Luna Leederville and Luna on SX
Melbourne 14 June – 10 July: The Astor Theatre, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Palace Balwyn and Pentridge Cinema
Sydney 19 June – 17 July: Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema
Byron Bay 21 June – 10 July: Palace Byron Bay
Ballina 21 June – 10 July: Ballina Fair Cinemas
www.spanishfilmfestival.com

Audiences will be treated to performances of all their biggest hits including Carole King’s seminal album TAPESTRY, early collaborations with Gerry Goffin such as Up on the Roof and from the James Taylor catalogue Fire and Rain, How Sweet it is (to be loved by you), Carolina in my Mind and Shower the People to name just a few.

Conway and Coggan will share the story of how these two music legends became such enduring friends marked by the decades long influence they have had on each other’s lives.

If ever there were a song that epitomized their remarkable bond it would have to be You’ve Got a Friend. One of the most heartfelt compositions of the 20th century, both artists won a Grammy award for the song in 1972, and to this day it remains James Taylor’s only number 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Conway who believes the songs are hard-wired into her soul said, “I bought a copy of Tapestry in 1971 I remember going down the street with a couple of dollars clutched in my hand and handing them over at the local record store. I listened intently, I knew every word, every melody & counter melody, and 53 years later it has stood the test of time with effortless grace.”

Coggan, who has been immersed in Taylor’s music since a young child said, “Taylor’s baritone is so comforting, familiar, warm and friendly, but it is so much more than the voice. He is a superb storyteller whose songs are enduringly relevant and take you on a journey, in a very personal way, and I cannot wait to do just that with our audiences.”

You’ve Got a Friend – The Music of Carole King and James Taylor
19th July 2024 – Sydney, State Theatre
20th July 2024 – Brisbane, Concert Hall QPAC
24th July 2024 – Adelaide, Festival Theatre
27th July 2024 – Perth, Concert Hall
2nd August 2024 – Melbourne, Hammer Hall
www.youvegotafriend.com.au

Opening this year’s festival is the Australian Premiere of ONE LIFE starring Sir Anthony Hopkins arriving direct from its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Based on a deeply moving true story of kindness and compassion that was almost forgotten for 50 years, Hopkins delivers a remarkable performance as Sir Nicholas Winton, also known as the “British Schindler”, who helped rescue hundreds of children from Europe on the verge of World War II. The film also stars Lena Olin, Romola Garai, Alex Sharp, Jonathan Pryce, and Helena Bonham Carter in supporting roles.

A new documentary that takes a deep dive into cinema history, MY NAME IS ALFRED HITCHCOCK, offers fans old and new an inspiring portrait of a truly iconic filmmaker. Extensively and intricately researched, this insightful documentary weaves footage from virtually every film Hitchcock ever made to offer a fresh profile of the masterful movie maker and his practice.

Another much-loved name in British cinema is Ken Loach. The festival is delighted to present the Australian Premiere of his new film THE OLD OAK. The latest work from the revered filmmaker tells the story of a publican who struggles to hold onto his small-town pub as tensions rise upon the arrival of Syrian refugees seeking asylum. True to form, Loach continues to examine social and human rights issues and delivers a heartfelt narrative on the power of acceptance and community.

Engaging with notions of masculinity, self-discovery and gender expression with touching honesty and insight, writer-director Dionne Edwards’ PRETTY RED DRESS is a beautifully poignant journey supported by a stellar cast and featuring the music of Tina Turner. Set in South London, the exhilarating sojourn weaves a story of powerful self-expression, confronting the past and of course, a glorious red dress.

The festival is pleased to announce that Marcus Markou, the director of THE WIFE AND HER HOUSE HUSBAND will be visiting Sydney and Melbourne for a series of Q&A sessions. Featuring an honest, tender script navigating the highs and lows of married life, Markou crafts an engrossing and engaging drama fuelled by solid central performances. Charting the breakdown of a marriage, a forgotten letter brings the couple together to face their past and their most intimate feelings for each other.

The festival opens on Wednesday 1 November in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and Thursday 2 November in Byron Bay, Canberra and Brisbane concluding on Wednesday 29 November in all cities.

The full programme to be announced and tickets on sale on Thursday 5 October.

The Cunard British Film Festival presented by Palace screens in the following locations:
Sydney: 1 – 29 Nov, Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central
Melbourne: 1 – 29 Nov, The Astor Theatre, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, The Kino and Pentridge Cinemas
Adelaide: 1 – 29 Nov, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Perth: 1 – 29 Nov, Palace Raine Square, Luna on SX, Leederville and Windsor
Canberra: 2 – 29 Nov, Palace Electric Cinemas
Brisbane: 2 – 29 Nov, Palace Barracks and Palace James Street
Byron Bay: 2 – 29 Nov, Palace Byron Bay
www.britishfilmfestival.com.au

The ST. ALi Italian Film Festival will open with the Australian Premiere of THE LAST NIGHT OF AMORE (L’ultima notte di Amore), a stylish Milan-set thriller starring the magnificent Pierfrancesco Favino. A major Italian box office hit, the film follows a police lieutenant who is drawn into a web of crime and corruption on the eve of his retirement. 2023 Fstival Ambassador Silvia Colloca, multi-talented Italian Australian food writer, actor, TV producer ad Opera trained mezzo-soprano, will officially open the festival in Sydney and Melbourne at spectacular Opening Night Gala events, which include after parties.

Direct from the Cannes Film Festival come the three Italian films that screened In Competition this year. The 2023 Festival Centrepiece is Marco Bellocchio’s KIDNAPPED (Rapito). Based on true events, the gripping historical drama is the story of a young Jewish boy whose abduction by the Vatican fuelled outrage in 19th-century Italy and triggered a global scandal. Alice Rohrwacher’s LA CHIMERA, a captivating fable of lost love set in 1980s Tuscany, follows a young British archaeologist (played by Josh O’Connor) who becomes entangled in an international network dealing in stolen Italian artefacts and in Nanni Moretti’s multi layered new comedy A BRIGHTER TOMORROW (Il sol dell’avvenire), about filmmaking in the age of streaming giants, a film director (Mretti) struggles with his relationship, family and the production of his latest film.

This year’s festival features three Special Presentations. THE EIGHT MOUNTAINS (Le otto montagne), starring Luca Marinelli and Alessandro Borghi, was awarded the Cannes Jury Prize in 2022 and won four David di Donatello Awards. The epic journey of friendship and self-discovery is set in the breathtaking Italian Alps. BURNING HEARTS (Ti mangio il cuore), is a searing crime story of love and revenge set in Puglia and shot in stunning black and white, which stars Italian singer Elodie in her first acting role.

CARAVAGGIO’S SHADOW (L’ombra di Caravaggio) is a lush, historical drama starring the impeccable Riccardo Scamarcio, which explores the struggles of the notorious Renaissance painter as he is investigated by the Vatican. The film won a number of David di Donatello and Nastri D’Argento Awards.

Documentary highlights include THE CIRCLE (Il cerchio). The winner of Best Documentary at the 2023 David di Donatello Awards, Sophie Chiarello’s film follows the pupils of an Italian primary school for five years, capturing their unique perspective on the world. MAGIC NAPLES (Napoli magica) follows actor/director Marco D’Amore as he sets out on a journey of discovery into the heart of Naples, uncovering myths, legends, the labyrinths of the city and the countless stories of one of the oldest and most fascinating cities in the world. Directed by former Versace model Salvatore Zannino, THE GENIUS OF GIANNI VERSACE ALIVE takes viewers on a deep dive into the creative genius of influential Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace in a celebration of his extraordinary life and career.

A companion piece to the festival retrospective focus on Massimo Troisi (detailed below) is Mario Martone’s SOMEBODY DOWN THERE LIKES ME (Laggiù qualcuno mi ama). In this personal journey into the cinema of Troisi, the acclaimed director combines film scenes, interviews with Italian cinema stars and critics plus previously unpublished materials to explore the life and career of the cinema great.

Roberto Andò’s imaginative and irreverent biopic STRANGENESS (La stranezza) explores the inspiration behind one of modern Italian theatre’s revolutionary works. An Italian box office hit, it stars festival favourite Toni Servillo as Literature Nobel Prize winning playwright Luigi Pirandello on a trip to Sicily in the 1920s, where he is faced with a serious case of writer’s block.

Direct from the 2023 Venice Film Festival is THE ORDER OF TIME (L’ordine del tempo), an all-star ensemble drama about the reality of time and the meaning of life, featuring Alessandro Gassmann, Claudia Gerini, Edoardo Leo and Angela Molina. Loosely inspired by the bestselling physics novel by Carlo Rovelli, a group of friends get together in a seaside villa to celebrate a birthday, only to discover it may be their last reunion.

Closing the 2023 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is the magnificent THE POSTMAN (Il Postino), which remains, after nearly four decades, critically acclaimed and loved by audiences around the world. Co-starring the inimitable Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Troisi’s final film before his untimely passing is an engaging blend of easy humour and sunny romance that explores love, poetry and friendship in 1950s Italy.

The 2023 festival retrospective, presented by the Italian Institute of Culture Sydney, celebrates Massimo Troisi’s thirty-year career in Italian cinema which began with a successful stint in cabaret, theatre and television. Three of his most significant films will be screened; his debut in I’M STARTING FROM THREE (Ricomincio da tre), a humorous and heartfelt exploration of self-discovery in which he plays a young Neapolitan who moves to Florence; a comedic adventure NOTHING LEFT TO DO BUT CRY (Non ci resta che piangere), starring Roberto Benigni and Massimo Troisi as two best friends who find themselves transported back in time to 15th Century Tuscany and SPLENDOR, a touching story set within the aisles of a cinema named Splendor co-starring Marcello Mastroianni in an ode to the magic of cinemagoing.

Featuring an all-star cast including Margherita Buy and Toni Servillo, THE FIRST DAY OF MY LIFE (Il primo giorno della mia vita) is a film about love and the meaning of life from the director of 2016 smash hit Perfect Strangers, Paolo Genovese. DELTA is a gritty and compelling drama about a struggle between local fishermen and poachers, played by Alessandro Borghi and Luigi Lo Cascio, on the foggy Po River Delta.

Standout thrillers include LIKE SHEEP AMONG WOLVES (Come percore in mezzo ai lupi) starring Isabella Ragonese as a policewoman who has infiltrated a criminal gang in Rome and PROPHETS (Profeti) in which Jasmine Trinca delivers a standout performance as Sara, an Italian journalist kidnapped by ISIS who must navigate the relationship she forms with her keeper Nur, a foreign fighter who was radicalised in London.

Films for families include THE PROPERTIES OF METALS (Le proprietà dei metalli), set in an Italian village in the 1970s where a young boy astounds locals by appearing to bend metal simply through the power of his mind; and heartfelt drama SUPERNOVA (Noi anni luce) led by two young rising stars of Italian cinema, Carolina Sala and Rocco Fasano, as a pair of newfound friends who embark on a life changing journey.

The affectionate odd-couple drama ORLANDO stars Michele Placido as an elderly Italian farmer meeting his granddaughter for the first time in Brussels; and MY SOUL SUMMER, starring Italian X Factor winner Casadilego, is the tale of a seventeen-year-old girl who meets a famous (older) singer and discovers her own passion for music.

Festival favourite Marco Giallini stars in the delightful comedy MY SHADOW IS YOUR SHADOW (La mia ombra è tua), the story of a young university graduate and a famous reclusive writer set out on a road trip to a fair in Milan, where the writer will break over twenty years of silence to deliver a talk.

To kick off the opening week of the festival, there will be free screenings of short films ‘10 Corti Italiani’ In association with the Centro Nazionale del Cortometraggio in Turin and presented by the Italian Cultural Institutes in Melbourne and Sydney.

The free screenings will take place on Sunday 17 September in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra and Sunday 24 September in Brisbane, Perth and Byron Bay at Palace Cinemas. Attendance needs to be confirmed via the ticketing links on the website, where further details are available.

ALL TICKETS NOW ON SALE.

The 2023 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival presented by Palace screens in the following locations:
Sydney 19 September – 18 October, Palace Central, Palace Norton St, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema
Canberra 20 September – 18 October, Palace Electric Cinema
Adelaide 20 September – 15 October, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Melbourne 21 September – 18 October, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, The Astor Theatre, Cinema Nova
Brisbane 27 September – 25 October, Palace Barracks, Palace James Street
Perth 28 September – 25 October, Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema
Byron Bay 28 September – 18 October, Palace Byron Bay
www.italianfilmfestival.com.au

Adding some spice to the start of winter, the 2023 Festival opens with the Australian premiere of TWO MANY CHEFS (La vida padre), a delicious comedy set in Bilbao’s world of high cuisine. The Spanish box office hit stars Karra Elejalde and Enric Auquer as a father and son whose unexpected reunion after thirty years apart puts their ideas about cooking and life to the test.

The two Special Presentations of the 2023 line up are both exceptional dramas. Five-time Goya Award-winner and Spanish box office hit thriller PRISON 77 (Modelo 77) from Alberto Rodríguez (Marshland) follows a young accountant, played by Miguel Herrán from hit Netflix series Money Heist, awaiting trial for embezzlement in 1977. Whilst incarcerated, he joins a group of prisoners demanding amnesty.

THE KINGS OF THE WORLD (Los reyes del mundo) won the 2022 San Sebastian Film Festival’s Best Film award and was also Colombia’s 2022 Oscars submission. Laura Mora’s gritty and intense drama follows five Medellín teenagers from the streets who seek a place in the world and set out on an adventure in search of the promised land.

MY FATHER’S MEXICAN WEDDING (La novia de América), from the Cine Latino section, is a hilarious romantic comedy starring Miren Ibarguren. Two Spanish siblings travel to Mexico to attend the wedding of their father to a woman he met online, but what they find there is not what they expected.

Featuring a brilliant cast led by Festival favourite Paco León, STARING AT STRANGERS (No mires a los ojos) is dripping with intrigue and surprises. León stars as a man spying on a family from inside a closet, becoming a mysterious presence in their lives.

There will be a special preview on Wednesday 7 June, before the festival officially opens, of the new romantic comedy FOUR’S A CROWD (El cuarto pasajero). In this Spanish box office hit from Álex de la Iglesia, a 50-year-old divorcee with financial problems begins sharing his car with strangers via an app on a trip to Madrid, but trouble ensues when he adds new passengers.

The 2023 Spanish Film Festival will take place nationally from 14 June to 12 July in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane and Byron Bay.

The full programme will be announced and tickets on sale Wednesday 17 May.

Tickets for the festival preview go on sale on Wednesday 10 May.

Spanish Film Festival 2023
Canberra 14 June – 5 July: Palace Electric Cinema.
Adelaide 14 June – 5 July: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas.
Brisbane 14 June – 5 July: Palace James Street and Palace Barracks.
Melbourne 15 June-5 July: The Astor Theatre, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Palace Balwyn and Pentridge Cinema.
Perth 15 June – 5 July: Palace Raine Square Cinemas, Luna Leederville and Luna on SX.
Byron Bay 15 June – 5 July: Palace Byron Bay.
Sydney 20 June – 12 July: Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema.
www.spanishfilmfestival.com

Additionally, his previous global comedy tour sold out over 100 arenas around the world for 2018’s Irresponsible Tour, which sold over one million tickets worldwide including Australia and New Zealand.

Beyond his stand-up, Hart is a Hollywood Box office powerhouse, a two-times New York Best-selling author a highly successful actor and an entrepreneur.

Across his acting career, Kevin Hart has starred in eleven movies that opened at number one at the Box office and in 2020, became Netflix’s biggest stand-up special of 2020 which later earned him a Grammy nomination for “Best Comedy Album”.

Kevin Hart 2023 Australian Tour
24 March 2023 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
25 March 2023 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
27 March 2023 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
29 March 2023 – RAC Arena, Perth
www.livenation.com.au

The 2022 Festival opens in Brisbane on 21 September with Italian box office hit BELLI CIAO, starring comedic duo Pio and Amedeo. It follows two formerly inseparable friends who reunite in their hometown in Puglia after years apart, resulting in an entertaining north versus south culture clash. Opening Night receptions will include delicious Italian antipasti, Santa Margherita Prosecco and more.

Direct from the Cannes Film Festival is this year’s Festival Centrepiece NOSTALGIA, directed by Mario Martone and winner of Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actor at the 2022 Nastri D’Argento Awards. An atmospheric urban drama starring the superb Pierfrancesco Favino, it follows a man returning to his hometown of Naples after 40 years and rediscovering the city, its codes and rules, and facing a past that has haunted him.

One of Italy’s most significant filmmakers, Pier Paolo Pasolini, will be the focus of a retrospective celebrating the centenary of his birth. The Festival is thrilled to present three of his iconic film adaptions of literary works: THE CANTERBURY TALES on its 50th anniversary, ARABIAN NIGHTS and THE DECAMERON.

New Italian Cinema highlights include BREAKING UP IN ROME (Lasciarsi un giorno a Roma), an homage to the Italian capital. This heartfelt romantic comedy directed by and starring Edoardo Leo delves into the difficulties a couple faces when they separate after many years living together.

Romance is a key ingredient of the suspenseful and delicious comedy THE PERFECT DINNER (La cena perfetta) which sees a Neapolitan mafioso who is sent to Rome to launder money through a restaurant crossing paths with a chef who dreams of winning a Michelin star.

THE SHADOW OF THE DAY (L’ombra del giorno) features brilliant performances from a smouldering Riccardo Scamarcio and rising star Benedetta Porcaroli. Following the declaration of racial laws in Fascist Italy, a restaurateur’s life changes when a girl with a dangerous secret starts to work at his restaurant in this dramatic love story.

For families comes the prequel to the hugely successful THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS WITCH (IFF19) called THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS WITCH 2 – THE ORIGINS (La Befana vien di notte 2: Le origini), featuring an excellent ensemble cast including Monica Bellucci. Set in the 18th Century, the comedy explores the origins of the Befana.

The full programme will be released and tickets go on sale Thursday 18 August.

The 2022 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival presented by Palace screens in the following locations:
Sydney 13 September – 12 October, Palace Central, Palace Norton St, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema
Canberra 14 September – 12 October, Palace Electric Cinema
Melbourne 15 September – 12 October, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, The Astor, Cinema Nova
Brisbane 21 September – 16 October, Palace Barracks, Palace James Street
Adelaide 21 September – 16 October, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Perth 22 September – 16 October, Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema
Byron Bay 23 September – 9 October, Palace Byron Bay

For information and updates, please visit www.italianfilmfestival.com.au

The 45th César Awards – France’s equivalent to the Oscars – were held on Friday night at the Salle Pleyel in Paris and Brisbane audiences will soon be able to watch the winning films themselves when they screen at this year’s Alliance Française French Film Festival from March 18 to April 14.

Ladj Ly’s powerful drama, inspired by the 2005 French riots, Les Misérables, was nominated for 11 awards and walked away with Best Picture, Best Male Newcomer for Alexis Manenti, Best Editing and the People’s Choice Prize.

These honours cap off an impressive season for the film which was awarded the jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Best European Film at the Goya Awards and received both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

Nicolas Bedos’ charmingly nostalgic film, La Belle Epoque won Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress for the legendary Fanny Ardant and Best Set Design. La Belle Epoque will screen at the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival Special Event, A Taste of France on Thursday March 26 at Palace Barracks.

Other winners include Anais Demoustier who won Best Actress for her role in the political comedy/drama, Alice and The Mayor, Roschdy Zem who took home the Best Actor award for his role in true crime drama Oh Mercy and the team behind The Wolf’s Call which won Best Sound.

These films will all screen at the 2020 Alliance Française French Film Festival!

National dates and venues for the 2020 Alliance Française French Film Festival are:

SYDNEY: 10 March – 8 April
Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central & Hayden Orpheum Cremorne

MELBOURNE: 11 March – 8 April
Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Kino Cinemas & The Astor Theatre

PERTH: 11 March – 8 April
Palace Raine Square, Cinema Paradiso, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema & Camelot Outdoor Cinema

CANBERRA: 12 March – 8 April
Palace Electric Cinema

ADELAIDE: 17 March – 14 April
Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinema

BRISBANE: 18 March – 14 April
Palace Barracks & Palace James Street

HOBART: 19 – 28 March
State Cinema

AVOCA BEACH: 19 March – 1 April
Avoca Beach Picture Theatre

PARRAMATTA: 26 – 29 March
Riverside Theatres Parramatta

BYRON BAY: 31 March – 12 April
Palace Byron Bay

BENDIGO: 17 – 19 April
Star Cinema

BALLARAT: 17 -19 April
Regent Cinemas
www.affrenchfilmfestival.org