Directed by and starring Fabio De Luigi (When Mum is Away...With the In-Laws IFF25) this tender romantic comedy about parenthood and making a fresh start explores what it means to fall in love after one has already built a family. Tommaso (De Luigi) is a single father of four daughters. His life features a chaotic yet solid family routine, defined by responsibilities and quiet affection, with absolutely no time left for himself. When his daughters decide it is time for their father to put himself back out there romantically, Tommaso meets Lara (Virginia Raffaele, A World Apart IFF25), a brilliant and charming bank manager. It is an unexpected encounter that could change their status quo and encourage them to open up emotionally. They immediately develop a rapport, but they are each hiding something significant. While Tommaso hides his family's situation from his new love interest, in turn Lara is hiding her past. But soon their secrets and misunderstandings begin to add up, with comedic consequences. Presented by Co.As.It Sydney

Pilar Fogliati (Somebody to Love IFF25), Adriano Giannini (Family Matters IFF24), and Valeria Golino (Fuori IFF25) star in this suspenseful and mischievous romance written and directed by acclaimed Italian screenwriter Ludovica Rampoldi (Gomorrah – the series) in her feature directorial debut. The fates of two couples, thirtysomethings Lea and Andrea, and Rocco and Cecilia, twenty years older, collide by chance one night when Lea (Fogliati) and Rocco (Giannini) meet by chance in a bar and an instant attraction ignites between them. They begin a secret affair, consisting of fleeting, clandestine meetings in a hotel room. What seems at first to be an ordinary case of infidelity becomes obsessive as time passes. Lea tries to intrude more and more into Rocco’s life, with events taking an unsettling turn when she becomes a patient of Rocco’s therapist wife (a brilliant Valeria Golino). Combining romance, comedy and thriller, A Brief Affair explores the complexity of relationships, love and passion through the unexpected twists of this fling turned love story.

In a world where women were rarely granted access to higher education, or to any education at all, only nine extraordinary female writers won the Nobel Prize in Literature during the twentieth century. Sardinian author Grazia Deledda (1871 – 1936) was the second, being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1926, and to this day she remains the only Italian woman to receive the honour. Based on the eponymous novel by Marcello Fois, this poetic biographical drama follows three pivotal moments in Grazia Deledda's life: the unexpected arrival of her mother from Nuoro; the hours before the announcement of the world's most prestigious literary prize; and the moments when a doctor searches for the right words to deliver a difficult truth. Written and directed by Peter Marcias, Almost Grazia portrays her determination and perseverance to fight against prejudice, revealing the profound political resonance of her personal journey, and offering a profound reflection on the relationship between women and literature. Presented by the Embassy of Italy in Canberra

Written and directed by award-winning director Antonio Capuano, Andrea’s Island is a moving chamber drama about the legal battle waged by two parents over the custody of their only child. Marta (Teresa Saponangelo, also in For You) and Guido (Vinicio Marchioni, There’s Still Tomorrow IFF24) are separating, but things are complicated with their son, eight-year-old Andrea. In conflict, they turn to the courts to decide custody and regulate how many days Andrea should spend with each of them. The magistrate orders interviews and expert assessments, forcing Marta, Guido and Andrea to delve deeper into the reasons for their respective difficulties and desires. Through confrontations in front of judges, psychologists, and consultants, the complex story of their relationship begins to emerge. They gradually reveal a love born with enthusiasm, marked by family interference, silences, betrayals, and growing distance that led to a definitive break. But while Marta and Guido continue fighting, each waiting for the other to give in, Andrea is in an impossible position, caught between his parents.

Written, directed by and starring Monica Guerritore (Deceitful Love), this biopic tells the story of acclaimed Italian actress Anna Magnani (Bellissima, Mamma Roma, Rome, Open City), a woman who faced an adversity and fought it with dignity. Set during the evening of 21 March 1956 when Anna Magnani (Monica Guerritore) wins the Oscar for Best Actress in The Rose Tattoo, she spends the night waiting for the news to arrive while wandering the alleys and squares of Rome, encountering the locals who love her and recounting special memories she holds dear. Meanwhile Roberto Rossellini (Tommaso Ragno) remains always present in her mind. Throughout this pivotal evening, there is a young girl by her side who will become her agent Carol Levi (Beatrice Grannò, The White Lotus). Unbeknownst to them, a sudden and unpredictable turn of fate awaits Anna. Anna Magnani – The Untold Story retraces the darker side of Anna's life, love, and struggle to defend her talent and authenticity within the world of cinema.

A must watch for fashion lovers, Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion is a fascinating, star-studded documentary that traces the rise of Italy’s style empires through the story of the legendary families that have been ruling it for decades and have defined an era: Armani, Versace, Gucci, Valentino, Missoni, Zegna, Ferragamo, Dolce&Gabbana, Prada, and beyond. In his final interview on screen, Giorgio Armani reflects on his life and his brand's undeniable influence on Italian fashion and taking America by storm with the wardrobe for Richard Gere in American Gigolo (1980). Set against Milan’s lavish and exclusive fashion sanctuaries, amidst ateliers, runways, and private retreats, the film explores creative rivalries, personal stories and the enduring love affair between Hollywood and Italian designers. Featuring insights from fashion icons, actors, industry insiders and collaborators, including Sharon Stone, Tom Ford, Helen Mirren, and Samuel L. Jackson, Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion delivers an intimate portrait of ambition, elegance, and the making of modern luxury in an industry of glamour, discipline, and power.

Adapted from the 1929 novella by Giani Stuparich, this finely crafted coming-of-age drama follows an uprooted teenage girl who must navigate the challenges of growing up in a male-dominated world. September 2007. Exuberant and curious, Swedish 17-year-old Fredrika 'Fred’ (Stella Wendick) moves to Trieste with her family after her father takes on a new management job in the Northeastern Italian city. She enrols in the local Technical High School for her final year but finds herself as the only girl in an all-male class. Fred quickly becomes the centre of attention, especially for three friends: the fascinating and reserved Antero, the outgoing womaniser Pasini, and the sweet and protective Mitis. The three boys have been a unit for as long as they can remember, but Fred’s arrival disrupts their equilibrium and puts their longstanding friendship to the test. As each of the boys secretly desires Fred, she yearns to be accepted into their circle and become one of them. But to truly belong, she is asked to increasingly sacrifice more.

Marking its 75th anniversary, Anna Magnani delivers a career-defining turn in Bellissima, Luchino Visconti’s biting critique of postwar Italy’s obsession with fame. When Cinecittà Studios launches a child talent search, working-class nurse Maddalena (Magnani) becomes the ultimate stage mother, upending her humble household and pushing her young daughter toward stardom. Yet her relentless hustle collides with reality when a scheming studio insider demands money and favours, leading to a heartbreaking awakening about the true cost of chasing illusions. Equal parts witty and devastating, Bellissima captures two masters of Italian cinema at the absolute peak of their powers.

Directed by Elisa Amoruso (Sirley) and adapted for the screen by Ilaria Bernardini from her own novel, Beloved tells an intimate story of maternity through two women from different worlds who are facing opposing fertility struggles. Nunzia (Tecla Insolia, Primavera) is a 19-year-old student with a crushing secret: an unwanted pregnancy. Alone, she weighs up the difficult decision of whether to keep the baby or give it up. When Nunzia secretly gives birth to a daughter, Margherita, she considers leaving her in the hospital, unsure if she wants to claim her. Meanwhile, 42-year-old architect Maddalena (Miriam Leone, Miss Fallaci) and her partner Luca (Stefano Accorsi (Diamonds IFF25), are on the verge of adopting a child after struggling with infertility. As the days pass, a chance soon presents itself: delicate, luminous, full of anticipation. Exploring the complexity of motherhood, love and freedom, Beloved asks uncomfortable yet important questions to deliver a sincere drama about two lives connected by invisible threads and the choices that can change a person’s fate.

From Academy Award® winning director Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso, Ennio) and scored by Oscar-winning composer Nicola Piovani (Life is Beautiful), this inspirational documentary delivers an intimate portrait of the life and career of Brunello Cucinelli, a fashion entrepreneur with a humanistic philosophy, who rose from humble rural origins to become celebrated as “The King of Cashmere”. Blending classic documentary and cinematic fiction styles, Brunello: The Gracious Visionary retraces the key places and moments in Cucinelli's life, from his childhood in the countryside village of Solomeo, in rural Perugia, to the founding of his company in 1978, and reaching the heights of success as a fashion luminary. Featuring testimonials, archival footage and intimate recollections from Brunello himself, Tornatore highlights the power of dreams and reveals the extraordinary journey a man who, from humble beginnings, built a world-renowned company and luxury fashion empire while maintaining strong values of dignity, artistry and social justice.

Starring a splendid Anna Ferzetti (La Grazia IFF25) and based on Gaja Cenciarelli’s eponymous, autobiographical novel, Classmates is an intergenerational dramatic comedy about the power of education, respect and community that sees the relationship between a driven teacher and her pupils transcend the school gates. An English teacher (Ferzetti), who is convinced of the fundamental value of education, is assigned to a challenging high school in Rome’s Rebibbia neighbourhood. Her colleagues have lost hope of making anything of the last class, a melting pot of the most difficult and reluctant students. Amid difficult lives, broken families, late-night antics, first loves, and preconceptions, the students are convinced that life outside of school is hostile. Their teacher, or rather, "Pressoré," as everyone calls her, has three options. She could run away like her predecessors, turn a blind eye, or step into the lion's den. So, "Pressoré" attempts to find a way to reach their hearts and give meaning both to their school journey and her life as a teacher.

Written and directed by Alessandro Aronadio (Ears, Still Time) and based on a true story chronicled in Serenella Antonazzi’s book Un tempo piccolo, For You is a moving drama about a father and son which celebrates the power of love that transcends time and memory. Every day, eleven-year-old Mattia (remarkable newcomer Javier Francesco Leoni) experiences the illness of his father Paolo (Edoardo Leo, Somebody to Love IFF25), who, in his early forties, is slowly beginning to lose fragments of his memory. Yet, even as the world starts to fade, Paolo chooses to remain close to what truly matters, strengthened by the love of his wife, Michela (Teresa Saponangelo, also in The Greater Good) and Mattia. Together they embark on a journey defined by moments of shared daily life, joyous laughter, and silences that speak volumes, as they create new memories to cherish. In 2021, Mattia Piccoli was named a Flag-bearer of the Republic by President Sergio Mattarella in recognition of the dedication with which he cared for his father.

Witty, romantic and smart, this film from beloved Italian satirist Pierfrancesco ‘Pif’ Diliberto (The Mafia Kills Only In Summer) - adapted from his own bestselling novel - is a hugely entertaining and gently irreverent comedy about love, faith and finding the perfect pastry. Arturo (Pif) is a successful real estate agent, but less so in love. Arturo lives alone, is the weak link in his office's football team, and nurtures an unwavering passion for desserts, with a soft spot for sciù from Palermo's most celebrated pasticceria. His life lights up when he meets the devoutly Catholic Flora (Giusy Buscemi), who is looking to open her own patisserie, and he falls instantly, hopelessly in love. To win Flora over, Arturo embarks on an increasingly absurd attempt to live by the gospel, a quest that earns him an unexpected spiritual advisor: the Pope. Italian box office hit Holy Cannoli is playful, pointed and cheeky, using comedy to expose the contradictions of contemporary Italian life seen through the eyes of a soul-searching, sweet-toothed sceptic.

Starring Jasmine Trinca (Diamonds IFF25), this intense drama from Francesca Archibugi dives into a murky web of power, desire and lies in the European underworld. On the outskirts of Perugia, a young, beautiful girl (Angelina Andrei) is found in a ditch dressed in haute couture. When the police are about to move her body, they discover that she is still alive. Her name is Rosa Lazar; she is Moldovan and barely sixteen years old. Deputy Prosecutor Cristina Camponeschi (Trinca) and psychologist Stefano Mangiaboschi (Michele Riondino) are immediately called to the case and together with Deputy Police Chief Pizzirò (Filippo Timi) they join forces to uncover what happened. But their investigation is more complicated than expected, because Rosa appears unaware of what she suffered and hides the truth. Appearing joyful and childlike, Rosa's outward demeanour masks her experience of a disturbing, dark underworld, and soon she becomes the key to an international investigation into a frightening prostitution ring in the heart of Europe.

A magical family tale about the importance of imagination and kindness, Incanto is the debut feature from writer/director Pier Paolo Paganelli. On his deathbed, Ludovico entrusts his ten-year-old daughter Margot to the housekeeper, Felicia (Vittoria Puccini), requesting the family villa be transformed into an orphanage so that the little girl can grow up with other children. But the wicked Felicia only wants the little girl’s assets, so she exploits the orphaned children and neglects Margot, who is confined to a room upstairs. However, one night Margot manages to escape and, after overcoming the darkness of the woods, she comes across a travelling circus. Greeted by the white clown Charlie, Margot is introduced to the secret that makes their circus unique: the old big top is magical, capable of showing anyone who enters its ring for who they truly are. Welcomed by her new circus family, Margot shines and begins to find her voice again. But the wicked Felicia is looking for her; will Margot be able to finally free herself from Felicia’s clutches?

Based on petty and absurd true events in his hometown, this documentary written and directed by Gianluca Matarrese tells a darkly comic and emotionally charged tale of an unhappy Southern Italian family on the verge of implosion. In a remote Calabrian village, a domestic war rages between family members living on top of each other in Contrada Viscigliette in a handful of streets clinging to a hill known as Il Cozzo. Luisa, a fierce and headstrong woman, is at war with her sister-in-law Imma, fuelling a bitter feud that consumes their entire household. As tensions spiral, three eccentric aunts in a tragicomic chorus stage a surreal family “trial” in a last-ditch effort to restore peace. Blending reality and fiction, farce and tragedy, this film delivers an inventive meditation on reconciliation and forgiveness to explore the meaning of blood ties, as the family walks the fine line between everyday resentment and irreversible catastrophe.

Anissa Bonnefont’s atmospheric documentary follows 900 artists, staff and technicians at Milan’s legendary Teatro alla Scala over four months as they race to stage a new production of Verdi's The Force of Destiny for the theatre’s traditional 7 December Opening Night gala. Inside La Scala's creative hive, stage director Leo Muscato readies his vision with the set and costume design teams, as the chorus and orchestra rehearse under maestro Riccardo Chailly, and theatre staff prepare the 250-year-old venue. There is added anticipation with the arrival of the star international cast, set to fill the theatre's hallowed halls with their powerful voices. But with the clock ticking, the tension backstage builds. Will they be ready when the curtain rises? Filmed with unprecedented access, La Scala: The Force of Destiny is more than a behind‑the‑scenes chronicle. Beautifully capturing the remarkable endeavour of staging a major new production, it reveals the passion, apprehension and brilliance of these artists, and celebrates the grandeur and preciousness of the artform.

Inspired by a true story, this Italian box office hit from Riccardo Milani (A World Apart IFF24) sees two different sets of ideals collide on an unspoiled stretch of coastline in southern Sardinia. Efisio is a solitary shepherd who lives in the small house where he was born, a silent guardian of a time that seems to no longer exist. Meanwhile Giacomo (Diego Abatantuono), the president of a powerful Milanese real estate group, is determined to transform the picturesque coast into a luxury resort alongside construction site manager Mariano (Aldo Baglio) who is tasked with convincing Efisio to sell his land. Caught between these irreconcilable worlds is Efisio’s daughter Francesca (Virginia Raffaele), who is torn between the call of change and her deep attachment to her homeland. But when Efisio refuses yet another multi-million offer, negotiations turn into a legal battle. As pressure mounts and the community fractures, Efisio’s unwavering ‘no’ takes on collective meaning in this David versus Goliath tale about courage, cultural identity and the environment.

Directed and co-written by Francesco Lagi, this Rome-set exploration of modern relationships features a stellar ensemble cast including Vanessa Scalera (Diamonds IFF25), Vinicio Marchioni (There's Still Tomorrow IFF24), Isabella Ragonese (Like Sheep Among Wolves IFF23), and Francesco Colella (The Leopard series, Miss Fallacci). A lighthearted yet poignant choral saga, Love Divine chronicles the romantic destinies of eight people across the course of four seasons. From varied walks of life, they are linked together by love, loss, passion, and betrayals, forming a network of entangled relationships and chaotic emotions. Guiding us on this journey is the poet Ovid, the eternal bard of love, who, transcending sentimentality and moral judgment, travels from Imperial Rome straight into our modern world to tell us this story. The eight protagonists' fates lie in the hands of the God of Love, a fickle and unpredictable deity, by turns benevolent and gentle, and at other times fierce and combative, who weaves their lives and loves into a complex tapestry.

A compelling coming-of-age drama from Nunzia De Stefano, Malavia tells the story of a Neapolitan boy who uses music to try to make something of himself. Sasà, a thirteen-year-old boy from the outskirts of Naples, spends his days listening to rap music with his two best friends. Raised by his single mother Rusè, the two share a deep bond, but it is tested by jealousy, poverty, and the pressures of a difficult environment. A lover of hip-hop with great musical talent, Sasà dreams of becoming a famous rapper so he can provide his mother with a better life. An encounter with Yodi, a well-known figure in the Neapolitan old-school rap scene, gives hope and momentum to Sasà's dream, leading him to compose his first real track: a rap song dedicated to Rusè. However, faced with the tough realities of the music industry, will Sasà be able to keep working towards his aspirations, or will he turn to crime and risk losing everything?

In this 1962 drama from Pier Paolo Pasolini, Anna Magnani delivers a powerhouse performance as a mother desperate to escape her past and build a decent life for her son. Driven by Pasolini’s signature obsession with society’s outcasts, Mamma Roma delivers a gritty, neorealist snapshot of postwar Italian survival. Once banned for obscenity, it is now celebrated as a landmark of world cinema, capturing both the iconic Magnani at her peak and a visionary director finding his voice.

Directed by his son Toni D'Angelo, this touching documentary about Neapolitan singer/actor Nino D'Angelo explores the story of an artist who has crossed genres, stages, and generations, while remaining true to his roots. In the 1980s, Nino D'Angelo had the most famous blonde bob in Italy after Raffaella Carrà. Now his hair is grey, he now composes his music in a small studio, and he lives in Rome, surrounded by his large family. In 2024, his concert at the Maradona Stadium in Naples is a definitive farewell to the 1980s, and sharing the moment with him, behind the camera, is his son Toni. In Nino. 18 Days, Toni D'Angelo follows his father on this tour around Italy. As Toni questions Nino about who he was and how he rose to success, he also takes him back to his childhood, to San Pietro a Patierno in Naples where he grew up, to Casoria where Nino became a man, a singer, and a father, recording intimate moments as they try to reclaim lost time and reconnect.

In 2010 best friends Valerio De Simoni, Jamie Kenyon and Kris ‘Ted’ Davant embark on the adventure of a lifetime: a 50,000km quad bike journey across three continents to break a Guinness World Record while fundraising to combat global poverty. Valerio keeps a diary and they carry a video camera, vowing to document everything, no matter what. Starting in Istanbul, they cross Europe, travelling through Italy to Sicily and on to Tunisia, then traverse East Africa to Malawi. Embracing new cultures, making friends in unlikely places and creating memories against everchanging, exquisite landscapes, this is their rite of passage to adulthood, and they are intent on testing their limits. The road obliges, becoming tough and unforgiving, fraught with breakdowns, exhaustion, and personal tensions, until tragedy strikes and changes their lives forever. Now, 16 years later, this Australian/Italian co-produced documentary Sand Roads shares the intimate road trip footage alongside a rediscovered diary and contemporary reflections to tell their heartfelt story of friendship, adventure, loss, and courage.

A box office smash hit in Italy, Separate Beds is a clever romantic comedy starring Edoardo Leo (Somebody to Love IFF25) and Claudia Pandolfi (also in The Greater Good). Alessandra (Pandolfi) and Valerio (Leo) could not be more different. Alessandra is a free-spirited forty-year-old: independent, unconventional, socially committed, a staunch feminist, and allergic to cohabitation and long-term relationships. Valerio is an athletic man of the same age, but unlike Alessandra, he is rigid and conventional, leading a simple, disciplined, and rather ordinary life. Then one day, their paths cross. Their chemistry is undeniable, the passion is overwhelming, and they are instantly drawn to one another for a night of passion. Then to their surprise, they discover that they also work at the same school! However, while she is adored by her students, he is the strict principal keeping all the students in line. Amid school corridors and classrooms full of teenagers, will these two irreconcilable opposites be able or willing to learn how to coexist or will they go their separate ways?

From director Davide Minnella, this biting ensemble comedic drama explores the blurred lines between entertainment and voyeurism and our relationship with the truth, in public and private. The Morettis, a close-knit, affluent Roman family, featuring parents Carolina (Claudia Gerini) and Edoardo (Claudio Amendola), and their children Flavio, Prisca, and Micol, decide to participate in Fuori la Verità, a new game show offering a prize of one million euros. There is only one rule: answer always and only with the truth. But every answer provided hides a lie because no one is honest with who they are and secrets simmer just below the surface. Surrounding them in the TV studio are writers and producers led by the ruthless host Marina Roch (Claudia Pandolfi, Somebody to Love IFF25), who are sharp and determined to push the game beyond all limits for the sake of ratings. Amidst rising tension and unsettling realisations, the Morettis reach a crucial crossroads.

Written and directed by Margherita Spampinato in her feature film debut, this award-winning drama follows a young boy who discovers ancient mysteries, love and superstition when he is sent to spend his summer holidays with an aunt in Sicily. A lively, cheeky boy, Nico's (Marco Fiore) family lives a modern, technological and hyper-connected lifestyle. He is sent to spend the summer in Sicily, as a guest of an elderly aunt, Zia Gela (Aurora Quattrocchi), a religious and grumpy woman. She lives alone in the house where she was born and raised, a place untouched by technology, without wi-fi, and suspended in time. Nico's aunt welcomes him with annoyance, introducing him to her mysterious world inhabited by angels and spirits, dominated by a magical sense of religion and steeped in superstition. But, as modernity clashes with tradition and science with faith, a reluctant summer together transforms into a spellbinding adventure when Nico learns that the mysterious Sicilian house is full of secrets.

Direct from competing In Competition at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival, The Echo Chamber is a spellbinding romantic drama about time and memory starring Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), Luca Marinelli (The Eight Mountains IFF23) and Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise). Directed by Italian filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro and featuring a score composed by Academy Award® winner Clément Ducol (Emilia Pérez), this final work of Bernardo Bertolucci (The Conformist, 1900), who wrote the story and screenplay with Ilaria Bernardini (Beloved) and Ludovica Rampoldi (also directs A Brief Affair), follows a love story where the boundaries between presence and absence, care and dependence, desire and control blur until they dissolve. In an endless cycle of longing and separation, intimacy and distance, Leo (Marinelli) and Anne (Vikander) chase each other, but as they drift apart and search for their way back, they cannot let go nor break free. Meanwhile, songstress Ava’s (Sarandon) voice echoes across time, bringing to the surface that which endures and can no longer be held back.

Starring Jasmine Trinca (Diamonds IFF25) and Filippo Timi (In the Mirror IFF24), this provocative erotic thriller is loosely inspired by sensational true events in 1960s Italy involving high-society couple the Marquises Casati-Stampa, Camillo and Anna. On the scenic Pontine Islands archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea, amidst the wild beauty of an island owned by an immensely wealthy marquis (Timi), the enigmatic Elena’s (Trinca) arrival sparks a passionate love affair. Under the blinding sun, their relationship unfolds and soon complicity, transgression, sex and power begin to intertwine. Surrounded by decadent excess, voyeurism and clandestine affairs, erotic desire and games gradually spiral into obsession. In his third feature, director Andrea De Sica (Children of the Night) blends melodrama, thriller and noir eroticism to explore moral ambiguity, power and the boundary between love and violence. Featuring the stylings of modernist 1960s Italian cinema, but with contemporary themes, The Eyes of Others delivers an intense tale of passion and crime in the privileged classes.

Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Pollino National Park, spanning the regions of Calabria and Basilicata, The Greater Good is a bittersweet comedy directed, co-written by and starring Rocco Papaleo (Somebody to Love, IFF25). Tour guide Biagio (Papaleo) and his nephew lead an unusual hiking expedition into the Pollino massif, escorting four women nearing the end of their prison sentences. Organised by their workshop leader, the struggling actress Raffaella (Vanessa Scalera, Diamonds, IFF25), the group sets out in search of an ancient Bosnian pine, a symbol of resilience, but the trek soon becomes an unexpected journey of transformation. As they navigate the park's rugged yet awe-inspiring terrain, shared stories, songs, and moments of quiet reflection reveal old wounds, hidden hopes, and a deep longing to be seen and heard. Bound together by an unlikely solidarity, each step forward brings the group closer to healing and a renewed sense of belonging, until an unforeseen event forces them to confront the fragile progress they have made.

Starring Matilda De Angelis (Fuori IFF25) and Stefano Accorsi (Diamonds IFF25), The Lesson is a psychological thriller and legal drama from Stefano Mordini, based on the eponymous novel by Marco Franzoso, reflecting on truth, justice, duplicity and paranoia. Elisabetta (De Angelis) is a young and brilliant lawyer from Trieste. Having successfully defended the charismatic university professor Angelo (Accorsi) against charges of sexual assault in the past, she is contacted by him again to file a lawsuit against the university which, despite reinstating him, has relegated him to a marginal role. At the same time, a nightmare from her past comes back to haunt her: strange signs, elusive presences, and a constant sense of threat plant the suspicion that her former partner Daniele, a violent and obsessive man convicted of stalking, has resumed his torment. As the boundary between reality and imagination grows increasingly blurred, Elisabetta decides to uncover the truth. Soon the tension begins to rise to a crescendo that will ultimately force her to question everything she thought she knew.

From acclaimed director Isabel Coixet, Three Goodbyes is a critically acclaimed, bittersweet romantic drama starring Alba Rohrwacher (La chimera IFF23) and Elio Germano (Sicilian Letters IFF25). After what seems like a trivial argument, couple Marta (Rohrwacher) and Antonio (Germano) split up. Marta, a teacher, reacts by withdrawing into herself. The only symptom she cannot ignore is her sudden lack of appetite. Antonio, a rising chef, throws himself into his work. Yet despite being the one who ended things with Marta, he cannot get over her, and every corner of Rome brings back memories of her. Heartbroken by the separation and a future that will never be, but also with a glimpse of hope, for Marta everything changes: the taste of food, the music, the desire, and the certainty of the choices she has made. A life-affirming tale based on the bestselling final novel by Michela Murgia and shot on warm 35mm, Three Goodbyes is a must-see gem that explores relationships, love, and the preciousness of time.

Featuring stellar supporting performances from Margherita Buy and Laura Morante, this new comedy from Luca Lucini is a story of family, transformation, modern love, and self-discovery. Achille (Matteo Olivetti) and Stella (Martina Gatti) have been together since they were fifteen. Now at thirty, they have a son, a farm, and a mortgage. While Stella has never stopped dreaming, she has grown increasingly weary of Achille’s immature attitude. So, Stella decides to take a break and visit an old childhood friend in Rome. There, at a party, she meets Gil, a chef with a contagious smile, and is swept up in a passionate night with him. The next morning, guilt overwhelms her, and she returns home to Achille, where their passion rekindles. Soon, Stella discovers that the unthinkable has happened: she is pregnant by both men, an extremely rare occurrence of heteropaternal superfecundation. Caught in an emotional whirlwind, can Stella withstand judgment, nervous breakdowns, and gossipmongers, while searching for her own path?

From acclaimed director Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness), this riveting drama about imperfect families based on the novel Siracusa by Delia Ephron follows two middle-class couples in crisis on a trip to Morocco. Carlo (Stefano Accorsi) and Elisa (Miriam Leone) are a successful couple living in Rome. He is a university professor and novelist facing a creative block; she is a sharp-witted, internationally respected journalist. Their life alternates between intimacy and routine, but slowly a distance is growing between them. Seeking a change and hoping for renewal, they travel to Tangier, Morocco with their longtime friends Anna (Carolina Crescentini) and Paolo (Claudio Santamaria), and their thirteen-year-old daughter Vittoria, an intelligent and curious girl. Beneath the surface, tensions slowly emerge as unresolved dynamics and secrets challenge each of their long-held certainties. Then Blu arrives, Carlo’s twenty-three-year-old philosophy student, whose mysterious presence disrupts the fragile balance. In this sweltering Moroccan environment, their relationships are transformed as hidden truths are exposed.

In its early days, Kanna and Kakeru’s marriage was filled with love. Fifteen years later, the romance has gone cold. The pair sleep in separate rooms, barely speak and argue over the smallest matters. Divorce seems inevitable, until Kakeru is suddenly killed in an accident. Grieving a husband she had almost given up on, Kanna finds herself caught between sorrow and emptiness. Then one evening, she is inexplicably transported to the place where the couple first met, and finds Kakeru looking exactly as he did fifteen years earlier. Somehow, Kanna has travelled back in time to the moment just before their lives intertwined. As the past unfolds before her, Kanna rediscovers the love that first drew her and Kakeru together. She now faces an unthinkable choice: either allow history to repeat itself, with all its joy and heartbreak, or try to change Kakeru’s fate, and risk erasing the life they built together. Written by Cannes award winning screenwriter Yūji SAKAMOTO (Monster), Ayuko TSUKAHARA’s film is elevated by captivating chemistry between the leads Takako MATSU and Hokuto MATSUMURA. Blending fantasy with heartfelt drama, 1ST KISS is a poignant and emotionally rich time-travel romance that asks whether love can ever rewrite the past.

Set in the year 20XX, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL follows the story of Rita, a resourceful but isolated young woman volunteering to help rebuild Japan after the mysterious appearance of a massive alien flower known as “Darol.” When Darol unexpectedly erupts in a deadly event, unleashing monstrous creatures that decimate the population, Rita is caught in the destruction—and killed. But then she wakes up again. And again. Caught in an endless time loop, Rita must navigate the trauma and repetition of death until she crosses paths with Keiji, a shy young man trapped in the same cycle. Together, they fight to break free from the loop and find meaning in the chaos around them.

Open 24 hours a day, convenience stores offer the same products, the same greetings and the same fluorescent glow to anyone who walks through their doors. Amid a maze of power lines and grey apartment blocks, they exist as liminal spaces… simultaneously everywhere and nowhere. Sakai (Shota SOMETANI) has worked at AnyMart long enough to stop noticing any of it. He clocks in, recites the employee pledges, restocks the shelves and drifts through every shift like a ghost. His manager demands cheerful, frictionless service, but Sakai just cannot seem to master it. Then new recruit Ogawa (Erika KARATA) arrives, bringing with her a series of unsettling anomalies that send the store's familiar routines spiralling towards bloody, darkly comic extremes. Inspired by his father’s experiences as a convenience store owner, director Yusuke IWASAKI transforms one of Japan's most iconic and ubiquitous institutions into a chilling reflection on late capitalism, systemic conformity and the creeping horror of a life lived on autopilot. Sharp, wickedly funny and constantly off-kilter, this striking debut feature announces director Iwasaki as an exciting new voice in Japanese horror. Winner of the FIPRESCI Jury Prize at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, AnyMart is a wildly unpredictable film that continually subverts expectations.

Riko (Ko SHIBASAKI) is living a comfortable life as a writer, when a call from the police brings news of her estranged brother’s death. Childish, selfish and impossible to understand, he was someone Riko had long struggled to forgive. Now, full of resentment, she must travel to Tohoku to deal with the remnants of his life. Just as Riko expected, her brother’s apartment is a chaotic mess filled with unfinished business and reminders of the man who frustrated her for years. But as she clears it out alongside his ex-wife Kanako (Hikari MITSUSHIMA), teenage daughter Marina (Himeno AOYAMA) and young son Ryōichi (Yōta MIMOTO), Riko begins to uncover a different story. Beneath her brother’s flaws was a man facing a silent battle, struggling to ask for help and expressing love for his children in his own, imperfect language. Adapted from writer Riko MURAI’s acclaimed non-fiction essay, director Ryōta NAKANO’s (Her Love Boils Bathwater) work is a funny, tender and complex portrait of family, forgiveness and the complicated ways we remember those we lose.

From acclaimed Japanese animation production house STUDIO 4°C comes a wild romantic comedy and true “fish out of water” story. In a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist, ChaO follows Stephan, a mild-mannered office worker at a shipbuilding company, whose life is upended when he is suddenly proposed to by Chao — a princess from the mermaid kingdom. With no time to make sense of what’s happening, Stephan soon finds himself living with the unpredictable, wholehearted Chao. As her sincere love begins to break down his emotional barriers, an unexpected and touching romance begins to unfold.

After the loss of his best friend Poupelle (Masataka KUBOTA), young Lubicchi (Yuzuna NAGASE) finds himself transported to the Millennium Fortress – a mysterious realm that controls the flow of time. Guided by a smart-mouthed cat named Fluff (MEGUMI), Lubicchi seeks help from the rat queen, Hora (Anna TSUCHIYA), who reveals that the only way back to his own world is by repairing a grand clock at the heart of the fortress. Along the way, Lubbichi encounters Gus (Mitsuo YOSHIHARA), the clock tower's enigmatic keeper. Dismissed by many as a man who has lost himself to grief, only time will tell how Gus’ past holds the key to Lubicchi’s path home. Chimney Town: Frozen in Time expands the beloved world of Poupelle of Chimney Town (JFF 2021) with a captivating new chapter that promises to delight both returning fans and newcomers alike. Produced by STUDIO4ºC (Mind Game, Children of the Sea) and based on Akihiro NISHINO’s bestselling children’s book, the film continues the franchise’s signature blend of rich world-building and emotional storytelling, with a profound tale of love, loss and grief lying beneath its stunningly animated landscapes.

The year is 1965, and Japan has started to shift from domestic coal to imported oil. The change upends Iwaki City in Fukushima Prefecture, with the coal-mining town on the brink of industrial decline and soaring unemployment. In an effort to save the community, the local mining company launches an ambitious plan to build a lavish Hawaiian resort, complete with hot springs and hula girl dancers. Madoka HIRAYAMA (Yasuko MATSUYUKI), a down-on-her-luck dance instructor from Tokyo, is tasked with training the troupe in the lead up to the grand opening night. But as she quickly learns, shaping a group of small-town girls into polished hula performers is no easy feat! Based on true events, HULA GIRLS is the uplifting story of how the Joban Hawaiian Centre helped turn around Iwaki City’s economic woes during troubled times. Following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film was selected as Japan’s official submission for the 79th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Twenty years after its original release, LEE Sang-il's (Kokuho) beloved classic returns to the big screen with a digitally remastered edition, bringing this charming blend of comedy and come-of-age drama to fresh audiences.

Set a millennium prior to the absurdist cult favourite JUNK HEAD (JFF 2021), JUNK WORLD is the second chapter in director Takahide HORI’s envisioned trilogy. In a sprawling subterranean world where humans and freed clones coexist under a fragile peace, a research expedition investigates a mysterious dimensional anomaly. When a radical cult launches a violent attack, the mission spirals into chaos, unleashing forces that fracture reality itself. As rival factions become entangled in a web of alternate timelines and possible futures, a plucky robot named Robin must race to prevent the collapse of space-time, encountering a host of bizarre flora and fauna along the way. JUNK WORLD expands the extraordinary universe dreamt up by director HORI in JUNK HEAD, the cult phenomenon praised by Guillermo del Toro for its “deranged brilliance”. An interior designer with no formal filmmaking background, HORI taught himself stop motion animation at the age of 40 and painstakingly built the film’s astonishing underground world from scratch. Brought to life by a team of just six animators, JUNK WORLD features grotesque creatures, laugh-out-loud comedy and philosophical tangents, making for a wild, mind-bending cinematic experience.

Screening direct from its heralded World Premiere in Competition at the 2026 Venice Film Festival, Palme d’Or-winning director Hirokazu KOREEDA (Shoplifters, Like Father Like Son, The Truth) brings his signature humanism to LOOK BACK, a deeply moving adaptation of Tatsuki FUJIMOTO’s acclaimed 'one-shot' manga about the wild emotional swings of childhood friendship and the process of finding your voice through art. Nikaho City, northern Japan. Fourth-grader Fujino enjoys the admiration of her classmates, who delight in the four-panel comics she publishes in the school newspaper. But her confidence is shaken when Kyо̄moto – a reclusive classmate whose social anxiety keeps her from attending school – begins submitting work of extraordinary and superior skill. What starts as quiet rivalry soon evolves into a profound creative partnership, bound by a shared devotion to illustration. As they grow together – and eventually apart – their journey traces the fragile interplay of connection, ambition and regret... First published on Shonen Jump+ in 2021, Look Back sparked immediate buzz, recording 2.5 million views on its first day. It has sold over 900,000 copies in Japan and has been published in 37 countries worldwide with more than 750,000 copies sold internationally. KOREEDA’s adaptation follows Kiyotaka OSHIYAMA’s 2024 animated feature adaptation of the same name, a critical and box office success that earned a Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Animated Feature and a nomination for Best Animated Feature (Independent) at the Annie Awards.

Hailing from Naha City in Okinawa, Majimu Iha’s (Sairi ITO) name means "purehearted" in the local dialect, perfectly reflecting her gentle and earnest nature. A timid office worker raised in a family of traditional tofu makers, Majimu never imagines herself as an entrepreneur until her company launches an internal business competition. Inspired by evenings spent at her grandmother’s favourite bar, Majimu begins to wonder… why doesn’t Okinawa produce its own rum, using locally grown sugarcane? Despite having no experience under her belt, Majimu pitches the idea, and her growing passion challenges corporate scepticism, family expectations and island politics. What starts as a simple idea takes on a life of its own, as Majimu’s commitment to authenticity sparks controversy with upper management, while generational conflict between business owners on the island threatens to bring her dream to a halt. Based on the extraordinary true story of Yūko KINJO, who rose through the ranks from contract employee to company president, Purehearted is an uplifting underdog story about believing in yourself and the power of local pride. Showcasing Okinawa’s breathtaking landscape, rich culture and distinctive dialect, Kaoru HAGA’s directorial debut is a warm yet refreshing portrait of a side of Japan rarely seen on screen.

On a snowy winter night, a samurai duel ends in bloodshed when young Kikunosuke (Kento NAGAO) raises the severed head of his opponent. Witnessed by a shocked audience, Kikunosuke declares he has successfully avenged his father’s death, as crimson stains the pristine snow beneath his feet. News of the gruesome murder spreads far and wide, and 18 months later, a provincial samurai named Soichirō (Tasuku EMOTO) travels to Edo to investigate the truth behind the incident, ending up at the kabuki theatre where the murder took place. As he pieces together the events leading to that fateful night, more questions than answers begin to emerge. How could Kikunosuke, a kind-hearted man with no history of violence, commit such a brutal act? And why was he at the theatre in the first place? Based on Sayako NAGAI 's award-winning novel, Samurai Vengeance is brought to life by a stellar cast including Tasuku EMOTO, veteran actor Ken WATANABE (The Last Samurai), and Kento NAGAO, member of Naniwa Danshi. Director Takashi MINAMOTO masterfully intertwines a classic quest for retribution with the rich world of Edo period kabuki, crafting an engrossing mystery where performance and reality become inseparable.

Seiichi YABUSHITA (Go AYANO) is a devoted elementary school teacher in Fukuoka, admired for going above and beyond for his students. During a parent-teacher meeting with Ritsuko HIMURO (Ko SHIBASAKI), he raises concerns about her son’s behaviour in class. Days later, Ritsuko files a complaint accusing Yabushita of physical abuse against her child. When a journalist publishes the story using Yabushita’s full name, public outrage spreads like wildfire. Branded the "homicidal teacher”, he becomes one of the most reviled men in Japan almost overnight. As Yabushita’s career, reputation and family life are shattered, a legal team of over 550 people mobilises in support of Ritsuko. However, there is more to the story than meets the eye. Based on journalist Masumi FUKUDA’s investigation into the real Fukuoka case, Sham marks director Takashi MIIKE’s first adaptation of a true story, and is a striking departure from the transgressive genre works that made him internationally famous. Anchored by a deeply affecting performance from Go AYANO, this taut and unsparing courtroom drama employs a Rashōmon-style structure to question whether the truth can ever prevail once public opinion has already delivered its verdict.

When patrol officers Sara KODA (Sairi ITO) and Taito Yabuki (Ryōta BANDO) arrest a drunken drifter for vandalism, they expect a routine night on the streets of Tokyo. Instead, the man, Tagosaku SUZUKI (Jirō SATO), claims to possess a sixth sense and calmly predicts that a bomb will explode in Akihabara within the hour. The detectives dismiss him… until the bomb detonates exactly as he foretold. With three more explosions looming, one every hour, the interrogation room becomes Suzuki’s twisted playground. Young detective Isao TODOROKI (Shōta SOMETANI) and veteran negotiator Teruji KIYOMIYA (Atsurō WATABE) are drawn into a tense battle of wits, as the police scramble across Tokyo to prevent catastrophe. But Suzuki refuses to provide straight answers, taunting investigators with cryptic riddles while appearing to revel in their growing desperation. As the clock counts down, the line between psychic, suspect and manipulator becomes increasingly blurred. Based on Katsuhiro GO's acclaimed novel, SUZUKI=BAKUDAN is a gripping, electrifying thriller that keeps audiences guessing until its final moments. Anchored by a stellar ensemble cast, the film cements director Akira NAGAI as a bold new voice in Japanese genre cinema.

High school is going swimmingly for student Miko YOTSUYA (Nanoka HARA), except for one small detail... she has the unsettling ability to see spirits! Convinced that acknowledging them would put her in danger, Miko pretends not to see the ghosts with all her might, hoping they never discover her supernatural skills. She carries on going to school, doing her homework and laughing with her best friend Hana (Rinka KUMADA) as she tries to maintain the façade of a perfectly normal life. But when the mysterious substitute teacher Tono (Taiga KYOMOTO) arrives at school accompanied by a sinister presence, Hana starts acting dangerously out of character, and Miko can no longer ignore the malevolent forces closing in around her. Based on Tomoki IZUMI’s beloved manga series, Yoshihiro NAKAMURA's unique take on the J-horror genre promises warmth, humour and spine-tingling shenanigans!

In his first-ever period film, renowned director Kiyoshi KUROSAWA (Cure, Tokyo Sonata) delivers the majestic historical thriller THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER. A compelling fusion of samurai spectacle and whodunnit intrigue, the story follows a samurai lord drawn into a series of shadowy murders within his own castle walls in feudal Japan. The year is 1578, and Lord Murashige ARAKI (Masahiro MOTOKI) is barricaded inside his fortress in Settsu Province as the forces of powerful rival warlord Oda close in. When Oda’s brilliant strategist Kanbei KURODA (Masaki SUDA) arrives as an envoy bearing a warning, an enraged Murashige detains him instead of ordering his execution, keeping the prisoner as a valuable yet dangerous pawn. But when an inexplicable murder rocks the castle, Murashige is forced into an uneasy alliance with his captive, whose razor-sharp intellect may be the key to solving the crime and exposing a hidden traitor before the court tears itself apart… Adapted from the award-winning novel by Honobu YONEZAWA, THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER is a richly atmospheric, tightly wound thriller that seamlessly melds the samurai and detective genres. Draws on the contemplative simplicity of classic mid-century Japanese cinema, director KUROSAWA delivers an elegant and probing portrait of power, honour and survival under pressure.

Film veteran Yōji YAMADA returns with his 91st feature, a moving reflection on memory, compassion and the power of human connection. Kōji USAMI (Takuya KIMURA) is a taxi driver who works tirelessly to keep his family afloat, while mounting financial pressures and his daughter’s tuition fees weigh heavily on his mind. One morning he is hired by 85-year-old Sumire TAKANO (Chieko BAISHO) who is beginning the long journey from Tokyo to a nursing home in Kanagawa. Initially reserved with one another, the pair gradually connect as Sumire asks Kōji to make a series of detours— small pilgrimages throughout Tokyo to farewell the city she once knew. As Sumire shares memories of a life marked by war, loss and domestic hardship, Kōji listens with quiet attention, and neither will be left unchanged by the time they arrive at their destination. A remake of the acclaimed French-Belgian drama Driving Madeleine, master Yōji YAMADA lends a warm and deeply humanistic touch to this tender road movie about the transformative power of a stranger’s kindness. Chieko BAISHO brings luminous depth to Sumire's story of resilience and fierce independence, earning the 2026 Japan Academy Prize for Best Actress six decades into her extraordinary career.

Resoundingly well-received at Cannes' Directors' Fortnight, writer-director Kōhei KADOWAKI's ravishing animated feature follows two boys whose close-knit childhood friendship is shattered by a single careless moment - one that changes the course of their lives. In a quiet Japanese town, awkward third-grader Tsubasa (Ryōta BANDO) struggles to connect with his classmates, until the gregarious Gyōtarō (Amane OKAYAMA) takes him under his wing. The two quickly become inseparable. But an unforeseen event drives a wedge between them and destabilises the whole classroom's social order, setting off consequences that trail both boys through adolescence and well into adulthood. Rendered in a dreamlike blend of rotoscoped and hand-drawn 2D animation, KADOWAKI's remarkable directorial debut is a bittersweet meditation on lost innocence and the fickleness of memory. Beautifully crafted and viscerally impactful, WE ARE ALIENS is a testament to animation's rare capacity to hold beauty and heartbreak in the same frame.

In this iconic 1997 Australian classic, the blue collar Kerrigan home is filled with love as well as pride in their modest lifestyle, but their happiness is threatened when developers attempt the compulsory acquisition of their house to expand the neighbouring airport.

Irish singer-songwriter BRENDAN (Declan O’Rourke) arrives in the coastal town of Albany, Western Australia, for the final leg of his Australian solo tour. Haunted by his brother’s recent death, Brendan is a man adrift, touring half-heartedly and emotionally retreating. With 5 days off before his next show, Brendan finds himself at a precipice of unravelling further until he meets SARAH (Chloe Hurst). She is a quietly resilient, elusively charming and grounded local woman with her own painful history. Their connection is immediate, and unfolds over songs, quiet conversations, and moments of shared loss. And wine. Set against the raw beauty of regional Western Australia, and underscored by a crucial series of original songs by Declan O’Rourke, ALMOST WITH YOU is a portrait of two people tentatively opening up to the possibility of loving again.

CHASING MILLIONS is a comedy drama heist film inspired by the £26 million pound robbery of the Northern Bank in Belfast, the biggest bank robbery in British history.  DIANA (Madeleine Madden), an Australian police detective who is on family business in Belfast at the same time, seizes the opportunity to investigate the biggest crime of her career.  Diana is teamed with CRAYFORD (Christopher Ecclestone), a cynical, veteran Northern Irish police detective who does not want her help.  Set in 2004, Northern Ireland has been at peace for six years, but old enmities, and mistrust remain. Diana is increasingly frustrated as the case takes one more bizarre turn after another. As Diana and Detective Crayford become increasingly isolated in this seemingly impossible investigation, they learn to grudgingly respect each other.  When all seems lost, Diana comes up with an ingenious plan which could save the day.

A tender, funny, and quietly radical romantic comedy. GIRLS & BOYS tells the story of rugby player Jace meeting aspiring filmmaker Charlie at a college party. Both attend Trinity, but their worlds couldn’t be more different—Charlie is trans, her circle full of queer artists and creatives, while Jace sticks with the more straight-laced camaraderie of his rugby teammates. When the party is suddenly shut down by the police, the two find themselves alone in the streets of nighttime Dublin. As they wander the city, sharing secrets, dreams, and fears about life after college, a surprising revelation from their shared past threatens to upend their fragile connection. Jace must confront not only his past, but the social identity he’s long taken for granted. GIRLS & BOYS features breakout performances from newcomers Liath Hannon and Adam Lunnon-Collery.

Four estranged siblings return to their crumbling family home in the West of Ireland after the death of their father where they attempt to navigate inheritance, grief and long-buried grudges. But their time together unearths far more than expected – including secrets that just might shatter what little bond remains between them. Blending razor-sharp dialogue with raw emotional depth, the comedy drama is anchored by powerful performances from Carolyn Bracken (Oddity, The Gone, You are Not my Mother), Lalor Roddy (That They May Face the Rising Sun), John Connors (Cardboard Gangsters, Love/Hate) and Mary Murray (Love/Hate), with an original score by acclaimed Irish composer Anna Mullarkey and music from John Francis Flynn.

A coming-of-age film set in Derry against the backdrop of The Troubles and an all powerful Catholic Church. Impressionable Irish teen Goretti Friel (Emer McCourt) begins a romance with an older boy, Ciarán (Michael Liebman). In love but naïve about such practical concerns as birth control, the devoutly Roman Catholic Goretti ends up with an unwanted pregnancy. When Ciarán is jailed by the British army, and shows little desire from prison to uphold his parental responsibilities, the pressures of unanticipated motherhood begin to unravel the 15-year-old teen's emotional stability. Features the acting debut of a very youthful Sinéad O’Connor who also wrote the music. The print of HUSH-A-BYE BABY was restored by the Irish Film Institute in 2025 for a retrospective of Margo Harkin’s work.

The Irish Film Festival will present a dedicated session of Irish-Australian short films as part of the festival’s inaugural Short Film Competition in Sydney and Melbourne. This collection showcases stories shaped by the interweaving of Irish and Australian culture, through their producers, directors, actors, or themes. From Ireland, we have black comedy in Room for More, where tenants fight over possession of a rented house, music video from Sydney-based rapper, Aedan, a gentle queer love story in Flirt and an intergenerational getting of wisdom in Castlines, and four more short films. It has long been a focus of the Irish Film Festival to nurture Irish creativity especially in Australia and among the global diaspora. Spanning comedy, LGBTQ, documentary, Irish-language and music, the program highlights a new generation of Irish-Australian filmmakers expressing their heritage in cinematic terms. The winners will be announced at the Sydney screening.

The late Manchán Magan reveals the profound knowledge and wisdom contained in the Irish landscape and myths and reveals how it shapes our view on the world. Filmed over four seasons, the film unfolds from Winter Solstice to Bealtaine through Reek Sunday to Samhain – exploring how the stories and myths associated with the rivers, mountains and lands around us are crucial to unlocking aspects of how we need to rebuild our relationship with nature today. Along his visually breathtaking journey, he meets respected archaeologists, mythologists, writers and shamans that offer different perspectives on how our ancestors related to the land and landscape around them.   He reflects on how this wisdom can help us rebuild our relationship with nature today. But it also becomes an unexpectedly personal story as Manchán realises that there is a serious illness within himself that makes him see this these ancient sites and beliefs in a whole new light.

Haunted by a personal tragedy, home care worker, SHOO (Clare Monnelly, Small Things Like These), is sent to a remote village to care for the old and deeply troubled PEIG (Bríd Ní Neachtain) who fears that the house is infested with the Sídhe – sinister fairies who, she believes, abducted her decades before. As the two women develop a strangely deep connection, Shoo is consumed by the old woman’s paranoia, rituals, and superstitions, eventually confronting the horrors from her own past. An unnerving and spine tingling folk horror tale from Ireland.

TESTIMONY is a feature documentary that tells a story of an extraordinary group of women, supported by the activist organisation Justice for Magdalenes, whose battle to hold the Irish government accountable for the abuses of the Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Home institutions and forced family separation, takes them all the way to the United Nations. The Magdalene Laundries, operated by religious orders with state complicity, imprisoned and dehumanised women under the guise of moral rehabilitation. Survivors endured forced labour, physical and emotional abuse, and the lifelong stigma of being labelled "fallen." The cruelty extended into Mother and Baby Homes, where unwed mothers were coerced into surrendering their children for adoption—many of these separations executed in secrecy and without consent. These homes also subjected residents to horrifying practices, including vaccine trials and human trafficking. Amidst this struggle, TESTIMONY finds hope and resilience, providing survivors with long-overdue recognition, offering a moment of healing as they share their stories and reclaim their narratives.

PEGGY (Eleanor O’Brien) has been running the family pub in Connemara since the death of her parents. She is fighting her sister and her brothers who want to sell the pub and move out. Just as things are coming to a head, a body is found under the receding waters of the nearby lake. It is generally assumed to be a forgotten grave from the old cemetery, part of the ghost village located at the bottom of the lake and Detective FRANK RYAN (Moe Dunford) is sent from Dublin to investigate. During this hot, dry weekend in the summer of 1975, Detective Ryan's investigation will not only reveal the terrible truth behind the dead woman's story, but will also reveal the deepest secrets of the Casey family.

Ireland, 1924. Seamus Og MacGrianna (Dominic Cooper) is a lighthouse keeper whose elaborate rituals keep him rooted in the past – tending the garden of the house where he used to live and rowing out to sea every morning, hoping to hear the call of the fabled Each-Uisce (a shape shifting water-horse known for drowning men). But Seamus’ carefully constructed world is blown wide open by three people who change the course of his life forever: Edith (Sarah Gadon), the mysterious American war widow, whose quest for closure ignites something in him; Father MacGabhann (Aidan Quinn), the hard-line priest who makes it his mission to start a battle of wills with a man who has nothing to lose; and Maire (Sarah Bolger), the housekeeper whose unconditional love can no longer protect him from himself.

From their home in the Donegal Gaeltacht, gifted fiddle player Shóna McAnally (Megan Nic Fhionnghaile) and her talented little brother Mickey take to the road with a troupe of wandering musicians, on a cross-country journey of adventure, romance and musical exploration on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Coast. Living in Donegal, Shona has had a gutful of her mum and the straitjacketed Irish traditional music scene she grew up in. When a mysterious svengali, (Aidan Gillen) arrives on the scene with a vanful of musical teenage rebels, Shóna joins the merry pranksters for a magical mystery tour along the Wild Atlantic Way. As the little gang of raving troubadours make their merry way around Ireland, Shóna seeks to find romance and make her peace with her real (and her musical) family.

In the isolated beauty of Cork and Kerry, JEN (Natasha O’Keeffe) works as a conservation ranger in the same woods where, years ago, her younger sister lost her life in a tragic accident. The sudden return of OSCAR (Aaron McCusker), a boyfriend from her distant past, stirs memories long buried, forcing her to confront their shared history. As a poacher begins leaving violent traces across the land she protects, the line between past and present starts to blur and Jen has to face what's been haunting her all along. WHITETAIL is a nail-biting psychological thriller directed by Dutch filmmaker Nanouk Leopold.

Exploring the lives of stray cats in Athens and beyond, ACROPOLIS CATS AND OTHER WONDROUS ANIMALS examines the tenderness and tragedies in human-animal relationships. It reflects on love, cruelty, compassion, and what we can learn about freedom in a rapidly changing world.

Magical realism weaves its way through A SPARTAN DREAM, a romantic-adventure story (c.1987) about an atypical Greek-American ancient history buff sent to his ancestral village in Greece to evict relatives from a family home.

Elias dreams of building a boat from scrap metal, chasing the shadow of his sailor father's legacy. But as his creation crumbles, so does the myth he's built around himself-forcing him to confront the fragile truth of who he really is.

A mountain hike, a secret bear, an unexpected betrayal, and a chav party in the woods will forever change Argyro's relation with her best friend.

How far would you go for friendship? Best Friends Forever is a contemporary Greek comedy about friendship and the choices we make when we try to help the people around us, even when that means things might spiral out of control. A wedding goes off the rails before it even begins, a well-meaning favor turns into a trip to Crete filled with misunderstandings and family tensions, and a series of “innocent” errands entangle people and relationships, setting off a chain of unpredictable, laugh-out-loud, and heartfelt situations. How far would you really go for your friends? What would you be willing to risk to get them out of a difficult situation? And how many unexpected turns could follow from simply trying to help? As the stories unfold, Best Friends Forever raises questions we have all faced, allowing audiences to recognize themselves — and their own group of friends — through characters and situations that feel instantly familiar. The film follows parallel stories of friendship that converge around a wedding completely out of control, turning the best intentions into chaos, misunderstandings and ultimately plenty of laughter and emotion.

To keep his home out of a loan shark's clutches, a businessman sets a seemingly flawless plan in motion - and a sequence of events that will ultimately lead to an unthinkable family tragedy.

The documentary “Cavo Paradiso Mykonos – 30 Years of History” delves into the rich history of the legendary Mykonos club, tracing its journey from humble beginnings to its global recognition today as one of the world’s leading super clubs. This remarkable evolution has been shaped by the hard work, vision, and dedication of everyone who has contributed to the club’s success over the past three decades. The production of this unique documentary took two years to complete and offers a captivating journey filled with memories, iconic moments, and untold stories, as narrated by the owners, promoters, collaborators, and international superstar DJs who have played a key role in the history of Cavo Paradiso.

Maria, who lives on an island, discovers she is pregnant when she visits her religious sister in Athens for their mother's memorial service. The unexpected pregnancy at forty and an unexpected encounter make her realize that only by coming to terms with her choices can she "laugh, no matter what the world says.

In contemporary Athens, Electra and Orestes are accused of murdering their mother. But in a world where justice is no longer in the hands of gods but fragile humans, truth becomes impossible to piece together. Everyone sees in the two siblings a reflection of their own fears, guilt, and desires.

Athens, 2013. Elena, a Romanian single mother, works the night shift cleaning metro stations. When she is unjustly fired, her dormant activist spirit reignites, and she joins forces with Yota, a charismatic lawyer, to take on her corrupt employers. Their fight for justice sparks romance but also a dangerous confrontation, forcing Elena to choose between justice and her deep need to belong.

After his father is killed in a hunting accident, Lazarus grows up in a remote village in Epirus, shaped by loss, love and migration across generations.

Historic screening of the film "Eva" (1953) by Greece’s first female director Maria Plyta. A historically significant screening will take place in the official Cannes Classics programme at the Cannes Film Festival. The 1953 film Eva by Maria Plyta, the first female director in the history of Greek cinema, will be presented in the Cannes Classics section, which features masterpieces of world cinema in newly restored prints. This is the first time a restored Greek film has been included in this section at Cannes. The film had previously been screened, before its restoration, as part of a tribute to Maria Plyta at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in November 2022. Eva tells the story of a married woman who, during her summer holidays, meets a young man and begins a brief romantic relationship with him, provoking her husband’s anger and the disapproval of the island’s close-knit community. The screenplay was written by Andreas Lambrinos and the music by Mikis Theodorakis (marking his debut film score). The cast includes Nina Sgouridou, Alekos Alexandrakis, Manos Katrakis, Aliki Georgouli and Dinos Iliopoulos. Maria Plyta, the first Greek female director, was born in Thessaloniki in 1915 and passed away in 2006. Initially involved in literature, she took her first steps in film production during the late 1940s, working on films by Alekos Sakellarios and Giorgos Tzavellas. In 1950, she made her directorial debut with The Engagement (T' arravoniasmata), one of the most notable Greek folk dramas of the era, featuring set designs by Yannis Tsarouchis. With 17 films to her credit, Maria Plyta is recognized as a pioneering filmmaker who helped shape Greek cinema. The restoration of the film Eva was carried out by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project and Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, in association with Alatas Films and Professor Betty-Despoina Kaklamanidou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), with the support of the Greek Film Archive. The project was made possible through funding from the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation. The restoration journey was an initiative by Prof. Kaklamanidou as part of a systematic research effort into Maria Plyta’s work since 2021. It runs alongside the current research program "Plyta’s Unknown Cinema" (PUC, 2025-2028), funded by the H.F.R.I. (Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation) which is directed by the Professor herself. Notably, filming and interviews with key figures and international film institution executives will take place during the Cannes Film Festival for the needs of a documentary. "The selection of Eva by Cannes Classics represents the ultimate vindication for Maria Plyta, a great creator who remained in the shadows of historiography for decades. With this work, we are redressing a long-standing gendered historiographical bias and organically integrating Maria Plyta into the Canon of European cinema," notes Prof. Kaklamanidou.

FEMALE re-frames the myth and legacy of Aliki Vougiouklaki, the most iconic actress in modern Greek history. Adored by millions and often compared to Marilyn Monroe, Aliki embodied empowerment while remaining confined by the conservative culture that both idolized and controlled her. The film adopts a bold narrative approach: three performers portray Aliki, each portraying a different aspect of her identity and myth. Among them is an actress discovered at Athens' leading drag stage, where her uncanny performance of Aliki had already captivated audiences. Through this interplay of bodies and perspectives, the film exposes Aliki's contradictions: glamorous yet vulnerable, liberated yet constrained, beloved yet profoundly alone. Set against the shifting backdrop of post-war Greece and resonating into the present, FEMALE is both intimate character study and cultural excavation; a cinematic meditation on celebrity, female identity, and the timeless tension between self and persona.

Six tragicomic stories of obsession and madness, centered on the paradox of love.

For the first time, three short comedy films come together in a single theatrical release. Greece 3.0 is a fresh cinematic project that brings three distinct stories into one shared big-screen experience: polyphonic, contemporary, and sharply in tune with the world we live in today. Through three different directorial voices, 100 Years Ahead, Planet Balcony, and Dust Thou Art, and Unto Dust Shalt Thou Return explore today’s Greece with humour, absurdity and sharp social observation, offering three original perspectives on everyday life.

Seen through a chicken's eyes, Hen follows an escapee to a decaying Greek seaside restaurant, protecting her eggs whilst observing the complexity of human lives.

It's summer, and 11-year-old Iris is running wild through the streets with her older friend Danae when she learns her estranged father, Aris, is back in town for his own father's funeral.

When a Syrian doctor is forced to flee Aleppo with her young daughter, one desperate choice sets off a chain of events that ripples across borders and pulls four strangers into the same storm. A smuggler trying to save his son. A soldier wrestling with his conscience. A poet searching for home. A Greek coast guard captain caught between duty and mercy. Their paths collide on one night in the Mediterranean, where survival is uncertain and humanity is revealed in its rawest form. I Was a Stranger is a tense, deeply human story about the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love.

On a cold November night, three couples face pivotal moments in their relationships. Margarita and Spyros reunite after a long silence following their breakup. Mary and Petros confront growing tensions and unresolved issues. Nina and Stelios, newly acquainted, spend the night exploring the city and their own uncertainties.

From internationally acclaimed filmmaker Yannis Smaragdis, KAPODISTRIAS (THE GOVERNOR) is a sweeping historical epic that brings to life one of Greece’s most defining figures. At its centre is Ioannis Kapodistrias, a visionary diplomat and the first Governor of modern Greece, called upon to lead a newly independent nation through a fragile and uncertain beginning. As he works to unify a divided country, he faces political resistance, personal sacrifice and the immense weight of shaping a national identity. Epic in scale and grounded in human conviction, KAPODISTRIAS is a powerful portrait of leadership, faith and legacy, capturing the life of a man whose ideals helped define a nation

Lena is a 20 year old woman who lives in Athens, works at a local supermarket and lives with her family. What if keeping her baby is the only way to keep her job?

Penniless at the end of another tourist season, Panos and Jimmy grasp the chance for an easy buck aboard Captain Nico’s tired sailboat. As she navigates the east Aegean in search of sunken treasure, their secret aspirations quickly unravel. Suspicion, greed and the brutality of Greece’s sea border will force a change of course for this motley crew

Nancy and Georgina inherit a caravan and convert it into a women's brothel. Joined by a drifter, they launch Madonna, a humorous, defiant road venture celebrating freedom.

Mahi, an 80-years old woman, is a former military officer who underwent gender reassignment and became a singer. 50 years later, she returns from Germany to Greece to reconnect with her daughter in order to rebuild their relationship.

A Filipino domestic worker caring for an elderly couple in a Cypriot village uncovers buried tensions and unspoken histories, trapped between duty and intimacy

Set in contemporary Athens, Maya and Samar tells the story of two young women from conflicting cultures whose brief yet torrid affair endangers the life of one, while propelling the other to instant online fame.

In a village in the Greek countryside, Takis prepares the opening of his new butcher shop. The day before, his son Pavlos kills their neighbour who claims part of their land. The only witness is Christos, a young man from Albania, who has worked for Takis since his childhood. Takis has to decide who will take the responsibility.

A reclusive scientist in Athens joins young activists interested in his controversial research on electromagnetic fields. As their movement grows, personal conflicts threaten to tear their community apart.

An 18-year-old judo athlete from a remote Greek island moves to Athens chasing her Olympic dream, only to face love, betrayal, and the painful truths that could break her-or make her stronger.

A stubborn unemployed man, who would rather starve to death than betray his principles, ends up as the leader of a carefree gang that lives by sneaking into receptions to eat for free.

A young woman gives birth to a deformed baby. She now has to deal with two parallel realities.

An Athenian janitor's pursuit of a better future for his son turns into a bittersweet satire on ambition, illusion and the price of the 'Greek Dream'.

The story of Saint Paisios, or else known as Arsenios Eznepidis. After being uprooted from Farasa of Cappadocia as refugees, the family of young Arsenios settles in Konitsa, Epirus where he grows up with his mother and grandmother, who inherit to him their deep faith in Christ as well as their love for all people. Fast forward to many years later, his time in Mounth Athos and his move to Filotheos monastery play a catalytic role in his religious journey. Eventually, he sends a photograph of himself to his mother, bidding her farewell and telling her that from then on the Virgin Mary will be his mother. He no longer signs using the name Arsenios, but Paisios.

Photographer Renée Revah retraces the route from Thessaloniki, where her ancestors were deported, to Auschwitz and Birkenau, confronting her genealogical trauma and mentally conversing with her grandfather while seeking to heal.

Three strangers meet through an app for emotional connection, blurring the line between virtual desire and real intimacy.

Two old friends and music lovers who travel to a quiet village in the mountains of the Peloponnese to record an improvised album. Surrounded by nature, they reconnect through music, but their plans take a mysterious turn when they hear a strange sound. As they try to capture the sound in their recordings, they find themselves caught in a mystery.

The story is set in the late 1970s somewhere in the Mediterranean, where Marcos Timoleon, an Aristotle Onassis-like tycoon, is throwing a lavish, extravagant birthday party for Sofia, his daughter and sole heiress, on his exclusive private island. The party is a perfect excuse for various people in his life to approach him with their own agendas. But Marcos, who is used to ruthlessly controlling everything and everyone around him at whatever cost, is also secretly plotting a big decision on his daughter’s behalf. Sofia, however, has come to share some important news of her own. As guests start pouring in and night falls, the party grows rowdier and more decadent, while the inevitable clash between Marcos and Sofia reaches a heartbreaking climax.

The movie follows an LGBTQI+ film crew making a documentary about an explosion that killed 70 senior citizens at an elderly home. One of the three main suspects carried out a suicide mission, taking everyone else with them. But which one?

Convinced that ancient pottery may hold traces of recorded sound, archaeologist Sofia travels to a remote Greek island to test her theory with Potter, an eccentric artist who doubts her idea.

Struggling filmmaker Stavros loses his teaching job just as his 19-year-old daughter moves in with him. While in paternal distress, he rejects a well-paid soap opera job and pours his soul into a book about the deeper meaning of life—only to fall prey to a shady publisher. Penniless, he drifts through the city’s margins, where he finds an unlikely connection with a Moldovan sex worker—once a philosophy student—who sees value in his words. In ways he never expected, she may prove to be his salvation.

Makis comes from the modern world. Maria lives in a forgotten one. What is "progress" for him, is a threat for her. A car accident brings them closer. The orgasmic taste of Nuggets even closer. But it takes much more to be together. A romantic comedy by Haris Raftogiannis.

A portrait of Athens told through the lives of three veteran taxi drivers who move through the city as quiet dreamers. Konstantinos is approaching retirement after half a century behind the wheel.

Margo, an isolated singer-songwriter, confronts her fears and past during her 40th birthday party, finding unexpected moments that lead her toward a new chapter in life.

In a futuristic City-building where time lops endlessly, a man and a women meet again and again, reliving love, rebellion, and the fragile hope of breaking free.

A 75-year-old diver who raises toxic shipwrecks from a polluted seabed confronts a buried secret from his past when a doomed vessel resurfaces, turning his mission into a journey through memory, guilt, and the possibility of redemption.

In a once-thriving mining town, a geologist and two locals form a fragile yet deep bond as they confront the lingering weight of history and search for renewal amid the scars of the past.

When Iosif and Vicky visit his long-abandoned family house, Iosif meets Antonis, a quiet drifter, and a subtle bond begins to form between them

When Iosif and Vicky visit his long-abandoned family house, Iosif meets Antonis, a quiet drifter, and a subtle bond begins to form between them.

Olivia Colman (The Favourite) and Alexander Skarsgård (The Northman) deliver wildly funny and wonderfully unexpected performances in WICKER, a fantastical and deliciously raunchy romantic comedy adapted from Ursula Wills-Jones’ acclaimed short story. In a remote seaside village bound by tradition and small-minded convention, Fisherwoman (Colman) is relentlessly ridiculed for her single, unloved status. Fed up with her stuffy neighbours, she commissions the local Basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) to weave her the perfect husband from wicker. When her creation arrives beyond even her wildest dreams, their unconventional romance sends shockwaves through the village. Jealousies flare, passions ignite and the increasingly unhinged townspeople turn against the unlikely couple. This visually sumptuous celebration of desire, individuality and finding love in the most unexpected form, is brought spectacularly to life through breathtaking cinematography from Academy Award winner Lol Crawley (The Brutalist), extraordinary visual effects from Joe Dunckley (Avatar) and Wētā Workshop. Featuring an ensemble cast that embraces every glorious absurdity, WICKER is bold, strange, romantic and deeply human.