The heat will be turned up as the 2026 HSBC Spanish & Latin American Film Festival arrives back for its 29th year in Australia this winter with a carefully selected line up of over thirty films from Spain, Colombia, Argentina and more, showing at Palace Cinemas around Australia this June - July. This year’s diverse program takes audiences on a season of cinematic escapes - from culinary adventures in Peru and São Paulo to gripping thrillers, passionate Spanish romances, documentaries tracing salsa’s New York origins, and even an uplifting true story about the pioneering girls who changed the course of women’s football in Spain.

Break through the pane and you can open the window within. The debut feature film from A24’s youngest up and coming director, twenty-year-old Kane Parsons, BACKROOMS is a psychological horror that will have you questioning those in-between places in everyday life. Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a depressed and misanthropic furniture store owner feeling stuck in the simplicity of his life, one night discovers a doorway in his store that transports him to the haunting and unending backrooms. After sharing his discovery with his therapist Mary (Renate Reinsve), Clark sets out to prove their existence, unaware of the dangers within. Inspired by the viral YouTube short films Parsons created in his teens under the alias Kane Pixels, The Backrooms (Found Footage) and with gripping performances from Oscar winner Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Oscar nominee Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), BACKROOMS is an unnerving exploration of loneliness, that will make you question how far someone will go to prove that they’re right. Get lost in the Backrooms and see how far they go.

From acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh, THE CHRISTOPHERS is a sharp, darkly comic exploration of art, legacy and deception, led by Golden Globe winner Ian McKellen and Emmy winner Michaela Coel. At its centre is Julian Sklar (McKellen), a once celebrated painter now living in reclusion, whose unfinished works become the focus of a covert scheme orchestrated by his estranged children. Hoping to secure their inheritance, they enlist Lori (Coel), a skilled art restorer, to quietly complete the paintings in his distinctive style, blurring the line between preservation and imitation. What begins as an act of forgery gradually unfolds into something more intricate, as Julian and Lori enter a shifting battle of intellect and influence. As their dynamic deepens, questions of authorship, authenticity and ownership come to the fore, revealing the uneasy relationship between artistic creation and commercial value. Wry, intimate and layered, THE CHRISTOPHERS offers a fascinating meditation on how art is created, valued and ultimately claimed, where legacy is as contested as the work itself.

Be careful what you wish for. From writer-director Curry Barker, comes the chilling horror-thriller OBSESSION, a cynical and twisted love story that dives head deep into the horror of what being with someone by any means necessary could do to you. After breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush Nikki's (Inde Navarrette) heart, Bear (Michael Johnston) a young hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for. When Nikki quickly becomes increasingly obsessed with him to a frightening and violent degree, Bear soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price. With a standout, chaotic and unnerving lead performance from Navarette and an ingenious skewering of relationship dynamics, OBSESSION is a sharp, unnerving, and surprisingly funny descent into the dangers of wanting to be loved a little too much.

If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? From legendary three-time Academy Award winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg, comes the gripping sci-fi thriller DISCLOSURE DAY. When cybersecurity expert (Golden Globe winner Josh O’Connor) and meteorologist (Academy Award nominee Emily Blunt) discover proof of alien life simultaneously, they try to reveal the truth to the world all at once, while facing intense government secrecy. Featuring an all-star ensemble cast, including Academy Award winner Colin Firth, Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo, Wyatt Russell and Eve Hewson. Returning to the sci-fi genre over 40 years on from his critically acclaimed works, E.T the Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg weaves a chilling story of control, knowledge and power in DISCLOSURE DAY, making audiences question if we are truly alone in this universe and what we would do if we found out we weren’t.

Everybody wants this. Nearly twenty years after first strutting onto the cultural runway, the icons of The Devil Wears Prada return for the long-awaited sequel, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci slip back into their impeccably styled roles as Miranda, Andy, Emily, and Nigel, transporting audiences to the glamourous couture chaos of New York City from the glossy corridors of Runway Magazine to the fast-paced sidewalks that double as the city’s unofficial catwalk. The sequel stitches together the original creative team - director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna - reuniting them with the film’s core cast while unveiling a fresh collection of star-studded talent including, Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, B. J. Novak, and Conrad Ricamora. Secure your tickets now. That's all...

Returning to cinemas for the first time in over a decade, Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth II in the Olivier and Tony Award-winning hit production, directed by Stephen Daldry. For 60 years, Queen Elizabeth II met with each of her 12 prime ministers in a private weekly meeting. This meeting is known as The Audience. From Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron, the Queen advised her prime ministers on matters both public and personal. Through these private audiences, we see glimpses of the woman behind the crown and witness the moments that shaped a monarch. Peter Morgan’s Netflix phenomenon The Crown was based on this hit play that was captured live from London’s West End in 2013 and went on to become one of the most-watched NT Live productions.

Declared the joint winner of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize, the highly acclaimed Sound of Falling is a breathtaking and lyrical drama from visionary director Mascha Schilinski. Over the course of a century, four adolescent girls from different time periods, Alma, Erika, Angelika, and Lenka, each spend their youth on the same farm in northern Germany, alongside the river Elbe between Berlin and Hamburg. As the farmhouse evolves over the tumultuous 20th century, echoes of the past and generations of secrets linger in its weathered walls. Though separated by time, resonances between the girls’ lives soon emerge. Experiencing parallel desires, lost innocence, loneliness and secrets, the lives of the four girls begin to intertwine and mirror each other while time appears to dissolve. A haunting and intimate cinematic experience for fans of art-house and poetic cinema, Sound of Falling delivers an immersive portrait of adolescence, generational shifts, the search for meaning, power of memory and the travails of rural life.

"The viral internet sensation “The Amazing Digital Circus” comes to its long-awaited conclusion in a feature-length theatrical release! This “Last Act” combines episode 8 with the all new, hour long episode 9 for fans to see before anyone else in the world. With Caine gone and the circus dark, the cast are left with only the mistakes and traumas of their pasts to keep them company. As the prospect of eternity closes in around them, they discover the truth about the Digital Circus and its history.  Will they come to terms with what they uncover, or will they make… the other choice? Also, presumably at some point someone says something funny, because this ending can’t be THAT depressing, can it?"

Legends aren’t born, they’re forged. Director Travis Knight (Bumblebee, Kubo and the Two Strings) brings the legendary franchise back to the big screen in the epic live-action adventure, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Golden Globe winner Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.

Two estranged friends. Six hundred kilometres. One unforgettable journey. In The North, director Bart Schrijver invites audiences on a breathtaking pilgrimage through the Scottish Highlands, where the raw beauty of the land collides with the unspoken weight of the past. Chris and Lluis, once inseparable, reunite after years apart to tackle the West Highland Way and the Cape Wrath Trail. What begins as a physical challenge soon becomes a test of trust, endurance, and the possibility of reconnection. Shot entirely on location, the film captures the Highlands in all their elemental force, mist curling over ridges, rain sweeping across valleys, silence stretching as wide as the lochs. Performances by Bart Harder and Carles Pulido ground the epic scenery with intimate emotion, their restrained chemistry revealing as much in pauses as in words. A moving blend of adventure and meditation, The North is a cinematic experience for anyone drawn to stories of resilience, friendship, and the healing power of nature.

The horror franchise that skewered a generation returns, with Anna Faris (Cindy), Regina Hall (Brenda), Marlon Wayans (Shorty) and Shawn Wayans (Ray) reuniting twenty-six years after first outrunning a suspiciously familiar masked killer. This time, the targets are firmly set on modern horror, taking aim at reboots, sequels, elevated horror and every “final chapter” that somehow refuses to stay buried. As Cindy, Brenda, Shorty and Ray are dragged back into another increasingly ridiculous nightmare, nothing is off limits. Reuniting the Wayans brothers with the series that redefined parody cinema, SCARY MOVIE returns to its gloriously unfiltered humour and rapid-fire pop culture satire, where no trope survives, every line gets crossed and absolutely nothing is sacred. Gleefully outrageous and knowingly absurd, it revives the spirit that made the original a cultural phenomenon.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. The evil empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. Fan favourite duo, Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu, make their triumphant debut to the silver screen in Jon Favreau’s STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU. A fledgling New Republic enlists the help of the duo to protect everything the Rebellion fought for during the Empire’s reign, in a time where remaining Imperial warlords threaten the tender peace of the galaxy. Produced by Star Wars veterans Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy and Ian Bryce and starring an array of fan favourite characters, including screen legend Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Avatar), with music composed by Academy Award winner Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther, Sinners). This is the way.

A witty and delightfully offbeat mystery with a mischievous streak, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES finds unexpected intrigue in the rhythms of everyday farm life, led by a charming performance from Hugh Jackman. Life on the farm seems ordinary at first, until small details begin to stand out. At its centre is George (Jackman), a kind-hearted shepherd who reads detective novels aloud each night, never suspecting his flock is far more perceptive than he realises. As events on the farm begin to unsettle the usual order, the sheep find themselves drawn into something they don’t fully understand, relying on instinct, observation and what they’ve picked up along the way. As their curiosity grows, the world beyond the pasture begins to open up, bringing new encounters and unfamiliar dynamics. What follows is an unfolding investigation shaped by instinct, misdirection and the challenge of making sense of a world far bigger than their own. With its inventive spirit and lightly comic perspective, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES blends warmth, wit and a sense of wonder, finding delight in the everyday and celebrating the brilliance of the overlooked. A playful, family-friendly adventure that proves even the most unlikely heroes can crack the case.

The man. The music. The legend. From acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) comes MICHAEL, the highly anticipated cinematic portrait of one of the most influential artists of all time, starring Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in his feature film debut. Tracing his extraordinary rise from the young star of the Jackson 5 to the global icon who redefined pop music, MICHAEL explores the life behind the spectacle, capturing the creative ambition, personal challenges and relentless drive that shaped the King of Pop. Directed by Fuqua and written by Academy Award nominee John Logan (Gladiator), the film brings together a powerful ensemble including Colman Domingo (Joe Jackson), Nia Long (Katherine Jackson) and Miles Teller (John Branca), alongside Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael. Featuring the music, moves and moments that defined a generation, MICHAEL is an electrifying big-screen experience that celebrates the legacy of a cultural icon whose impact continues to shape music and performance today.

Few modern scandals have captivated France as the astonishing events surrounding Liliane Bettencourt, the billionaire heiress to the L’Oreal fortune and doyenne of Parisian society. Now writer/director Thierry Klifa has freely adapted the incredible story into a captivating dark comedy, featuring a jaw-dropping, tailor-made role for one of France’s most iconic stars. Marianne Farrère (Isabelle Huppert), the head of the Windler Group, is the richest woman in the world. Pierre-Alain Fantin (Laurent Lafitte) is a vivacious dandy, writer and photographer. After meeting on a photo shoot, the two quickly become inseparable. Their friendship – one where Pierre-Alain is only too happy to take financial advantage – surprises, amuses, intrigues, and eventually unsettles the billionaire’s entourage and family. Most of all, Marianne’s daughter (Marina Fois) struggles with her mother’s sudden complicity with this younger man, but her husband (André Marcon) and loyal butler (Raphaël Personnaz) share her concerns. Surreptitious queries soon transition into a private investigation, resulting in extraordinary ramifications for all involved… With several twists too good to spoil, THE RICHEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD makes the most of its fabulous ensemble cast, but Huppert and Lafitte simply eat up the screen. This wildly entertaining film became an enormous box-office hit in France for good reason.

Grief takes flight in unexpected ways. From BAFTA Award-winning director Philippa Lowthorpe (Misbehaviour) comes H IS FOR HAWK, a deeply moving adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s award-winning memoir, starring Claire Foy (The Crown) and Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin). Following the sudden death of her father, Helen (Foy) retreats from the world, turning to the ancient and demanding practice of falconry in an attempt to navigate her loss. Training a fierce goshawk named Mabel, she immerses herself in the wild, drawn to the bird’s instinct, solitude, and intensity. As Helen’s bond with Mabel deepens, the line between escape and healing begins to blur. What starts as an act of endurance becomes a profound journey through grief, identity, and the fragile process of returning to the world. Joined by Denise Gough, Sam Spruell and Lindsay Duncan, H IS FOR HAWK is a tender, meditative portrait of loss and resilience.

Paris. A shocking death, a determined psychiatrist, and a truth no one else wants to see. When Paula Cohen-Solal (Virginie Efira, Waiting for Bojangles, AF FFF22) is found dead, the authorities rule it a suicide. But her psychiatrist, Lilian Steiner (Jodie Foster in her first major French-language role), refuses to accept it. Convinced that Paula’s husband Simon (Mathieu Amalric, Sink or Swim, AF FFF19) is involved, she decides to investigate on her own – even if it means venturing far beyond her professional limits. With the help of her ex-husband Gabriel (Daniel Auteuil, Love Boat, AF FFF25) and a hypnotist whose sessions trigger unsettling visions, Lilian is plunged into a labyrinth where memory, intuition, and doubt collide. Each vision brings her closer to the truth… or deeper into danger. Jodie Foster delivers a riveting performance worthy of her two Oscars and four Golden Globes, and showcases her sensational linguistic and emotional precision. Directed by Rebecca Zlotowski (Other People’s Children, AF FFF23), the film reimagines the investigative thriller with a bold twist – blending tension, dark humour, and witty couple dynamics within a charged psychological setting. Premiering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, this sharp, stylish investigation keeps audiences guessing until the very end. Do not miss it!

From director John Carney (Once, Sing Street, Begin Again) comes POWER BALLAD, a warm, sharp and music-fuelled comedy about ambition, ego and the intoxicating lure of one perfect song. Starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, Carney once again finds the sweet spot between crowd-pleasing charm and heartfelt emotional truth, wrapped in irresistible melodies and big-screen feel-good energy. When wedding band frontman Rick (Rudd) drunkenly improvises a song with washed-up former boy-band star Danny (Jonas) after a chance encounter, it feels like nothing more than a fleeting late-night jam. But six months later, Rick is stunned to discover their impromptu creation has become a global smash, with Danny taking all the credit as the track catapults him back into superstardom. As Danny’s career soars and Rick becomes increasingly desperate to claim his share of the spotlight, POWER BALLAD strikes a bittersweet chord about fame, friendship and what success really costs. Funny, soulful and full of Carney’s signature musical magic, it’s a joyous crowd-pleaser for anyone who’s ever wondered what might have been.

When Owen (Spike Fearn), a lovesick and somewhat disorganised musician, realises he’s been texting the wrong number, he teams up with Emily (Angourie Rice), a driven psychology student, to track down the girl he was meant to find. What begins as a simple search soon takes an unexpected turn, as the pair are drawn into a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their ambitions, instincts and growing connection. Along the way, small missteps give way to something more revealing, as each begins to question what they’re really looking for. Blending British wit with a modern romantic sensibility, FINDING EMILY explores the chaotic, humorous side of young adulthood, where even the smallest mistake can lead somewhere entirely unforeseen.

Believe in the Hail Mary. Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Andy Weir - acclaimed for his award-winning hit, ‘The Martian’ - PROJECT HAIL MARY is a spectacular new sci-fi thriller starring Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling. From Oscar-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, this gripping space thriller follows a lone astronaut (Gosling) who wakes up in deep space with no memory. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone. Also starring Academy Award nominee Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest), prepare for an out-of-this-world cinematic experience and one of the biggest sci-fi events of the year.

We’ve been expecting you. From modern horror master, writer-director Damian McCarthy, comes HOKUM, a classic haunted house horror story that pushes the genre further, threading grief, psychosis and folk legend into a knot that never quite loosens. When depressed and misanthropic novelist Ohm Bauman (Golden Globe Nominee Adam Scott) retreats to a remote inn in Ireland to scatter his long-dead parents' ashes, he becomes consumed by tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance force him to confront dark corners of his own past and rethink his perpetual cynicism. Following on from his modern cult horror classic ODDITY, McCarthy delves into the heightened emotions of guilt and regret in HOKUM, tying together a deeply chilling supernatural tale and a compelling personal exploration of grief and the long shadow of trauma.

When billions are stolen, they’re the pros who steal it back. From Emmy nominated director Guy Ritchie (The Gentleman, Sherlock Holmes) comes the action thriller, IN THE GREY, which follows a covert team of elite operatives living in the shadows. When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the trio are sent to recover it on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission. What begins as an impossible heist quickly spirals into something more sinister, escalating into a high-stakes battle of strategy, deception, and survival. Featuring a standout ensemble cast, including Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill and Eiza González as the enigmatic trio, alongside Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike.

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

*All sessions screening in 2D An immersive and visually striking concert experience, BILLIE EILISH - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR captures one of the most defining live shows of the year, bringing Billie Eilish’s singular artistry to the big screen with rare intimacy and scale. Directed by Academy Award winner James Cameron and Billie Eilish herself, the film is drawn from her sold-out global tour, translating its bold visuals, genre-defying sound and unmistakable voice into a cinematic experience that feels both expansive and deeply personal. Moving between fragile, stripped-back moments and full-scale, electrifying performances, it blurs the line between spectacle and confession, revealing an artist completely in command of her voice and vision - and at times, more open, more exposed, and perhaps even happier than ever. A two-time Academy Award winner and nine-time Grammy Award winner, Billie Eilish continues to define her own path, making this a powerful and unforgettable event for fans and newcomers alike.

It’s never too late to begin again. CALLE MÁLAGA is a vibrant, heartfelt, and quietly uplifting Spanish drama led by a radiant performance from screen legend Carmen Maura. Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Tangier, the film follows María Ángeles (Maura), a fiercely independent 79-year-old whose life is thrown into disarray when her daughter arrives with plans to sell her home. What begins as a family conflict soon becomes something more unexpected - a journey of resistance, reinvention, and rediscovery. As María Ángeles pushes back against the future being decided for her, she finds herself embracing new connections, long-forgotten desires, and a renewed sense of freedom, proving that life’s most meaningful chapters can arrive when least expected. Warm, life-affirming, and rich with humour and humanity, CALLE MÁLAGA is a celebration of independence, identity and the joy of living life entirely on your own terms.

New adventure loading… Powerhouses of animation, Nintendo and Illumination (Despicable Me) join forces once again for THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2023 box office smash-hit ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’, adapted from the most successful video game franchise of all time. Based on the beloved Super Mario Galaxy games, the epic new celestial journey shoots for the stars and expands on the vast Super Mario universe with new friends and new galaxies to explore. Featuring the out-of-this-world cast and characters from the first film including Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser and Charlie Day as Luigi, alongside fan favourite new additions Donald Glover as Yoshi and Brie Larson as cosmic princess Rosalina. Let's-a-go!

Every day, a new world awaits. From director Ben Gregor comes THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE, a magical family adventure based on Enid Blyton’s beloved classic, starring Andrew Garfield (Tim), Claire Foy (Polly) and Nicola Coughlan (Silky). When siblings Beth, Joe and Fran move to the English countryside with their parents, they discover a towering magical tree hidden deep within the forest, home to eccentric residents including Moonface (Nonso Anozie), Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning) and the ever-curious Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns). At the very top, a gateway leads to ever-changing lands filled with surprises, mischief and adventure. As each new world unfolds, the children are swept into playful journeys that bring their family closer together. With a stellar ensemble including Rebecca Ferguson and Jennifer Saunders, THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE is a joyful, imaginative big-screen adventure for audiences of all ages, where every visit promises something new.

This is ridiculous. This madame, is Versailles. Two decades on from its stylish debut, Academy Award winner Sofia Coppola’s MARIE ANTOINETTE, sashays back into cinemas for a special anniversary screening. A young Marie Antoinette (Academy Award nominee Kirsten Dunst), the daughter and youngest child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, is sent to marry the Dauphin of France (Jason Schwartzman). She later becomes the countries queen following the death of King Louis XV (Academy Award nominee Judy Davis) in 1774, leading a life of luxury and pleasure that quickly becomes overtaken by revolution. Featuring an all-star ensemble cast, including Academy Award nominee Rose Byrne, Golden Globe Nominee Jamie Dornan and Tom Hardy.