Browse Movies
A Complete Unknown
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, Timothée Chalamet
Oscar-winning filmmaker James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari, Walk the Line) brings to life the enigmatic story of Bob Dylan in A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, a star-studded biographical drama that explores the transformative early years of the legendary singer-songwriter. Anchored by a career defining performance from Timothée Chalamet as Dylan, the film captures the revolutionary spirit of the 1960s and the birth of one of music’s most iconic voices. Set against the backdrop of the American folk revival, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN follows Dylan’s meteoric rise from his humble beginnings in Minnesota to his pivotal arrival in New York City’s Greenwich Village. The film delves into Dylan’s artistic evolution, the relationships that shaped his identity, and the moments of creative brilliance that defined a generation. Featuring a stellar ensemble cast, including Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, and Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, the film is as much about the cultural revolution as it is about Dylan himself. Mangold’s meticulous direction and an electrifying soundtrack bring this pivotal era to vivid life, offering a rare glimpse into the complexities of fame, artistry, and reinvention. Both intimate and epic in scope, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN is an unmissable tribute to a musical icon and the extraordinary times that shaped him.
A Minecraft Movie
Release Date: Thursday 3rd April
From Warner Bros. Pictures and starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, “A Minecraft Movie”, directed by Jared Hess, is the first-ever big screen, live-action adaptation of Minecraft, the best-selling video game of all time. The film also stars Emma Myers (“Wednesday”), Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”), Sebastian Eugene Hansen (“Just Mercy”, “Lisey’s Story”), with Jennifer Coolidge. Welcome to the world of Minecraft, where creativity doesn’t just help you craft, it’s essential to one’s survival! Four misfits—Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Momoa), Henry (Hansen), Natalie (Myers) and Dawn (Brooks)—find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like Piglins and Zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (Black). Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative…the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world.
A Real Pain
Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe
In his impressive second feature directorial endeavour, writer/director Jesse Eisenberg delivers equal parts gut-punching drama and whip-smart comedy with an award-winning screenplay that exudes humanity as it explores complicated familial relationships beset by intergenerational trauma. Clever, funny and profoundly moving, this Sundance Film Festival award winning dramedy follows two mismatched cousins, David (Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Emmy and Golden Globe winner Kieran Culkin), who reunite for a tour through Poland to honour their deceased grandmother and reconnect with their heritage. Their adventure takes a turn when the duo’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family and World War II history. Culkin dazzles in a career-best performance while co-starring alongside Eisenberg. The highly acclaimed actors make for a superb team, demonstrating deep empathy and understanding with mesmerising depictions of a wide range of complex emotions as the cousins grapple with the ways their lives have diverged while also trying to reconnect. While Benji’s irreverent charm only partially masks his deep inner melancholy, David’s frustration with and genuine love for his cousin is palpable. Lauded by critics with an outstanding rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, and with a tonally perfect classical score, A REAL PAIN blends an odd-couple buddy road trip with an, at times, uncomfortable yet relatable family drama that sensitively taps into the pain still felt by family of Holocaust survivors.
ACO: The Four Seasons - A Music Film
Release Date: Saturday 1st March
Directors: Matisse Ruby, Richard Tognetti
Cast: The Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti, Joseph Tawadros
The Australian Chamber Orchestra has always forged its own path. With Artistic Director and violinist Richard Tognetti at the helm, the ACO has been producing films for over a decade, from their award-winning collaborations with BAFTA-nominated director Jennifer Peedom (‘Mountain’, ‘River’) to their acclaimed series of cinematic music films, ‘ACO StudioCasts’. Directed by Matisse Ruby, ‘The Four Seasons’ film release is the latest from this ground-breaking, world-renowned ensemble. Arguably the most popular and recognisable piece of classical music ever written, this performance directed by Richard Tognetti, highlights the profound symbiosis between Vivaldi’s Venice and the Middle East. Interspersing Vivaldi’s masterpiece with music by Australian-Egyptian composer and Oud virtuoso Joseph Tawardros, the film honours Vivaldi’s classic while giving it new life. A must-see for music lovers and cinephiles alike.
AFFFF25 All Stirred Up!
Director: Manon Briand
Cast: Édouard Baer, Julie Le Breton, Élodie Fontaine
Somewhere on the border between Quebec and the United States, the intractable customs officer, Sonia (Julie Le Breton), rules her boom gate with an iron first. No one gets past her eagle eye, not even Victor (Édouard Baer, How to Be a Good Wife, AF FFF20), a charming but down-on-his-luck French chef from New York, who finds his knives and gourmet food unfairly confiscated. Meanwhile, Sonia's daughter Lili-Beth is sick of being bullied at school. When she enters a Mini Chefs competition to stick it to her bullies, it seems she's the underdog with no hope of winning. Unless Julie can convince Victor to help her. However, it’s not just the pressure of the Mini Chefs competition that threatens to boil over: community tensions and divisions are bubbling under the surface of this rural border town, with bitterness an all-too-familiar flavour. But Sonia, Victor and Lili-Beth are about to serve up something new. This feast of a comedy from director Manon Briand is full of laughs and touching connections. Set in the beautiful Canadian countryside and replete with mouthwatering dishes, ALL STIRRED UP! is a deliciously heartwarming story that will leave you hungry for more.
AFFFF25 Army of Shadows
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Cast: Simone Signoret, Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse
Restored in 4k and presented at Cannes Classics in 2024, see acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Melville's unglamorous and nuanced study of the French Resistance, eating itself from the inside. Betrayed by a comrade, Philippe Gerbier (Lino Ventura), the head of a Resistance cell, is captured and sent to a Nazi torture camp. In Vichy-run Marseille, the young betraying agent, Paul Dounat (Alain Libolt) is ambushed by Gerbier’s comrades and sentenced to execution. Following the story of a small group of Resistance fighters, ARMY OF SHADOWS goes beyond a binary tale of good versus evil, offering a raw, poignant portrayal of the brave men and women who fought against fascism and the sacrifices they made along the way. Based on Melville’s experience in the French Resistance and Joseph Kessel's novel, the film is deeply personal, combining his intense study of the human condition with the signature chiaroscuro and realism that established him as a celebrated auteur of French crime cinema. Controversial upon its 1969 French release and only premiering in the US in 2006, ARMY OF SHADOWS remains a masterpiece of atmospheric tension, ideal for cinéphiles. Don’t miss this exclusive screening of one of history’s greatest war films.
AFFFF25 At the End of the Day
Director: Claude Lelouch
Cast: Elsa Zylberstein, Kad Merad, Sandrine Bonnaire
Lino (Kad Merad, The Big Hit, AF FFF21), a Parisian lawyer fed up with his bourgeois life, is on the run. Suffering from a condition that makes him unable to lie, he has left everything behind to escape to the countryside. Infuriating his family, including his wife Léa (Elsa Zylberstein), Lino is searching for the meaning of life, even if it leads to unexpected places – and a musical number or two. Oscar-winning director Claude Lelouch directs this zany musical fantasy with an original soundtrack by Grammy-nominated producer Ibrahim Maalouf. A duet between trumpet and piano, this quirky genre-bending film is about how we fall out of tune with life and find harmony again. Lelouche deftly weaves together the many lives of Lino into a deeply inspiring tapestry of love, destiny, and staying true to your heart, whilst also throwing in touching and dramatic moments for good measure. Perfect for those wanting to laugh at the absurdity of life, AT THE END OF THE DAY will take you on a cinematic road trip through France's most beautiful regions. Don't miss this oddball classic from this beloved French director!
AFFFF25 Beating Hearts
The phenomenal Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue Is The Warmest Colour) and François Civil (The Three Musketeers) – arguably French cinema’s brightest young talents – devour the screen in Gilles Lellouche’s vibrant, genre-spanning romantic epic that follows a written-in-the-stars infatuation tested by social boundaries, betrayal and circumstances beyond all control. Love makes one crazy. Just ask Clotaire (Civil) and Jackie (Exarchopoulos), who meet in their teens in their Northern France working-class neighbourhood in the 1980s. Despite their differences - she is a diligent student from the middle class, he a charming troublemaker with a complex family life - an intense and unmistakable connection is sparked. But tragedy soon pulls them apart. A decade later, Clotaire tries desperately to win back his lost love. But has his chance passed? Driven by a kinetic soundtrack by Jon Brion, indelible production design and all-star supporting cast, BEATING HEARTS pays homage to the US independent film wave of the 80s and early 90s but creates an impact truly of its own. Delivering another massive, crowd-pleasing blockbuster result at the French box office (after Sink Or Swim) with an extraordinary 5 million admissions, Lellouche reaches for the stars and rewards all who strap in for the ride.
AFFFF25 Before What Comes After
Director: Costa- Gavras
Cast: Karin Viard, Charlotte Rampling, Marilyne Canto
At 91, legendary director Costa-Gavras' BEFORE WHAT COMES AFTER is a poignant tragicomedy inspired by the work of Régis Debray and Claude Grange. Deeply personal, this is a rare chance to witness a cinematic titan reflecting on life and mortality. What begins as a chance encounter during a routine checkup evolves into a profound friendship between acclaimed philosopher Fabrice Toussaint (Denis Podalydès, The President's Wife, AF FFF24) and head of palliative care doctor Augustin Masset (Kad Merad, The Big Hit, AF FFF21). Woven through radical conversations with Masset, his team of passionate caregivers, and their patients, Costa-Gavras unearths our buried fears of death and dying while gently reminding us of the art of listening. Guided by Masset’s radical approach to patient care, Toussaint discovers the power of returning choice to the body and the dignity in dying as one chooses. Dialogical and Socratic in tone, yet never stuffy, this film lyrically grapples with unanswerable questions, responding to our existential fears with love and care. In the spirit of groundbreaking philosophical films like My Dinner with André, Costa-Gavras deftly teaches without instructing. Daring to ask life's biggest questions, BEFORE WHAT COMES AFTER invites us to listen closely – the answers may surprise us.
AFFFF25 Being Maria
Director: Jessica Palud
Cast: Yvan Attal, Matt Dillon, Anamaria Vartolomei
Based on Vanessa Schneider's book My Cousin Maria Schneider and informed by Back Home director Jessica Palud’s own experience working with director Bernardo Bertolucci, BEING MARIA is the true story of the actress' fallout in the wake of a film so lewd that she was criminally charged by Italian courts. 1972: When 16-year-old aspiring actress Maria Schneider (Anamaria Vartolomei, Happening, AF FFF22) reconnects with the father and movie star who abandoned her as a child, she is kicked out of home. Distanced from her mother's controlling influence, she is drawn into the orbit of aspiring director Bernardo Bertolucci (Giuseppe Maggio), and cast alongside superstar Marlon Brando (Matt Dillon) in the salacious Last Tango in Paris, Bertolucci’s provocative new film inspired by his fantasies. However, this opportunity comes at a heavy cost. Despite only consenting to scripted nudity, Schneider is ambushed by an improvised scene of sexual assault devised by Bertolucci and Brando. BEING MARIA is the powerful and damning exploration of the monstrous side of art, and the women left to pick up the pieces. In the wake of #MeToo, Palud poses a vital question: for women, is it ever truly just “show business”?
AFFFF25 Bolero
Director: Anne Fontaine
Cast: Emmanuelle Devos, Jeanne Balibar, Doria Tillier
Every 15 minutes, someone somewhere in the world plays Ravel's "Bolero" – it's a legacy its artist could never have imagined. Renowned composer Maurice Ravel (Raphaël Personnaz) is haunted by self-doubt and melancholy. Commissioned by eccentric and magnanimous Russian dancer Ida Rubenstein (César-winning Jeanne Balibar), he must compose a carnal, rapturous fanfare for her latest ballet. Blocked creatively and cast aside by his peers, Ravel turns to his closest friends for inspiration – pianist Marguerite Long (Emmanuelle Devos, Masquerade, AF FFF23), his friend Cipa (Vincent Perez) and Cipa's sister Misia (Doria Tillier), whom he hopelessly adores. Set against the decadent, industrialised Paris of the 1920s, "Bolero" demands that Ravel draw on the essence of sound itself to redeem his raw genius, or risk being consumed by it completely. A tribute to the timelessness of the composer’s haunting masterpiece, Bolero, writer-director Anne Fontaine takes us on a deconstructed, elliptical journey through the idiosyncratic life of Maurice Ravel, via his struggle to complete that 17-minute piece of music. Premiering at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam, BOLERO is a celebration of a classical genius.
AFFFF25 Elyas
Director: Florent-Emilio Siri
Cast: Roschdy Zem, Laëtitia Eïdo, Jeanne Michel
Special Forces veteran Elyas (Roschdy Zem, The Origin of Evil, AF FFF23) lives in isolation, haunted by the horrors of Afghanistan. When a ghost from his past reappears, he is drawn back into a world he swore to forget. Now working as a bodyguard for Amina (Laëtitia Eïdo) and her teenage daughter Nour, he must protect the family from shadowy forces – even if his paranoia threatens to consume him. But what, or who exactly, are Amina and Nour hiding from? As Nour works her way into his heart, a mysterious syndicate shatters their peace. Forced to confront highly-trained enemies in a tense game of survival, Elyas must reactivate the soldier within, or risk losing everything. With every decision crucial, and every person a threat to Nour, will Elyas' survival instincts become his greatest weapon? Action-thriller director Florent-Emilio Siri (director of Hostage starring Bruce Willis) returns to the big screen with his most explosive film yet. Roschdy Zem’s nuanced performance alongside newcomer Jeanne Michel, transforms ELYAS into a gripping, edge-of-your-seat film. Perfect for fans of John Wick and Taken, ELYAS asks how far you would go to protect the people you care for.
AFFFF25 Emmanuelle
Director: Audrey Diwan
Cast: Naomi Watts, Noémie Merlant, Will Sharpe
Opening the San Sebastián International Film Festival, this revolutionary adaptation of Emmanuelle Arsan’s eponymous novel is a masterclass in pleasure. Screening exclusively with limited sessions at AF FFF25, this film is a sensory experience not to be missed. A six-star hotel in Hong Kong glitters at night. Emmanuelle (Noémie Merlant, The Innocent, AF FFF23), an expat quality assessor for luxury hotels, has just arrived. She’s here to find the vulnerable spot in hotel manager Margot Parson’s (Naomi Watts) expert direction but something else awaits her in the gilded corridors and plush suites: a sensual rabbit hole of erotic fantasies. Award-winning director Audrey Diwan (Happening, AF FFF22) returns to the big screen with a classy, sensual remake of the softcore cult classic, Emmanuelle. Teasing atmospheric longing reminiscent of Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood for Love, Diwan’s film is a slow-burn, aesthetic exploration of unfettered female pleasure. Both wrestling with, and ultimately liberating itself from Just Jaeckin’s original 1974 film, feminine fantasy is the nexus of EMMANUELLE. Focusing entirely on her pleasure, Emmanuelle doesn’t care whether you think she’s selfish or not – she wants you to join in.
AFFFF25 Family Therapy
Director: Arnaud Lemort
Cast: Christian Clavier, Baptiste Lecaplain, Claire Chust
How close is too close? Doctor Béranger (Christian Clavier, Employee of the Month, AF FFF22), a brilliant psychoanalyst, has life figured out – except for one little hiccup: his desperately needy client, Damien Leroy (Baptiste Lecaplain). Suffocated by Damien’s relentless clinginess, Béranger devises a plan to get rid of him by convincing him of a “secret” – true love will cure him. At first, it works like a charm... until it works too well. Fast-forward to Béranger’s thirtieth wedding anniversary, when his daughter drops a bombshell: her new boyfriend is none other than Damien Leroy. Worse, Béranger and Damien must pretend they’ve never met. With the family’s happiness on the line, a celebratory weekend of meeting the parents spirals into chaos as true love turns from remedy to disaster. Arnaud Lemort's upbeat, slapstick comedy will leave you in stitches, poking fun at attachment theory, boundaries, and the absurd idea that true love fixes everything. Packed with shenanigans and heartfelt missteps, FAMILY THERAPY shows what happens when family and work collide, with hilarious results. After all, what’s better than a free therapy session, even if it derails your psych’s life in the process?
AFFFF25 Holy Cow
Director: Louise Courvoisier
Cast: Clément Favreau, Luna Garret, Mathis Bernard
Direct from the Cannes Film Festival 2024, HOLY COW marks Louise Courvoisier as a powerful new voice in cinema, winning the festival’s prestigious Youth Prize in the Un Certain Regard category. In the Jura region, renowned for its Comté cheese, 18-year-old Totone (Clément Favreau) has his childhood cut short after a devastating tragedy. Suddenly the sole carer for his 7-year-old sister Claire (Luna Garret), and forced to sell his father’s farm equipment to make ends meet, Totone devises a plan: follow in his family’s cheesemaking footsteps and win the €30,000 Comté cheese prize – even though he has no idea of where to start. With an unfiltered realism, this debut features heartfelt performances by non-professional actors and real farmers, bringing raw authenticity to Courvoisier’s first feature film. Shot on location in the countryside of the director's childhood, and with her entire family contributing to the soundtrack and set design, Holy Cow is a beautiful ode to neorealist classics like Bicycle Thieves made fresh for modern audiences. Much more than an insight into rural life, HOLY COW pays tribute to community, resilience, love, and cheese curds in pastoral France.
AFFFF25 How To Make a Killing
Director: Franck Dubosc
Cast: Emmanuelle Devos, Laure Calamy, Franck Dubosc
A freak run-in with a black bear drives Michel (Franck Dubosc) off the road one wintry Christmas Eve, leading to the deaths of two strangers. Instead of reporting the accident, he panics and flees. His long-suffering wife Cathy (Laure Calamy, Antoinette in the Cevennes, AF FFF21), an ardent fan of crime novels, points out the obvious: with his prints all over the deceased’s car, suspicion will fall on him – and they can’t afford bail. When they discover two million euros and a gun on the bodies, their situation takes a dangerous turn. As another body surfaces, Michel and Cathy will stop at nothing to avoid suspicion, even if it means burying themselves in an avalanche of lies. Franck Dubosc’s black comedy, HOW TO MAKE A KILLING, is a journey full of twists where nothing is as it seems. As Michel and Cathy navigate ethical dilemmas and increasingly absurd situations, the feckless small-town gendarmes inch closer. But what if they’re closer to the sharp detectives in Cathy’s crime novels than they first appear? Leading from one improbable instance to another – and with bears technically non-existent in the Jura – how far will Michel and Cathy go to clear their names?
AFFFF25 In the Sub for Love
Director: Lucas Bernard
Cast: Pio Marmaï, Eye Haïdara, José Garcia
You’ve heard of cabin fever, but what about submarine fever? Lucas Bernard’s IN THE SUB FOR LOVE is a bold and hilarious romantic comedy that dives deep into love – and chaos. When Marco (Pio Marmaï, The Three Musketeers I & II, AF FFF24), a carefree steward, meets Marianne (Eye Haïdara), a serious, practical submarine officer, during a fleeting shore leave, their lives briefly entangle. But when Marianne accidentally leaves her necklace behind, Marco seizes the chance to return it – only to find himself aboard her submarine with no chance of escape! Can love flourish 500 feet underwater, or will their differences sink the sub? Like fire and water, Marco’s charm and easy-going savoir-faire clash with Marianne’s steely discipline, resulting in a laugh-out-loud odd-couple comedy. This French gem of a wildly mismatched love story navigates high seas, tropical storms, and even the Arctic, proving when it comes to love, even the steadiest course can veer off chart. With its vibrant colours and punchy humour, IN THE SUB FOR LOVE is a buoyant love letter to the screwball romantic comedies of the 1940s. Lucas Bernardʼs witty direction and the castʼs electric chemistry make it the perfect choice to close AF FFF on a high note. All hands on deck – don’t miss this heartfelt film!
AFFFF25 Jane Austen Wrecked My Life
Director: Laura Piani
Cast: Pablo Pauly, Charlie Anson, Liz Crowther
Agathe (Camille Rutherford) lives the rom-com dream: she works in the famous Shakespeare & Co bilingual bookstore where customers leave love letters on the mirror quoting Tolstoy, and there’s undeniable chemistry with her colleague, Félix (Pablo Pauly, Murder Party, AF FFF24). Beneath the glossy Notting Hill facade, however, she’s an unpublished romance author battling writer’s block, living with her sister and nephew. More akin to Persuasion’s Anne, a perpetual wallflower, than Pride and Prejudice’s confident Elizabeth, Agathe struggles to find her voice. That all changes when Agathe is invited to a Jane Austen Residency in England. Spending two weeks in a manor full of creative nooks and wandering through forests and glades, Agathe struggles daily with imposter syndrome. That is, until she starts to become acquainted with the handsome yet prickly Oliver Lowe (Charlie Anson, Downton Abbey), Jane Austen’s living descendant. Grappling with her demons and her heart, Agathe must decide between what she’s always known, and something – or someone – new. This romantic comedy-drama from writer-director Laura Piani is a touching love letter to the Regency author who still shapes our conversations on love today. Wry, subtle, and with a big heart, JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE asks, would you write the end to your own love story if you could?
AFFFF25 Juliette in Spring
Director: Blandine Lenoir
Cast: Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Noémie Lvovsky, Izïa Higelin
Featuring a fantastic ensemble cast, the charming new dramedy by Blandine Lenoir (Aurore, AF FFF18; Annie’s Fire, AF FFF23) follows a young woman’s efforts to reconnect to herself and her family during an unexpectedly eventful trip home. When 35-year-old Juliette (Izïa Higelin, La Belle Saison), a children’s book illustrator, returns to her country village to spend some downtime with her loved ones, what she encounters is anything but low-key. Her harried elder sister Marylou (Sophie Guillemin, in a scene-stealing turn) is carrying on a “ one-day-a-week " affair with a man from the costume shop, her grandmother is becoming frailer by the day, and her long-separated parents are feuding – he (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) is kind but emotionally distant, she (Noémie Lvovsky) is wildly-revelling in the second act of her life as a single woman. As buried memories and long-held secrets stir to the surface, Juliette must grapple with how to remain connected to the fractured family’s story, and reclaim her own identity. Based on a graphic novel by Camille Jourdy (whose work formed the basis for the equally-winning hit Rosalie Blum), Lenoir’s gorgeous film finds pathos and humour in even the worst behaviours of her richly captured protagonists. JULIETTE is a gem to be treasured.
AFFFF25 Like a Prince
Director: Ali Marhyar
Cast: Julia Piaton, Ahmed Sylla, Mallory Wanecque
When champion boxer Souleyman gets in a bar fight on the eve of his Olympic Games début, it’s not just his dreams that are shattered. With broken knuckles and sentenced to 400 hours of community service at the decadent Château de Chambord, it looks like it's all over for Souleyman (Ahmed Sylla, The Climb). Stuck collecting rubbish and participating in cheap medieval reenactments, he is resigned to his fate until he is surprised by foster kid Mélissa (Mallory Wanecque, Beating Hearts, AF FFF25). Deeply troubled but blessed with an inherent gift for boxing, she might just be the ticket to Souleyman's official comeback. LIKE A PRINCE is a fresh, upbeat comedy from actor and first-time director Ali Marhyar. Filmed on location at Château de Chambord, the spectacular French Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley, LIKE A PRINCE proves that going from champion boxer to teen coach is harder than it looks. If Souleyman wants to convince Mélissa that her dreams are worth following, he’ll need more than just talk. When every punch counts, what kind of mark will Souleyman leave behind?
AFFFF25 Love Boat
Director: Bruno Podalydès
Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Sandrine Kiberlain, Denis Podalydès
Penny-pinching Justine (Sandrine Kiberlain, November, AF FFF23) is sick of hustling. So when her boss, high-flying investor Franck (Daniel Auteuil, A Silence, AF FFF24), approaches her to organise a showstopping romantic weekend for him and the woman with whom he has fallen hopelessly in love, she jumps on board. What could possibly go wrong with €14,000 cash upfront and a weekend of romance? Given free creative control, Justine and her unemployed husband Albin (Denis Podalydès, The President's Wife, AF FFF24) devise the perfect solution: they'll give Franck their own profit-making version of the ultimate love boat experience. Engaging a motley crew of friends also keen to make a buck, they’re like Ocean's Eleven on a budget. But when Franck reveals that Justine is the woman of his dreams, it looks like this love boat is about to get a little crowded... LOVE BOAT is a hysterical comedy of errors from actor-director Bruno Podalydès that will have you laughing out loud at absurd disguises, misguided intentions, and chaotic schemes. Expect the very best of the worst – half bottles, cut corners, and special deals – all as long as it's not too expensive.
AFFFF25 Lucky Winners
Directors: Maxime Govare, Romain Choay
Cast: Audrey Lamy, Sami Outalbali, Pauline Clément
Ever dreamt of winning the lotto? Think again. When four people find their dreams come true, life finally feels perfect. But what if their luck is just about to run out? With dreams turning into nightmares and fortunes becoming burdens, this off-kilter comedy follows four interweaving stories in the wake of a life-changing windfall. Marriages are tested, friendships sour, and buried secrets are revealed, forcing the winners to question whether life really is better after the jackpot. From the award-winning duo who wrote The Shiny Shrimp, LUCKY WINNERS is the whip-smart black comedy from Maxime Govary and Romain Choay that pushes boundaries, and characters, to their limits. With its cast of French favourites including Audrey Lamy (The Kitchen Brigade, AF FFF22), Anouk Grinberg (Bonnard, Pierre & Marthe, AF FFF24), and Pauline Clément (Maria into Life, AF FFF23), this is one of the season's most surprising and hilarious films. The stories may be bite-sized, but these lucky winners are about to find they've bitten off more than they can chew. It will be sure to leave you questioning whether it's ever truly wise to look a gift horse in the mouth. Don't miss this deliciously subversive film. Get your tickets to this gripping black comedy now!
AFFFF25 Meet the Leroys
Director: Florent Bernard
Cast: Charlotte Gainsbourg, José Garcia, Lily Aubry
In the tradition of on-the-road dramatic comedies like Little Miss Sunshine, MEET THE LEROYS is the moving story of the veneer we paint over lost connections and a reminder that even the brightest bonds, like stars, can fade, despite our best intentions. Sandrine Leroy (Charlotte Gainsbourg, My Dog Stupid, AF FFF20) is bitterly unhappy. When she announces her intention to divorce her husband, Christophe (José Garcia), he is left reeling. With Sandrine set on separation and their children feigning ambivalence, Christophe has only one thing left up his sleeve: a surprise, nostalgic road trip weekend with the entire family. The deal? If Sandrine doesn't change her mind by the end of the trip, he'll let her go. But is one weekend enough to overcome years of stale marriage? And how can they rekindle the passion that once consumed them? Directed by Florent Bernard, MEET THE LEROYS won the Grand Prix at the Alpe d'Huez Film Festival for its sincere depiction of a family in crisis. Inspired by Bernard's own experience of his parents’ divorce and shot in Burgundy where he grew up, the film is a bittersweet exploration of the things we lose without realising.
AFFFF25 Miss Violet
Director: Éric Besnard
Cast: Alexandra Lamy, Grégory Gadebois, Jérôme Kircher
Set in the picturesque Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Eric Besnard’s (A Great Friend, AF FFF24) historical drama offers an intimate look at rural life where tradition and progress collide. In 1889, a rural village is confronted with something dangerous: the free, secular, and mandated schooling of the French Republic. Tasked with educating the village’s children, Louise Violet (Alexandra Lamy) faces a hostile reception. Fearful of change and distrustful of anything that might distract their children from farm work, the forceful mayor Pierre Lecomte (Grégory Gadebois, A Great Friend, AF FFF24) makes one thing clear: if she wants to win the villagers over, she’ll have to speak their language. As winter deepens and tensions rise, Miss Violet must confront a darker truth: while education serves as a bridge, some divides are personal. Facing the villagers means confronting herself, and some secrets can't stay buried forever. Louise may be the teacher, but she has lessons to learn too. What can the village teach her? Rich in costumes and natural, seasonal light, MISS VIOLET is a sumptuous exploration of how education can both disrupt and awaken. A simmering study of resilience, regret and opportunity, this film is a must-see for anyone who believes in the transformative power of education.
AFFFF25 Monsieur Aznavour
Directors: Grand Corps Malade, Mehdi Idir
Cast: Tahar Rahim, Bastien Bouillon, Marie-Julie Baup
Just as Marion Cotillard was to La Vie en Rose, Golden Globe-nominated actor Tahar Rahim is to MONSIEUR AZNAVOUR, transforming into the iconic singer/songwriter for this lavishly entertaining rise-to-stardom biography of the man who beat all odds to not only become one of France’s best-loved entertainers, but personified French culture to the rest of the world. Born in Paris in 1924 as the son of Armenian refugees, Charles Aznavour’s formative years are spent in poverty, but distinguished by his parents’ passion for music and theatre. Ridiculed for his short stature and raspy tenor voice – traits he would in time fully embrace – Aznavour’s early attempts at a showbiz career during the Occupation falter. Whilst gifted, his material finds more success in the hands of others, including his friend Pierre (Bastien Bouillon), and later the imperious Edith Piaf (a scene-stealing Marie-Julie Baup), who becomes a highly influential mentor and supporter. But by the 1950s, Aznavour finally realises his own ambitions; his empathetic ‘chansonsʼ about the heartbreaks, confusions and passions of the common man (mining the dramas of his own life) catapult him to global attention. Led by its starʼs astonishing performance and stunning vocal prowess, MONSIEUR AZNAVOUR is a true tour de force – as intimate as it is spectacular – and serves as a triumphant reminder of the power and impact of music. Don’t miss one of France’s biggest hits of the year.
AFFFF25 My Brother's Band
Director: Emmanuel Courcol
Cast: Sarah Suco, Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Lottin
A sensation at Cannes and one of Franceʼs biggest box office and audience favourites of the year (achieving over two million admissions and entry into the top five of 2024), writer/director Emmanuel Courcol's wildly entertaining new film follows two very different siblings separated by fate and reunited by their love of music. Thibaut (the exceptional Benjamin Lavernhe, Delicious, C’est la vie!) is a beloved and internationally celebrated orchestra conductor who travels the globe. When a health crisis and subsequent DNA test inadvertently reveals he was adopted as an infant, Thibaut discovers the existence of a younger brother, Jimmy (rising star Pierre Lottin), who lives in more modest circumstances; he works in a school cafeteria, cares for his mother and plays the trombone in a community brass band. The pair seem to have little else in common other than a love of performance, but sensing his sibling’s exceptional talent, Thibaut decides to remedy the injustice of fate and try to help nurture his brother’s untapped gifts. An eruptive crowd favourite wherever it has premiered (notably receiving the highest audience score in the 51-year history of the San Sebastian Film Festival), MY BROTHER’S BAND is a rousing, feel-great trip to the cinema, expertly striking the perfect harmony between laughter and tears. Bring your family, your friends, and some tissues.
AFFFF25 My Everything
Director: Anne-Sophie Bailly
Cast: Laure Calamy, Charles Peccia, Julie Froger
After establishing herself as one of France’s most popular and successful comediennes, the multi-talented Laure Calamy follows Full Time, AF FFF22, with another dramatic tour-de-force in writer/director Anne-Sophie Bailly’s deeply affecting debut. Calamy plays single, middle-aged beautician Mona, completely dedicated to 30-year-old son Joël (Charles Peccia Galletto), who lives with cerebral palsy. Joël works in a specialised facility and is secretly in love with co-worker Océane; while Mona knows nothing of their relationship, all is revealed when it becomes evident that Océane is pregnant. Océane’s parents and Mona are collectively stunned by the news, but the couple declare they are in love and determined to forge a life together. Mona finds herself torn between her son’s iron will, her maternal instincts and a suppressed desire to enjoy life on her own terms… Emotionally involving and honest, Bailly’s debut feature offers a moving observation of caregiving, inter-dependence and how society treats the rights of the most fragile. With Calamy excelling alongside her impressive non-professional co-stars, MY EVERYTHING is a stirring and resonant story of motherhood, compassion and acceptance.
AFFFF25 Niki
Director: Céline Sallette
Cast: Judith Chemla, Charlotte Le Bon, Damien Bonnard
Selected for Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, this powerful debut from Céline Sallette is an introspective spotlight on one of the contemporary world's most iconoclastic artists. From sculptor and painter to author and filmmaker, who was Niki de Saint-Phalle before becoming the woman who refused to conform? 1952: Fleeing an oppressive America in the throes of McCarthyism, Niki (Charlotte Le Bon) and her husband Harry (John Robinson) arrive in Paris ready to leave their past behind. Overwhelmed by motherhood and working as a model and actress, Niki hopes her bohemian life is enough to fulfil her – or silence the haunting episodes from her childhood. Just as secrets cannot be forgotten, talent cannot always lie dormant. When Niki is forced to face her demons, will she find something beautiful in the darkness? With an unflinching yet gentle eye, Salette sheds light on the archaic practices women were subjected to in the name of medicine, and their resilient, artistic triumphs in spite of it. An empathetic meditation on the pain we bury, NIKI is the biopic that proves that art can liberate us from the wounds that cut the deepest.
AFFFF25 No Chains No Masters
Director: Simon Moutaïrou
Cast: Benoît Magimel, Camille Cottin, Félix Lefebvre
Straight from the 2024 Festival du Cinéma Américain de Deauville and filmed on location in Mauritius, Simon Moutaïrou’s powerful debut is an unmissable journey following those who dare to stand against injustice. In 1759, Mauritius is a profitable colonial outpost for France, but for Massamba (Ibrahima M'baye) and his daughter Mati (Anna Diakhere Thiandoum), it’s a living hell. Slaves on a sugar plantation owned by the ruthless Eugène Larcenet (Benoît Magimel, The Taste of Things, AF FFF24), they are the victims of brutal laws enforced under the guise of justice – even though Larcenet’s son Honoré (Félix Lefebvre) fiercely disagrees. In this world, disobedience means death. Yet Massamba remains blind to the growing resistance in Mati, whose salvation lies not in becoming a seamstress but in escape at any cost. When Mati flees the plantation, Larcenet calls on the uncompromising maroon hunter, Madame La Victoire (Camille Cottin, Call My Agent), a devout Catholic and Royalist, to bring her back. Aided by her militant sons, Madame La Victoire will bring Mati before God and the law – unless Massamba can reach her first. NO CHAINS NO MASTERS captures history with unflinching force – a festival experience for the big screen.
AFFFF25 Prodigies
Directors: Frédéric Potier, Valentin Potier
Cast: Franck Dubosc, Isabelle Carré, Camille Razat
They might have been prodigies at home but at the Karlsruhe Conservatory of Music, they're nothing. Twin pianists Claire (Camille Razat, Emily in Paris) and Jeanne (Mélanie Robert) have been militantly trained by their father for one single goal: greatness. So when they find themselves under the tutelage of the tyrannical Professor Klaus Lenhardt (August Wittgenstein), they’re ready to be pushed to their physical and emotional limits. However the twins quickly realise that their biggest challenge isn’t the music or the gruelling regime – it’s each other. When Claire and Jeanne are diagnosed with a sudden aggressive and incurable illness, their sibling rivalry pales by comparison. The twins must decide: will they defy the odds and do whatever it takes to truly become prodigies? Based on an impossibly true story, PRODIGIES is an inspiring debut film by real-life brothers Frédéric and Valentin Potier. Premiering at the 17th Angoulême French-Speaking Film Festival, this stirring and emotional drama captures the pain of our ambitions, and what we are willing to sacrifice to achieve greatness. An unmissable film of passion, obsession, and sibling rivalry, this is France’s answer to Whiplash.
AFFFF25 Riviera Revenge
Director: Ivan Calbérac
Cast: André Dussollier, Thierry Lhermitte, Joséphine de Meaux
Retired French general François (André Dussollier, Everything Went Fine, AF FFF22) and his wife Annie (Sabine Azéma) have been married for five decades. Enjoying all the perks of retirement, François heads to the attic one day to declutter old boxes and dust off memories, only to stumble upon his worst nightmare: a stack of love letters revealing his wife’s affair from forty years ago. It's up to François to make the mature choice: does he turn the other cheek and let bygones be bygones? Or does he sharpen his wits and call in favours to track down the man who humiliated him? Hell-bent on the latter, François scours the Côte-d'Azur, determined to exact revenge – even if it means losing what he holds most dear in the process. It’s time for vengeance, French Riviera-style! This delightfully contagious comedy from director Ivan Calbéra (The Tasting, AF FFF23), proves you’re never too old for crazy acts of love – or payback. With stunning backdrops, a whole lot of heart and shenanigans a-plenty, RIVIERA REVENGE is guaranteed to make you both laugh and cry. No one ever said marriage was easy and who could resist retribution by the seaside?
AFFFF25 Saint-Ex
Director: Pablo Agüero
Cast: Louis Garrel, Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger
Discover the true story behind the man who wrote The Little Prince. In 1930, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (Louis Garrel, The Three Musketeers - Milady, AF FFF24), a pilot for Aéropostale, flies too high over Argentina's Andes, crashing into the sea. To his best friend, Henri Guillaumet (Vincent Cassel, The Three Musketeers - Part I & II, AF FFF24), he's just Saint-Ex, getting into trouble again. After being demoted by Aéropostale, which is also planning to lay off half of its radio operators – including Henri’s wife, Noëlle (Diane Kruger) – the two hatch a daring plan to save the business. But when Henri goes missing over the Cordillera, Argentina's enormous mountain range, will Saint-Ex defy all odds to bring him back? From French-Argentine director Pablo Agüero and selected for competition at the Namur International French-language Film Festival (FIFF), SAINT-EX tells the true story of defying odds in the name of friendship and loyalty. With sweeping, epic cinematography, this stunning film weaves adventure, brotherhood and ambition into a symbolic journey across Argentina’s mountain ranges. With high altitudes and high stakes, SAINT-EX is an exhilarating tale of courage, skill, and daring.
AFFFF25 Speak Out
Director: Jennifer Devoldère
Cast: Aure Atika, José Garcia, Joachim Arseguel
"Onstage, you can be anyone you want – even yourself." Colin (Joachim Arseguel), a 14-year-old with a stutter, is the new student at school, and being himself is the furthest thing from his mind. Struggling to fit in and too shy to take up space, he’s content to remain invisible if it means avoiding attention. That is, until he meets Monsieur Devarseau (José Garcia), a passionate drama teacher who believes anything is possible if we have the courage to believe in ourselves. Challenging Colin to take on the lead role in Cyrano de Bergerac in their school production, Monsieur Devarseau’s unwavering faith in his students will help them find their voices and bring the house down. This touching comedic drama from Jennifer Devoldère showcases the power of tolerance and authenticity, proving that every leap of faith begins with someone who believes in us. Celebrating the transformative potential of theatre with a charming cast of misfits, SPEAK OUT teaches us that we deserve more than making ourselves small. If we want to bring down stars from the sky like Cyrano, we just need a little panache!
AFFFF25 The Count of Monte Cristo
Directors: Matthieu Delaporte, Alexandre de la Patellière
Cast: Laurent Lafitte, Pierre Niney, Anaïs Demoustier
Pierre Niney leads a stellar cast in Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière’s thrilling new adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ epic adventure, the first French cinematic treatment of the iconic tale of romance and redemption in over fifty years. Marseille, 1815. The dreams of principled young sailor Edmond Dantès (Niney) are about to come true; promoted to ship’s captain, he can finally marry the love of his life, Mercédès (Anaïs Demoustier). But his success inspires jealousy… betrayed by his rivals, Dantès is denounced as a member of a pro-Napoleon conspiracy and incarcerated without trial in an isolated prison. After years of solitude, Dantès befriends the inmate in the adjacent cell, Abbé Faria (Pierfrancesco Favino), who reveals the location of a hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. An extraordinary plan is hatched to exact revenge on the three men who wronged him… A true cultural phenomenon in France (where it stormed the box office with close to 10 million tickets sold), THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO delivers luxurious, spectacular big-screen entertainment, at once timeless and electrifyingly new. Widely expected to sweep the 2024 Cesar Awards, it’s a Festival must-see.
AFFFF25 The Deluge
Director: Gianluca Jodice
Cast: Mélanie Laurent, Aurore Broutin, Guillaume Canet
The remarkable Mélanie Laurent and Guillaume Canet take centre stage in writer-director Gianluca Jodice's transfixing historical drama, evocatively depicting the last days of the French Revolution and the fates of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI. 1792. The official Parisian residence of the king, the Tuileries Palace, has been stormed. Louis, Marie Antoinette and their children have been arrested and confined in a medieval chateau in the city centre. Far from the splendour of Versailles, where the family and their retinue had lived until only a few years earlier, they are vulnerable for the first time in their lives. While the King naively tries to keep spirits high and manners intact, his pragmatic and imperious wife is far more realistic about their predicament, and the destiny that likely awaits them… Drawn from the diaries of Louis XVI’s personal valet, this exceptionally crafted drama features not only marvellous production design and cinematography, but incredible costumes by twice Oscar-nominated designer Massimo Cantini Parrini. Dominated by the exceptional performances of its two leads, THE DELUGE is a compelling dramatic rejoinder to Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and Benoît Jacquot’s Farewell My Queen, which both depicted the royal couple’s lives well before the party was over.
AFFFF25 The Divine Sarah Bernhardt
Director: Guillaume Nicloux
Cast: Laurent Lafitte, Amira Casar, Sandrine Kiberlain
Sumptuous, rapturous, and full of drama, Sarah Bernhardt’s life is here to be experienced in all its theatrical glory – just as La Divine intended. Sarah Bernhardt (Sandrine Kiberlain, November, AF FFF23) is larger than life and a cyclone of contradictions. The original theatre diva, her world is blinding stage lights, opulent wealth, and delicious scandals. Ruled by fleeting fancies and sweeping emotions, she even holds court from her sickbed. And what better time to revisit her groundbreaking 19th-century stardom than in recovery from surgery? Guillaume Nicloux’s decadent biopic is an experience like no other: from exotic menageries to consuming affairs, La Divine is as showstopping as she is capricious. Patron to Alphonse Mucha, friend to Victor Hugo, and “little star” to Alexandre Dumas, Sarah Bernhardt defied societal expectations, adored dramatic death scenes and scandalised her convent with a lizard’s funeral. Nicloux’s film vividly recounts Bernhardt’s tempestuous story and is a dazzling chronicle of a chameleonic actress who defined her generation. Uncover the life of the world’s first celebrity in THE DIVINE SARAH BERNHARDT.
AFFFF25 The Good Teacher
Director: Teddy Lussi-Modeste
Cast: François Civil, Mallory Wanecque, Shaïn Boumedine
Inspired by true events, Teddy Lussi-Modeste’s gripping new morality thriller – co-written by Venice Golden Bear winner Audrey Diwan – stars the exceptional François Civil (The Three Musketeers) as a dedicated young educator whose world is upended when he is accused of misconduct by one of his students. Julien (Civil) has recently commenced teaching at a middle school in the Parisian suburbs. Enthusiastic, likeable and extremely diligent, he is absolutely floored when informed that introverted teenage pupil Leslie (Toscane Duquesne) has alleged he attempted to seduce her during class. Knowing this to be false but hesitant to articulate why, Julien grows more anxious when he realises that the school executive is only expressing half-hearted support for him whilst it moves to protect itself. As pressure builds from Leslie’s imposing older brother and her classmates, and the discomforting ramifications of the accusation – and the motivations behind it –- spread into the community at large, both Julien and Leslie face not only hostility, but danger… Set within the microcosm of the school, but reflective of wider society, Lussi-Modeste’s enthralling, nuanced and conversation-starting film is an intelligent and highly believable exploration of the complexities of human behaviour in the post #MeToo era.
AFFFF25 The Kingdom
Director: Julien Colonna
Cast: Ghjuvanna Benedetti, Anthony Morganti, Thomas Bronzini
Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, THE KINGDOM is a powerful debut film that is a rich and sensory experience – a must-see drama embodied by fierce, tender love. Corsica, 1995. Lesia (Ghjuvanna Benedetti) is desperate for a normal teenage life. However, amidst the island's gang politics, she’s not just the daughter of notorious mafioso – she’s a potential target. Taken from the beachside to an unknown villa, she is reunited with her father, Pierre-Paul (Saveriu Santucci), who is hiding from the police. As her summer holidays melt away, she is drawn deeper into his world of blood feuds and violent retribution. When all-out war erupts, Pierre-Paul and Lesia must go to ground, where they will face each other and themselves. With unflinching realism, THE KINGDOM is a powerful account of family bonds and gang violence, told by Corsican first-time director Julien Colonna and a non-professional cast. A peek into a turbulent world as seen through the eyes of a child, Colonna’s film never falls into caricature. Rather, it serves as a testament to the humanity found beneath the surface and the roles we are forced to play to survive.
AFFFF25 The Scammers
Director: Hervé Mimran
Cast: Chantal Lauby, Didier Bourdon, Gérard Darmon
Is it bad luck to rob a dead man if everyone wins? On one of Brittany's smaller isles, best friends Jean-Jean (Didier Bourdon, Promise at Dawn, AF FFF19) and Henri (Gérard Darmon, Employee of the Month, AF FFF22) find their quiet, ordinary life disrupted when a local claims the "hyper million" national lottery. Convinced they can rub shoulders, and euros, with the winner, the two set out, only to find that luck is already on their side – the local has died with the winning ticket in his hand! Armed with a spark of ingenuity and more than a bit of bad improvisation, Jean-Jean and Henri settle on a foolproof plan: a lottery scam with the whole village on side. What could go wrong? This sweetly hysterical film (a remake of the Irish classic Waking Ned Devine) from Hervé Mimran blends absurdity, heart, and a lot of mischief. Misfits Jean-Jean and Henri prove that you're never too old to raise a little hell. Set in stunning Brittany, this cast of colourful characters will steal your heart. A charming intergenerational story of what we can achieve as a community (yes, even fraud), THE SCAMMERS is a delightful romp for the whole family.
AFFFF25 The Stolen Painting
Director: Pascal Bonitzer
Cast: Léa Drucker, Nora Hamzawi, Alex Lutz
Inspired by incredible true events, acclaimed writer/director Pascal Bonitzer’s sharp and engrossing new social comedy follows a self-assured auctioneer whose professional and personal integrity is challenged by the discovery of a long-lost masterpiece. Paris, present day. Brash 40-something André Masson (César Award-winner Alex Lutz), a hotshot modern art appraiser at prestigious high-end auction house Scottie’s, receives word that a painting by Egon Schiele may have been found in a young factory worker’s home in the Alsatian city of Mulhouse. Though highly sceptical, André travels to view the canvas with his ex-partner Bettina (the superb Léa Drucker, Custody) who is also an expert valuator, only to be convinced of its authenticity as a masterwork long assumed destroyed by Nazi officials during WWII. For André, the ramifications of this once-in-a-lifetime find for his career and for his contentious relationship with his less-than-reliable intern Aurore (Louise Chevillotte), will prove both unexpected and transformative. Skilfully brought to life by an array of both endearing and duplicitous characters, THE STOLEN PAINTING is a thrilling exploration of the often-cynical world of art dealing and collecting, where the jaw-dropping prices aren't always related to the rarity of the object. It’s savvy and sophisticated entertainment.
AFFFF25 The Story of Souleymane
Director: Boris Lojkine
Cast: Nina Meurisse, Abou Sangare, Emmanuel Yovanie
Winner of three major awards at Cannes and Best Actor at the recent European Film Awards, writer/director Boris Lojkine’s propulsive drama follows a young courier as he races across Paris whilst preparing for a life-changing residency interview. Delivery workers have become an indispensable part of city life, especially since the pandemic. Among them is Souleymane (Abou Sangaré, in a commanding debut), who criss-crosses the frenetic Parisian streets in a constant race against the clock. He, like many around him, is working without permission, ‘renting’ his identity from a friend with legal status. But in just two days, Souleymane will learn whether his own asylum application will be approved or not. So, whilst striving to meet his delivery platform’s demands, he nervously practices for his interview, trying to keep his growing anxiety at bay… A major artistic highlight of this year’s Festival, Lojkine’s compassionate drama echoes not only Bicycle Thieves and the best films of the Dardennes, but also edge-of-your-seat thrillers such as Full Time (AF FFF23), and fast-became both a national talking point and word-of-mouth hit across France. Only adding to the film’s immense power is the real-life situation of its remarkable lead, who has already been denied citizenship by the French authorities. Three times.
AFFFF25 The Thread
Director: Daniel Auteuil
Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Grégory Gadebois
One of France’s most beloved and awarded actors, the remarkable Daniel Auteuil is also an accomplished writer and director (The Well-Digger’s Daughter), and this engrossing new legal thriller finds him once again in outstanding form. Auteuil stars as Jean Monier, a well-past his prime defence lawyer who – ever since discovering he was responsible for a killer being exonerated – prefers to work as a prosecutor. But one evening he agrees to help his over-committed wife and fellow counsel Annie (Sidse Babett Knudsen, Borgen) by meeting with Nicolas Milik (Grégory Gadebois, Delicious, AF FFF21), a shell-shocked father of five who has just been arrested for the murder of his troubled wife. Milik’s predicament inexplicably touches Jean; the more he pieces together the case, the more he becomes convinced of Milik’s innocence. Soon Jean rediscovers his passion for his vocation and becomes obsessed with exposing the real killer. Characterised by typically first-rate performances from its stellar cast, this pulled-from-the-headlines drama – based on true events and adapted from the memoirs of lawyer-turned-bestselling author Jean-Yves Moyart –- is a gripping exploration of guilt, conceit and the slippery nature of justice. Packing a genuine punch, THE THREAD’s conclusion lingers long after the credits have rolled.
AFFFF25 The Ties That Bind Us
Director: Carine Tardieu
Cast: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Pio Marmaï, Vimala Pons
A poignant adaptation of Alice Ferney’s book L'Intimité, Carine Tardieu’s film is a meditation on beliefs and convictions, as well as the transformation available to us when we pivot and grow. Sandra (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Anaïs in Love, AF FFF22), a feminist librarian, is not interested in children. In addition to this ambivalence, she has vowed never to become a mother. When her neighbour Alex (Pio Marmaï, The Three Musketeers I & II, AF FFF24) asks Sandra to watch his six-year-old son Elliot (César Botti) while his pregnant wife, Cécile, gives birth, Sandra sees it as just a one-off – until Cécile tragically dies after labour. Caught between grief and a desire for connection, Sandra, Alex, and Elliot’s lives become entangled in unforeseen ways, creating bonds and challenges as they wrestle with evolving definitions of love. Tender and never didactic, THE TIES THAT BIND US is a powerful reminder that it takes many shapes to form a family. Expertly navigating unexpected connections and how they can subtly but profoundly shift our worldviews, Tardieu's masterful drama presents an empathetic, non-judgmental observation of all the ways we form attachments – and how love triumphs where we least expect it.
AFFFF25 This Life of Mine
Director: Sophie Fillières
Cast: Agnès Jaoui, Laurent Capelluto, Angelina Woreth
Winner of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival SACD Best Screenplay award and opening night film of the Director’s Fortnight section, Sophie Fillières' THIS LIFE OF MINE is a sharply funny and deeply resonant take on midlife crises. With her signature wit and humour, Fillières delivers a tender portrait of a woman navigating the chaos of family, work, and the absurdities of aging. Barberie "Barbie" Bichette (Agnès Jaoui, Place Publique, AF FFF19) is a woman under siege: her kids cringe at her quirks, her soul-crushing copywriting job barely inspires her, and her body feels like it’s rebelling. Caught between hot flushes and existential dread, Barbie stumbles through the comedy of life at 55, where every small struggle feels monumental. On the brink of her birthday, Barbie faces a choice: conform to society’s dismissive view of aging women or break free. What follows is a journey of rediscovery as she escapes to the Scottish Highlands to reclaim her spirit and sense of self. Equal parts poignant and funny, THIS LIFE OF MINE reminds us that midlife isn’t the end of the story – it’s just the start of a fabulous new chapter.
AFFFF25 Three Friends
Director: Emmanuel Mouret
Cast: Sara Forestier, Vincent Macaigne, Grégoire Ludig
Emmanuel Mouret, award-winning director of Love Affair(s) (AF FFF21), returns to contemporary stories of love, loss, and entanglement with effortless aestheticism. Turning pain into beauty and the ordinary into tragedy, THREE FRIENDS is a study of the lies we tell ourselves and each other. Joan (India Hair, Annie's Fire, AF FFF23) is married to Victor, Alice (Camille Cottin, Call My Agent) to Eric, and Rebecca (Sara Forestier, Oh Mercy!, AF FFF20) is having an affair with the mysterious Mr. X. Their realities couldn't be more different: Joan isn’t in love with Victor anymore, what Alice has with Eric is nice enough but she’s only pretending, and Rebecca’s Mr. X happens to be Alice's husband Eric. Then Victor goes missing, and the three friends find their charades beginning to unravel. How much longer can the truth stay hidden? Tempted by desire and haunted by the fear of alienation, Mouret’s sometimes funny, oftentimes poignant film shows that betrayal is not a leap from a ledge, but a series of small steps along a secretly travelled path. Three friends, three lies, three truths – this is a compelling film you don't want to miss!
AFFFF25 When Fall is Coming
Director: François Ozon
Cast: Hélène Vincent, Ludivine Sagnier, Josiane Balasko
Direct from the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and winner of the Jury Prize for Best Screenplay, François Ozon's (Everything Went Fine, AF FFF21) haunting drama, WHEN FALL IS COMING, marks the director's return to his signature lyricism. In the depths of autumn in Burgundy, Michelle (Hélène Vincent, The Extraordinary, AF FFF20) spends her quiet, isolated life foraging in the undergrowth for mushrooms with Marie-Claude. When Michelle's acerbic daughter, Valérie (Ludivine Sagnier, Of Love and Lies, AF FFF20), drops her son off for the school holidays, Michelle hopes his stay will rekindle their strangled relationship. But when Michelle makes a mistake, she risks everything and her relationship with everyone. Alienated from her daughter again and shadowed by guilt, Michelle’s world turns bleak – until Marie-Claude’s son (Pierre Lottin) is unexpectedly released from prison. WHEN FALL IS COMING is an atmospheric film that maps our mistakes and our redemption, our second chances and changing seasons. Amidst the beauty of autumnal Burgundy, Ozon's film reveals a quietly menacing undercurrent. This darkness sets off a chain of startling events and highlights secrets, which like poisonous mushrooms, often lurk in plain sight.
All We Imagine as Light
Director: Payal Kapadia
Cast: Chhaya Kadam, Divya Prabha, Hridhu Haroon
The light, the lives, and the textures of contemporary, working-class Mumbai are explored and celebrated by writer/director Payal Kapadia, who won the Grand Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival for her revelatory fiction feature debut. Centering on two roommates who also work together in a city hospital--head nurse Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and recent hire Anu (Divya Prabha)--plus their coworker, cook Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam), Kapadia's film alights on moments of connection and heartache, hope and disappointment. Prabha, her husband from an arranged marriage living in faraway Germany, is courted by a doctor at her hospital; Anu carries on a romance with a Muslim man, which she must keep a secret from her strict Hindu family; Parvaty finds herself dealing with a sudden eviction from her apartment. Kapadia captures the bustle of the metropolis and the open-air tranquility of a seaside village with equal radiance, articulated by her superb actresses and by the camera with a lyrical naturalism that occasionally drifts into dreamlike incandescence. Boasting a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, All We Imagine as Light is a soulful study of the transformative power of friendship and sisterhood, in all its complexities and richness.
Alliance Française French Film Festival
The Alliance Française French Film Festival is making its grand return from 4 March to 16 April 2025! Get ready for an unforgettable cinematic journey featuring a spectacular selection of French films — from comedy, romance, and drama to thrilling adventures.
Andy Warhol: American Dream
Release Date: Saturday 1st March
By exploring Andy Warhol’s enigmatic persona and his deep-rooted family ties, this documentary reveals unseen aspects of the life and inspiration of this iconic artist. Viewers are drawn into Warhol’s world through intimate interviews and authentic materials, from his roots in Slovakia tohis transformative years in New York City. With previously unseen material and fresh perspectives ,the film sheds new light on Warhol’s introspective nature and his profound influence on art and culture. The creators of the documentary found an unexplored territory of deep family relationships within Warhol's family. Andy's story is told by people whose statements have never been recorded, and the film contains a lot of authentic material on topics that no one has investigated to this day. A new perspective and unknown facts will be an attraction not only for all Warhol admirers, but also for ordinary viewers. Part of the film was shot in the country of origin of Andy's parents, today's Slovakia, where Byzantine Catholicism used to be strongly rooted. Religion and faith have intensively intertwined with Andy's life and art, as we can see through the works and interviews with historians and family members. Equally interesting are the shots from his birthplace in Pittsburgh, from his years spent at the Carnegie Tech University, or his first house in New York. The authors filmed at the place where he became a victim of an assassination attempt, the hospital where he died suddenly years later, the cathedral of his last farewell or the final resting place in Pittsburgh. The documentary was created thanks to the support of the Andy Warhol family, who provided materials and other artifacts, Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, and the museum of Andy Warhol in Medzilaborce, Slovakia, Slovak National Gallery, Gallery of the city of Prague, the Andy Warhol Foundation.
Ange & the Boss: Puskas in Australia
Release Date: Saturday 15th March
‘Ange and the Boss’ tells the improbable story of all time great Hungarian striker Ferenc Puskas and his time in Australia. Barely able to speak English and comedically overweight, he united and inspired South Melbourne Hellas to a dramatic NSL Championship win in 1991. Eating, drinking, and enjoying himself along the way. His captain and protégé was Ange Postecoglou, now Tottenham manager and one of Australia’s most successful sporting exports. Ange and his Hellas teammates – including Paul Trimboli, Miki Petersen, Gus Tsolakis and Con Boutsianis – light up the screen with their love and appreciation for Puskás and the aura he generated. The film has delighted audiences of all backgrounds. It’s fun and funny, poignant and reverent, and captures a lesser-known side of Melbourne’s history. It’s a sports documentary, but it’s also a film about life in Australia. It’s about immigrant identity and belonging, gluttonous pasta consumption, and the broken window winder in Ange Postecoglou’s Datsun 200B.
Anora
Director: Sean Baker
Cast: Yuriy Borisov, Mikey Madison, Karren Karagulian
Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, acclaimed director Sean Baker’s new film follows Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn, who gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled. ANORA is a dark comedy reminiscent of Baker’s previous, successful films that blend sharp social commentary with compelling character studies. The highly entertaining arthouse gem captures the audacious journey of a Brooklyn sex worker thrust into a whirlwind Cinderella story turned darkly comedic nightmare. With Baker's signature style, Anora is both a poignant and irreverent exploration of societal contrasts, cultural clashes, and personal resilience.
Babygirl
Director: Halina Reijn
Cast: Jean Reno, Nicole Kidman, Antonio Banderas
Oscar winner Nicole Kidman delivers a tour de force performance in Halina Reijn’s (Bodies Bodies Bodies) bold, provocative and sexually charged erotic thriller, BABYGIRL, a Venice Film Festival standout lauded for its audacious exploration of power and desire. Co-starring Harris Dickinson, best known for his work in Triangle of Sadness, this A24 film pairs two magnetic leads in a smouldering illicit affair that blurs professional and personal boundaries. Kidman stars as a high-powered CEO whose seemingly perfect family life begins to unravel when she embarks on a risky secret relationship with her charismatic younger intern (Dickinson). As passions ignite, the film delves into the nuances of sexual desire, modern power dynamics, and the consequences of blurred (but consensual) boundaries, delivering a visceral experience layered with emotional intensity and tension-filled drama. Sharply observed through a female lens and with a contemporary soundtrack, Babygirl flips traditional gender roles in Reijn’s edgy risqué feature. An ultimately hopeful – and, at times, darkly funny - investigation of raw female desire, the Dutch writer/director approaches this tale of seduction with empathy and candour, all while being genuinely erotic and unpredictable.
Bad Genius
Release Date: Thursday 10th April
Bad Genius is a high-intensity thriller, starring Benedict Wong, Callina Liang, Jabari Banks. The film follows Lynn, who wins a full scholarship to a prestigious high school, as she joins her new friends in "helping" a few students with their exams. As their cheating ring grows, Lynn is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: helping hundreds of kids cheat and giving the middle finger to the entire American education system. The film is an adaptation of the hit 2017 Thai movie Bad Genius (Chalard Games Goeng).
Ballerina
Release Date: Thursday 5th June
Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. BALLERINA is directed by Len Wiseman and stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.
Becoming Led Zeppelin
Director: Bernard MacMahon
Cast: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham
BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN explores the origins of this iconic group and their meteoric rise in just one year against all the odds. Powered by awe-inspiring, psychedelic, never-before-seen footage, performances and music, Bernard MacMahon’s experiential cinematic odyssey explores Led Zeppelin’s creative, musical, and personal origin story. The film is told in Led Zeppelin’s own words and is the first officially sanctioned film on the group.
Better Man
Director: Michael Gracey
Cast: Kate Mulvany, Damon Herriman, Alison Steadman
Discover an extraordinary journey that can’t be told in an ordinary way. Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring. BETTER MAN is directed by Michael Gracey and stars Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Damon Herriman, Kate Mulvany, Anthony Hayes, Steve Pemberton, and Alison Steadman.
Billy Elliot the Musical Live (20th Anniversary)
Release Date: Thursday 3rd April
Based on the Academy Award® nominated film, Billy Elliot the Musical has won the hearts of millions since it opened in London’s West End in 2005. Set in a northern mining town, against the background of the 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy’s journey takes him out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever. The original creative team behind the film, including writer Lee Hall (book & lyrics), director Stephen Daldry, and choreographer, Peter Darling, is joined by music legend Elton John (music) to produce a funny, uplifting and spectacular theatrical experience that will stay with you forever.
Bird
Release Date: Thursday 20th February
The long-awaited return to fiction filmmaking from Academy Award-winner Andrea Arnold (American Honey, Fish Tank), BIRD is a tender, striking and extraordinarily surprising coming-of-age fable about marginalized life in the fringes of contemporary society. 12-year-old Bailey (astounding newcomer Nykiya Adams) lives with her devoted but chaotic single dad Bug (Barry Keoghan, Saltburn) and wayward brother Hunter in a squat in Gravesend, north Kent. Approaching puberty and seeking attention and adventure, Bailey's fractured home life is transformed when she encounters Bird (Franz Rogowski, Passages), a mysterious stranger on a journey of his own. A wondrous portrait of the transition from childhood to adolescence that remains grounded in her typically empathetic social realism, Arnold's latest strides to the wildly poetic rhythm of her own drum.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Release Date: Thursday 13th February
Director: Michael Morris
Cast: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Two-time Academy Award® winner Renée Zellweger returns to the role that established a romantic-comedy heroine for the ages, a woman whose inimitable approach to life and love redefined an entire film genre. Bridget Jones first blasted onto bookshelves in Helen Fielding’s literary phenomenon Bridget Jones’s Diary, which became a global bestseller and a blockbuster film. As a single career woman living in London, Bridget Jones not only introduced the world to her romantic adventures, but added “Singletons”, “Smug-Marrieds” and “f---wittage” into the global lexicon. Bridget’s ability to triumph despite adversity led her to finally marry top lawyer Mark Darcy and to become the mother of their baby boy. Happiness at last. But in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Bridget is alone once again, widowed four years ago, when Mark was killed on a humanitarian mission in the Sudan. She’s now a single mother to nine-year-old Billy and four-year-old Mabel, and is stuck in a state of emotional limbo, raising her children with help from her loyal friends and even her former lover, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). Pressured by her Urban Family —Shazzer, Jude and Tom, her work colleague Miranda, her mother, and her gynecologist Dr. Rawlings (Oscar® winner Emma Thompson) — to forge a new path toward life and love, Bridget goes back to work and even tries out the dating apps, where she’s soon pursued by a dreamy and enthusiastic younger man (White Lotus’s Leo Woodall). Now juggling work, home and romance, Bridget grapples with the judgment of the perfect mums at school, worries about Billy as he struggles with the absence of his father, and engages in a series of awkward interactions with her son’s rational-to-a-fault science teacher (Oscar® nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor).
Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date: Thursday 13th February
Director: Julius Onah
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Liv Tyler
Anthony Mackie returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson and confidently steps into the limelight as the new Captain America. In CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, played by iconic Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford in his MCU debut, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a villainous global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red. Directed by Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox), this bold fourth instalment in the Captain America series manages to be both grounded and affecting, delivering not only high-octane action but also a timely exploration of brotherhood and leadership in a divided world. Set against a politically charged backdrop, the film sees Mackie’s character forging his own legacy while grappling with personal and national dilemmas. This February, Captain America: Brave New World promises an exhilarating cinematic experience as thrilling as it is thought-provoking. With a blend of memorable performances, riveting action sequences and a powerful story about identity and duty, this blockbuster stands out as an absolute must-watch for Marvel fans and newcomers alike.
Captain America: Brave New World
Director: Julius Onah
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Liv Tyler
Anthony Mackie returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson and confidently steps into the limelight as the new Captain America. In CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, played by iconic Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford in his MCU debut, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a villainous global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red. Directed by Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox), this bold fourth instalment in the Captain America series manages to be both grounded and affecting, delivering not only high-octane action but also a timely exploration of brotherhood and leadership in a divided world. Set against a politically charged backdrop, the film sees Mackie’s character forging his own legacy while grappling with personal and national dilemmas. This February, Captain America: Brave New World promises an exhilarating cinematic experience as thrilling as it is thought-provoking. With a blend of memorable performances, riveting action sequences and a powerful story about identity and duty, this blockbuster stands out as an absolute must-watch for Marvel fans and newcomers alike.
Chhaava
Release Date: Friday 14th February
A historical drama based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Directed by Laxman Utekar, produced by Maddock Films, and featuring an impressive cast including Vicky Kaushal (the National Award-winning actor from Uri: The Surgical Strike), Rashmika Mandanna (Pushpa: The Rise) combined with A R Rahman’s extraordinary music (the Academy Award-winning composer of Slumdog Millionaire).
Companion
Director: Drew Hancock
Cast: Rupert Friend, Woody Fu, Harvey Guillén
Find someone made just for you in Drew Hancock’s (My Dead Ex, Suburgatory) perfectly perverse love story from hell, COMPANION. New Line Cinema, the studio that brought you The Notebook, and the unhinged creators of Barbarian cordially invite you to experience a new kind of love story… It’s M3GAN meets Ex Machina in this sci-fi psychological thriller where a billionaire's death sets off a chain of bloody events for Iris, a subservient android built for human companionship, during a weekend trip to a lakeside estate with his eclectic group of friends. The electric feature stars rising scream queen Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets, The Boogeyman) fresh off a buzzy performance in A24's acclaimed Hugh Grant-horror, Heretic, and The Boys' Jack Quaid at the centre of the weekend getaway turned bloody and violent. It’s freaky fun horror at its best, featuring a stellar supporting cast including Lukas Gage (Smile 2, The White Lotus), Megan Suri (Never Have I Ever, It Lives Inside), Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows, Blue Beetle) and Rupert Friend (High Desert, Asteroid City).
Conclave
Director: Edward Berger
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci
The pope is dead. The throne is vacant. From director Edward Berger, CONCLAVE follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events -- selecting the new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang, Chow Yun-Fat
A young Chinese warrior steals a sword from a famed swordsman and then escapes into a world of romantic adventure with a mysterious man in the frontier of the nation.
Die Hard
Director: John McTiernan
Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia
John McClane, officer of the NYPD, tries to save his wife Holly Gennaro and several others that were taken hostage by German terrorist Hans Gruber during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.
Disney's Snow White
Release Date: Thursday 20th March
"Disney's Snow White," a live-action musical reimagining of the classic 1937 film, opens exclusively in theaters March 20, 2025. Starring Rachel Zegler ("West Side Story") in the title role and Gal Gadot ("Wonder Woman") as her Stepmother, the Evil Queen, the magical music adventure journeys back to the timeless story with beloved characters Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.
Dog Man
Release Date: Thursday 3rd April
Part dog, part man, all hero. From DreamWorks Animation—creators of the beloved blockbuster franchises Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon and The Boss Baby—comes the canine-crime-fighting film adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s New York Times bestselling literary phenomenon: Dog Man. When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man is sworn to protect and serve—and fetch, sit and roll over. As Dog Man embraces his new identity and strives to impress his Chief (Lil Rel Howery, Get Out, Free Guy), he must stop the pretty evil plots of feline supervillain Petey the Cat (Pete Davidson; Saturday Night Live, The King of Staten Island). Petey’s latest plan is to clone himself, creating the kitten Lil Petey, to double his ability to do crime stuff. Things get complicated, though, when Lil Petey forges an unexpected bond with Dog Man. When Lil Petey falls into the clutches of a common enemy, Dog Man and Petey reluctantly join forces in an action-packed race against time to rescue the young kitten. In the process, they discover the power of family (and kittens!) to bring even the most hostile foes together. Dog Man also stars Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers, Rango) as TV reporter Sarah Hatoff; Poppy Liu (Hacks, The Afterparty) as Petey’s assistant, Butler; Emmy nominee Stephen Root (Barry, King of the Hill) as Grampa; Billy Boyd (the Lord of the Rings franchise, Seed of Chucky) as Sarah’s cameraman, Seamus; and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Ricky Gervais (The Office, Extras) as Flippy the fish.
Drop
Release Date: Thursday 17th April
First dates are nerve-wracking enough. Going on a first date while an unnamed, unseen troll pings you personal memes that escalate from annoying to homicidal? Blood-chilling. Director Christopher Landon returns to the thriller genre with the playful, keep-you-guessing intensity he perfected in the Happy Death Day films with this of-the-moment whodunnit where everyone in the vicinity is a suspect . . . or victim. Drop is jointly produced by blockbuster genre houses Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes. Emmy nominee Meghann Fahy, breakout star of White Lotus and The Perfect Couple, plays Violet, a widowed mother on her first date in years, who arrives at an upscale restaurant where she is relieved that her date, Henry (It Ends with Us’ Brandon Sklenar) is more charming and handsome than she expected. But their chemistry begins to curdle as Violet begins being irritated and then terrorized by a series of anonymous drops to her phone. She is instructed to tell nobody and follow instructions or the hooded figure she sees on her home security cameras will kill Violet’s young son and babysitting sister. Violet must do exactly as directed or everyone she loves will die. Her unseen tormentor’s final directive? Kill Henry. The film also stars Violett Beane (Truth or Dare) and newcomer Jacob Robinson as Violet’s sister and son; with Reed Diamond (Moneyball), Gabrielle Ryan (Power Book IV: Force), Jeffery Self (Mack & Rita), Ed Weeks (The Mindy Project) and Travis Nelson (The Lake) as the restaurant’s staff and diners.
EOS: Dawn of Impressionism - Paris 1874
Release Date: Thursday 20th March
The Impressionists are the most popular group in art history – millions flock every year to marvel at their masterpieces. But, to begin with, they were scorned, penniless outsiders. 1874 was the year that changed everything; the first Impressionists, “hungry for independence”, broke the mould by holding their own exhibition outside official channels. Impressionism was born and the art world was changed forever. What led to that first groundbreaking show 150 years ago? Who were the maverick personalities that wielded their brushes in such a radical and provocative way? The spectacular Musée d’Orsay exhibition brings fresh eyes to this extraordinary tale of passion and rebellion. The story is told not by historians and curators but in the words of those who witnessed the dawn of Impressionism: the artists, press and people of Paris, 1874. Made in close collaboration with the Musee d’Orsay and National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Emilia Perez
Director: Jacques Audiard
Cast: Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Edgar Ramírez
From renegade auteur Jacques Audiard comes Emilia Pérez, an audacious fever dream that defies genres and expectations. Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals, this odyssey follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness. The fearsome cartel leader Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) enlists Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an unappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self. Winning the Jury Prize Award & Best Actress for Karla Sofía Gascón at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival 2024, Emilia Pérez in a swaggering musical crime thriller of genre-bending fascination that is also an unapologetically trans story.
F1
Release Date: Thursday 26th June
From Apple Original Films, “F1” stars Brad Pitt as a former driver who returns to Formula 1, alongside Damson Idris as his teammate at APXGP, a fictional team on the grid. The feature is being shot during actual Grand Prix weekends as the team competes against the titans of the sport. The star-studded cast also includes Academy Award nominee Kerry Condon, Academy Award winner Javier Bardem, and Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe Award nominee Tobias Menzies, Emmy Award nominee Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia and Samson Kayo. Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) directs and produces the feature alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman of Jerry Bruckheimer Films; Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner for Plan B Entertainment; and Lewis Hamilton under his Dawn Apollo Films banner.
Flow
Release Date: Thursday 20th March
Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and nominated for the Academy Award for both Best Animated Feature and Best International Film, Flow is a wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical. The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as his home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning Gints Zilbalodis (Away) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, Flow is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.
Grand Tour
Release Date: Thursday 13th February
Director: Miguel Gomes
Cast: Crista Alfaiate, Gonçalo Waddington
Rangoon, Burma, 1918. Edward, a civil servant for the British Empire, runs away from his fiancée Molly the day she arrives to get married. During his travels, however, panic gives way to melancholy. Contemplating the emptiness of his existence, the cowardly Edward wonders what has become of Molly… Determined to get married and amused by Edward's move, Molly follows his trail on this Asian grand tour.
Hard Truths
Release Date: Thursday 6th March
Legendary filmmaker Mike Leigh returns to the contemporary world with a fierce, compassionate, and often darkly humorous study of family and the thorny ties that bind us. Reunited with Leigh for the first time since multiple Oscar-nominated Secrets and Lies, the astonishing Marianne Jean-Baptiste plays Pansy, a woman wracked by fear, tormented by afflictions, and prone to raging tirades against her husband, son, and anyone who looks her way. Meanwhile, her easygoing younger sister, played by Michele Austin (Another Year), is a single mother with a life as different from Pansy's as their clashing temperaments -- brimming with communal warmth from her salon clients and daughters alike. This expansive film from a master dramatist takes us into the intensities of kinship, duty, and the most enduring of human mysteries: that even through lifetimes of hurt and hardship, we still find ways to love those we call family.
Heart Eyes
Release Date: Thursday 13th February
When the Heart Eyes Killer strikes Seattle, a pair of co-workers pulling overtime on Valentine’s Day are mistaken for a couple by the elusive couple-hunting killer. Now they must spend the most romantic night of the year running for their lives...
I'm Still Here
Release Date: Thursday 27th February
Director: Walter Salles
Cast: Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro
Oscar nominee Fernanda Montenegro and her daughter Fernanda Torres deliver powerhouse performances in Walter Salles’ (The Motorcycle Diaries, Central Station) long-awaited return to narrative filmmaking with I’M STILL HERE, a gripping historical drama set against the backdrop of Brazil’s oppressive military dictatorship in the 1970s. Brazil’s official selection for Best International Film at the 2025 Academy Awards, the film is based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s acclaimed memoir, bringing to life a powerful true story of unwavering courage, profound sacrifice, and enduring resilience in the face of systemic oppression. Set in 1971, the film follows Eunice Paiva (Torres), a mother of five whose life is shattered when her husband is forcibly taken from their home by the military police, disappearing into the brutal machinery of the dictatorship. Left with no answers and mounting danger, Eunice must navigate a society fraught with fear while transforming herself into a relentless activist, challenging the regime’s violence and secrecy to fight for her husband and her family’s survival. Montenegro’s role as Eunice’s mother-in-law brings added poignancy and gravitas to the multi-generational story. Through Salles’ masterful direction and a script by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, I’M STILL HERE captures the anguish of personal loss amidst national upheaval, creating a deeply human portrait of a woman’s fight for justice in the darkest of times. With stunning cinematography and a visceral score, the film is both an unflinching historical drama and a moving tribute to the women who defy oppression to seek truth, no matter the cost.
In the Lost Lands
Release Date: Thursday 27th February
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and based on George R.R. Martin's short story, the story centers on a queen who, desperate to fulfill her love, makes a daring play: she sends the powerful and feared sorceress Gray Alys (Mila Jovovich) to the ghostly wilderness of the Lost Lands in search of a magical power, where the sorceress and her guide, the drifter Boyce (Dave Bautista), must outwit and outfight man and demon.
Inception
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard
Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible, inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea, but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.
Inside
Release Date: Thursday 27th February
Director: Charles Williams
Cast: Guy Pearce, Toby Wallace, Tara Morice
Guy Pearce stars in INSIDE, a gripping prison drama exploring themes of institutionalization, redemption, and the blurred lines between salvation and condemnation. Directed by Charles Williams, the Palme d’Or-winning filmmaker, this feature debut is a compelling portrait of the human struggle for meaning behind bars. When young offender Mel Blight (Vincent Miller) is transferred from juvenile detention to a maximum-security prison, he finds himself sharing a cell with Australia’s notorious inmate Mark Shepard (Cosmo Jarvis, Shōgun). Warren Murfett (Pearce), a hardened lifer desperate to reunite with his son Adrian (Toby Wallace, Acute Misfortune) on the outside, sees an opportunity: he manipulates Mel into targeting Mark, who carries a price on his head. As tensions mount, the bond between the three men deepens in unexpected ways, forcing them to confront their pasts, their humanity, and the possibility of forgiveness. Executive-produced by Thomas M. Wright (The Stranger) and supported by the MIFF Premiere Fund, INSIDE was filmed in Melbourne and regional Victoria. The film boasts standout performances, including Miller’s remarkable debut, Jarvis’s transformative portrayal, and Pearce’s nuanced depiction of a man caught between hope and despair. With its raw emotional intensity and sharp examination of incarceration, rehabilitation, and remorse, INSIDE is a striking achievement from a rising cinematic talent.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live
Release Date: Thursday 6th March
Cast: Tim Minchin, Melanie Chisholm, Chris Moyles
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock classic Jesus Christ Superstar returns to its roots with this sensational performance filmed in the UK during the Live Arena Tour. An incredible cast including Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot, Melanie Chisholm as Mary Magdalene, Chris Moyles as King Herod and Ben Forster as Jesus Christ, perform hit songs including “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Gethsemane,” “Heaven on Their Minds,” “Everything’s Alright,” “King Herod’s Song” and “Superstar” in an exciting and contemporary interpretation.
Lee
Director: Ellen Kuras
Cast: Marion Cotillard, Alexander Skarsgård, Kate Winslet
Oscar winner Kate Winslet stars in this fascinating portrait of the great American war correspondent Lee Miller, whose singular talent and ferocious tenacity gave us some of the 20th century’s most indelible images. A former model, Lee is now tired of being viewed through a lens and by men, and focusses on her own work as a photographer. As the threat of war looms, everything about their daily lives changes completely, almost overnight. Frustrated by the restrictions placed on female photographers at the time, who are limited to documenting life on the home front, Miller urges her female boss at British Vogue, to request permission for Lee to go to the frontline. With a profound understanding and empathy for women and for the voiceless victims of atrocious crimes, her images feature both the fragility and ferocity of the human ability to survive, exist, fight, defend and live. Directed by award winning cinematographer Ellen Kuras, and featuring superb supporting performances from Marion Cotillard, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg and Alex Skarsgard, the film is a vivid reminder of the bold women who fought to penetrate male-dominated spaces — making great sacrifices and ultimately changing the way we see the world.
Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants
Release Date: Thursday 20th February
Legends Of The Condor Heroes: The Gallants is an action-packed fantasy drama adapted from Jin Yong's classic martial arts novel, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes”. Under Genghis Khan, the Mongolian army pushes west to destroy the Jin Dynasty, setting its sights on the Song Dynasty next. Amid internal conflicts among martial arts schools, Guo Jing unites the Central Plains’ warriors to defend Xiangyang, embodying courage and loyalty in the fight for the nation.
M3GAN 2.0
Release Date: Thursday 26th June
The murderous doll who captivated pop culture in 2023 is back. And this time she’s not alone. The original creative team behind that phenomenon—led by horror titans James Wan for Atomic Monster, Jason Blum for Blumhouse and directorGerard Johnstone—reboot an all-new wild chapter in A.I. mayhem with M3GAN 2.0. Two years after M3GAN, a marvel of artificial intelligence, went rogue and embarked on a murderous (and impeccably choreographed) rampage and was subsequently destroyed, M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of A.I. Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma’s overprotective rules. Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno; Ahsoka, Pacific Rim: Uprising), the ultimate killer infiltration spy. But as Amelia’s self-awareness increases, she becomes decidedly less interested in taking orders from humans. Or in keeping them around. With the future of human existence on the line, Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal. As their paths collide, the original A.I bitch is about to meet her match.
MACBETH: David Tennant & Cush Jumbo
Release Date: Thursday 20th February
Director: Max Webster
Cast: David Tennant, Cush Jumbo
David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) and Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife, Criminal Record) lead a stellar cast in an ‘enthralling’ (★★★★★ Daily Telegraph) new production of Shakespeare’s MACBETH, filmed live at the Donmar Warehouse in London, especially for the big screen. Unsettling intimacy and brutal action combine at breakneck speed as Max Webster (Life of Pi, Henry V) directs this tragic tale of love, murder, and nature’s power of renewal. With staging ‘full of wolfish imagination and alarming surprise’ (★★★★★ The Guardian), the immersive 5.1 cinema surround sound places the audience inside the minds of the Macbeths, asking are we ever really responsible for our actions?
Magic Beach
Director: Robert Connolly
Cast: Spencer Ellis Anderson, Rylee Chuck, Elliott Hayes
After captivating children and families for 30 years, Alison Lester’s beloved book MAGIC BEACH has been brought to life on screen by director Robert Connolly (Paper Planes) and some of Australia’s leading animators. Take a trip with the ones you love through a unique mix of live action, entwined with extraordinary animated adventures that bring you to a dreamy seaside world where anything is possible. Featuring timeless characters, MAGIC BEACH is a captivating blend of reality and fantasy that inspires people of all ages to feel the sand beneath their toes and find wonder in the world around them.
Maria
Director: Pablo Larraín
Cast: Alba Rohrwacher, Valeria Golino, Pierfrancesco Favino
From Pablo Larraín, director of SPENCER and JACKIE, comes MARIA starring Angelina Jolie as the world's greatest female opera singer, Maria Callas. Angelina Jolie unveils new highs within her emotional register in Pablo Larraín's Maria, the tumultuous, beautiful and tragic story of the life of the world’s greatest female opera singer, relived and reimagined during her final days in 1970s Paris.
Mickey 17
Release Date: Thursday 6th March
He’s dying to save mankind. From the Academy Award-winning writer/director of “Parasite”, Bong Joon Ho, comes his next groundbreaking cinematic experience, “Mickey 17”. The unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living. Written and directed by Bong Joon Ho, “Mickey 17” stars Robert Pattinson (“The Batman”, “Tenet”), Naomi Ackie (“Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker”), Steven Yeun (“Nope”), with Academy Award nominees Toni Collette (“Hereditary”), and Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”).
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Release Date: Thursday 22nd May
Our lives are the sum of our choices. The final adventure of IMF agent Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. In cinemas May 22, 2025.
Moana 2
Director: Dave Derrick Jr.
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Auli'i Cravalho
Featuring the voices of Auli‘i Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical MOANA 2 takes audiences back to the ocean on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. With music composed by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina, MOANA 2 promises to deliver a soundtrack of unforgettable new songs that are sure to become instant Disney classics.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Director: Barry Jenkins
Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Seth Rogen, Aaron Pierre
Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, “Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe. The film features an all-star roster of talent, including Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., John Kani, Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Blue Ivy Carter, Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Blending liveaction filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery, the all-new feature film is directed by Barry Jenkins, produced by Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak, and executive produced by Peter Tobyansen. Featuring songs by award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Mufasa: The Lion King” opens only in theaters on Dec. 19, 2024.
NT Live: The Importance of Being Earnest
Release Date: Thursday 27th March
Director: Max Webster
Cast: Eliza Scanlen, Hugh Skinner, Amanda Lawrence
Three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who; Sex Education) in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy. While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate. Max Webster (Life of Pi) directs this hilarious story of identity, impersonation and romance, filmed live from the National Theatre in London.
Nosferatu
Director: Robert Eggers
Cast: Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp
Sink your teeth into acclaimed director Robert Eggers’ (The Lighthouse, The Northman) transfixing retelling of a timeless classic. NOSFERATU is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman in 19th century Germany and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake. The fantastical horror's bloody excellent cast includes Bill Skarsgård, Willem Dafoe, Lily-Rose Depp, Emma Corrin, Nicholas Hoult and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
One of Them Days
Release Date: Thursday 6th March
Best friends and roommates Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) are about to have One of Them Days. When they discover Alyssa’s boyfriend has blown their rent money, the duo finds themselves going to extremes in a comical race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact. Dishing out enough laughter and chemistry to spare through Keke Palmer and SZA, One of Them Days makes the buddy-comedy genre feel like magic once again.
Opéra de Paris: Carmen
Release Date: Saturday 22nd March
Director: Calixto Bieito
Cast: Maria Agresta, Elīna Garanča, Roberto Alagna
The first words uttered by Carmen (Elīna Garanča) mark one of the greatest entrances in the history of opera and express all that need be said: “Love is a rebellious bird that no one can tame”. With a devilish sway of the hips and a hint of Andalusian flair, the beautiful cigar-maker sets her sights on a soldier: Don José (Roberto Alagna). Fate will do the rest... Carmen’s irrepressible freedom, coupled with a need to live ever more intensely on a knife-edge, is present in Calixto Bieito’s contemporary production as in no other. The luxury cast is conducted by Sir Mark Elder.
Paddington in Peru
Director: Dougal Wilson
Cast: Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman, Ben Whishaw
Get ready for the journey of a lifetime as PADDINGTON IN PERU brings the world’s most beloved bear back to his roots, his homeland Peru. Following the adventures of PADDINGTON and PADDINGTON 2, Paddington is still living happily with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens. When he receives a letter from the Reverend Mother, the blithe guitar strumming nun who runs the Home for Retired Bears, informing him that Aunt Lucy misses him dearly, he knows he simply must visit her as soon as possible. With his shiny new British passport in hand, Paddington is joined by the Browns, including the ever-resourceful Mrs. Bird, on an epic journey that none of them will ever forget. Along the way the group meet new friends, including the dashing riverboat captain Hunter and his daughter Gina. They join them on their thrilling escapades through the Amazon rainforest and up to the stunning mountain peaks of Peru. Together they encounter unexpected challenges, and Paddington begins to uncover surprising secrets about his past. Throughout the ups and downs, his unwavering optimism and kindness shine brightly in this brand-new Paddington cinematic adventure that reinforces the importance of family, and the joy of embracing one's heritage. PADDINGTON IN PERU is the debut feature from director Dougal Wilson and is based on the best-selling and internationally adored series of children's stories by British author Michael Bond.
Presence
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Chris Sullivan, Julia Fox, Lucy Liu
From visionary director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Contagion), PRESENCE is the new horror shot entirely from a first-person perspective of a haunting spirit. Featuring terrific performances from Lucy Liu (Kill Bill: Vol 1), Julia Fox (Uncut Gems), Callina Liang (Bad Genius) and Chris Sullivan (Stranger Things), PRESENCE follows a family who become convinced they are not alone after moving into their new home in the suburbs.
Pretty Woman
Director: Garry Marshall
Cast: Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Jason Alexander
When successful corporate mogul Edward Lewis meets independent and carefree hooker Vivian Ward, their two lives are worlds apart. But Vivian's energetic spirit challenges Edward's no-nonsense, business-minded approach to life, sparking an immediate attraction. He teaches her about the finer things in life; she teaches him that love could be the best investment he ever made.
Queer
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, Daniel Craig
Academy Award nominee Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Challengers) delivers an unflinching and seductive adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ groundbreaking novella in QUEER, a provocative exploration of longing, identity, and self-destruction. Starring Daniel Craig in a career-defining performance racking up awards attention, this evocative period drama is a searing portrait of alienation and desire. Set in the vibrant yet volatile expat underworld of 1950s Mexico City, Craig stars as Lee, a disillusioned American grappling with his identity. Seeking solace in a haze of drugs and alcohol, Lee becomes infatuated with Eugene Allerton, a younger, enigmatic man who is both the object of his obsession and a mirror of his own fractured psyche. As their tenuous connection spirals into a tangled web of dependence and rejection, the film delves deeply into the complexities of desire, self-loathing, and the human need for connection. With Guadagnino’s signature visual flair and a brilliant score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, QUEER captures the raw vulnerability of Burroughs’ prose while expanding it into a lush cinematic experience. A fearless and unrelenting look at the destructive power of love and the search for meaning in a world on the fringes, QUEER is both a gripping character study and a timeless reflection on the universal longing to be seen.
Royal Ballet: Swan Lake
Release Date: Saturday 29th March
Director: Liam Scarlett
Cast: Matthew Ball, The Royal Ballet, Yasmine Naghdi
Classical ballet's most powerful tale of love, treachery and forgiveness. Bringing together Tchaikovsky’s sensational score with the incredible imagination of choreographer Liam Scarlett and designer John Macfarlane, ‘Swan Lake’ on the big screen is an exceptional way to experience this ultimate ballet classic. Prince Siegfried (Matthew Ball) chances upon a flock of swans while out hunting. When one of the swans turns into a beautiful woman, Odette (Yasmine Naghdi), he is enraptured. But she is under a spell that holds her captive, allowing her to regain her human form only at night. Von Rothbart (Thomas Whitehead), arbiter of Odette's curse, tricks the Prince into declaring his love for the identical Odile and thus breaking his vow to Odette. Doomed to remain a swan forever, Odette has but one way to break the sorcerer's spell…
Royal Opera: The Tales Of Hoffmann
Release Date: Saturday 15th February
Director: Damiano Michieletto
Cast: Ermonela Jaho, Alex Esposito, Royal Opera Chorus
Four women: four curious love stories. The great Juan Diego Flórez leads a fantastic cast in Offenbach's dream-like opera. Through the haze of the years, a poet remembers the women he loved. But when it comes to matters of the heart, nothing is as it seems. Particularly when the devil himself (Alex Esposito) is involved… Journeying back to his school days, Hoffmann relives his childhood romance with Olympia (Olga Pudova), a model student in every sense. Doomed love follows him into adulthood, where the dancer, Antonia (Ermonela Jaho), is taken from him too soon. Meanwhile, the sensual courtesan Giulietta (Maria Costa-Jackson) has her own secret agenda. As memory and fantasy becomes increasingly blurred, will Hoffmann find the enigmatic Stella before it is too late?
SPIT
Release Date: Thursday 6th March
Director: Jonathan Teplitzky
Cast: David Wenham, David Field, Helen Thomson
After 20 years on the run overseas, small-time ex-criminal Johnny Spitieri (Spit) slips back into Australia on a false passport only to find himself locked up in an Immigration Detention Centre with a massive target on his back as old enemies come looking for him, determined to settle old scores. As he struggles to stay one step ahead, the resourceful Spit finds new friends in detention, teaching them his version of mateship, and what it means to be truly Australian.
September 5
Director: Tim Fehlbaum
Cast: Peter Sarsgaard, Ben Chaplin, John Magaro
"September 5" unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. Set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, the film follows an American Sports broadcasting team that quickly adapted from sports reporting to live coverage of the Israeli athletes taken hostage. Through this lens, "September 5" provides a fresh perspective on the live broadcast seen globally by an estimated one billion people at the time. At the heart of the story is Geoff (John Magaro), a young and ambitious producer striving to prove himself to his boss, the legendary TV executive Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard). Together with German interpreter Marianne (Leonie Benesch) and his mentor Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), Geoff unexpectedly takes the helm of the live coverage. As narratives shift, time ticks away, and conflicting rumors spread, with the hostages' lives hanging in the balance, Geoff grapples with tough decisions while confronting his own moral compass.
Seven
Detectives Somerset and Mills, one a seasoned cop, the other a relatively new one, are paired up to solve murders. Together they attempt to find a killer who is inspired by the seven deadly sins.
Sinners
Release Date: Thursday 17th April
From Ryan Coogler—director of “Black Panther” and “Creed”—and starring Michael B. Jordan comes a new vision of fear: “Sinners”. Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. “You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home.” Written and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Coogler, “Sinners” stars Jordan (the “Black Panther” and “Creed” franchises) in a dual role, joined by Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld (“Bumblebee”. “True Grit”), Jack O’Connell (“Ferrari”), Wunmi Mosaku (“Passenger”), Jayme Lawson (“The Woman King”), Omar Benson Miller (“True Lies”) and Delroy Lindo (“Da 5 Bloods”).
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Director: Jeff Fowler
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, Jim Carrey
Sonic the Hedgehog returns to the big screen this holiday season in his most thrilling adventure yet. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet. Director Jeff Fowler returns along with our all-star cast including Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, newcomers Alyla Browne and Krysten Ritter, with Keanu Reeves joining the franchise as Shadow the Hedgehog.
Spider-Mania: Spider-Man: Far from Home (Extended)
Experience all the legendary live-action Spider-Man™ movies on the big screen – again or for the first time! In celebration of Columbia Pictures 100th anniversary, all eight live-action Spider-Man™ films will be swinging back into cinemas for one week each throughout January & February. Peter Parker's relaxing European vacation takes an unexpected turn when Nick Fury shows up in his hotel room to recruit him for a mission. The world is in danger as four massive elemental creatures -- each representing Earth, air, water and fire -- emerge from a hole torn in the universe. Parker soon finds himself donning the Spider-Man suit to help Fury and fellow superhero Mysterio stop the evil entities from wreaking havoc across the continent.
Spider-Mania: Spider-Man: Homecoming
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: Michael Keaton, Tom Holland, Donald Glover
Experience all the legendary live-action Spider-Man™ movies on the big screen – again or for the first time! In celebration of Columbia Pictures 100th anniversary, all eight live-action Spider-Man™ films will be swinging back into cinemas for one week each throughout January & February. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine -- distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.
Spider-Mania: Spider-Man: No Way Home
Experience all the legendary live-action Spider-Man™ movies on the big screen – again or for the first time! In celebration of Columbia Pictures 100th anniversary, all eight live-action Spider-Man™ films will be swinging back into cinemas for one week each throughout January & February. For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero's identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk. When he enlists Doctor Strange's help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who've ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe. Now, Peter will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.
Superman
Release Date: Thursday 10th July
“Superman”, DC Studios’ first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures. In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind. DC Studios heads Peter Safran and Gunn are producing the film, which Gunn directs from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film stars David Corenswet (“Twisters”, “Hollywood”) in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult (the “X-Men” movies, “Juror #2”) as Lex Luthor. The film also stars Edi Gathegi (“For All Mankind”), Anthony Carrigan (“Barry”, “Gotham”), Nathan Fillion (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “The Suicide Squad”), Isabela Merced (“Alien Romulus”), Skyler Gisondo (“Licorice Pizza”, “Booksmart”), Sara Sampaio (“At Midnight”), María Gabriela de Faría (“The Moodys”), Wendell Pierce (“Selma”, “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”), Alan Tudyk (“Andor”), Pruitt Taylor Vince (“Bird Box”) and Neva Howell (“Greedy People”).
The Alto Knights
Release Date: Thursday 20th March
From Warner Bros. Pictures, “The Alto Knights” stars Academy Award winner Robert De Niro in a dual role, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson. The film follows two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello (De Niro) and Vito Genovese (De Niro), as they vie for control of the city’s streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that will reshape the Mafia (and America) forever. De Niro stars alongside Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”), Cosmo Jarvis (“Shōgun”), Kathrine Narducci (“The Irishman”), Michael Rispoli (“Billions”), Michael Adler (“Peppermint”), Ed Amatrudo (“Till,” “Nashville”), Joe Bacino (“Kick-Ass”), Anthony J. Gallo (“The Irishman”), Wallace Langham (“Ford v Ferrari”), Louis Mustillo (“Cooper’s Bar,” “Mike & Molly”), Frank Piccirillo, Matt Servitto (“Billions”) and Robert Uricola (“Raging Bull”).
The Amateur
Release Date: Thursday 10th April
Charlie Heller (Academy Award® winner Rami Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder for the CIA working out of a basement office at headquarters in Langley whose life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. When his supervisors refuse to take action, he takes matters into his own hands, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible, his intelligence serving as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge.
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Cast: Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Stacy Martin
With 7 Golden Globe nominations, THE BRUTALIST is already being crowned by critics as the cinema masterpiece of the year; a colossal achievement, balancing intimacy and scale at every level of craft. From acclaimed American writer-director Brady Corbet comes A24’s highly anticipated epic historical drama, THE BRUTALIST, featuring an awe-inspiring A-List cast including Oscar winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist), Oscar nominee Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Emmy Award winner Guy Pearce (Memento) and Cannes Film Festival winner Joe Alwyn (Kinds of Kindness). Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth (Brody) arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet (Jones) after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Pearce) recognises his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost… Recipient of the prestigious Silver Lion Award for Corbet's marvellous direction at the 2024 Venice Film Festival and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture, this structurally beautiful and grandiose epic is suffused with Adrien Brody's soulful performance. With ambitious scope and a profound exploration of historical and personal themes - and shot on rarely seen 70mm film stock - Corbet's THE BRUTALIST is a towering tribute to the immigrant experience.
The Correspondent
Release Date: Thursday 17th April
While covering the news desk in Cairo for a colleague over the Christmas holidays, Australian journalist Peter Greste is arrested and accused of terrorism. He has become a pawn in the middle of a deadly game full of corrupt officials and ancient rivalries. Now the subject of his own worldwide news story, with only his wits and unlikely allies keeping him alive, Greste’s very survival means staring down a brutal regime. THE CORRESPONDENT is a gripping thriller and a compelling true story about the relentless defence of the truth and triumph of the human spirit. Starring Richard Roxburgh as Peter Greste and directed by Kriv Stenders (Red Dog).
The Last Journey
Release Date: Thursday 27th February
Directors: Filip Hammar, Fredrik Wikingsson
Cast: Filip Hammar, Fredrik Wikingsson, Lars Hammar
Selected as Sweden's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, "The Last Journey" is the most-watched documentary in Swedish history. When Lars Hammar, after 40 years as a beloved French teacher in Köping, retires, he envisions a delightful "third age" with travel, wine, and experiences together with his wife Tiina. But it doesn't turn out as he had hoped. Instead of indulging in life's pleasures, Lars becomes increasingly passive and lacking in willpower at home in his leather armchair, to the great frustration and despair of both Tiina and their son Filip. That's when Filip gets an idea -- to take his frail old father to his beloved France and let him revisit the places he has loved most in life. By retracing the same road trip the family used to take when Filip was a child and secretly orchestrating some of life's most delightful moments, he hopes to reignite Lars' zest for life. With the help of his best friend Fredrik, some hefty doses of optimism and creativity, and an old orange Renault 4, the adventure can begin!
The Last Showgirl
Release Date: Thursday 20th February
Director: Gia Coppola
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Jason Schwartzman
In THE LAST SHOWGIRL, director Gia Coppola (Palo Alto, Mainstream) presents a poignant drama set against the vibrant yet unforgiving backdrop of Las Vegas. Pamela Anderson delivers a career-defining performance as Shelly, a seasoned showgirl whose life is upended when her long-running revue abruptly closes after a successful thirty-year run. Facing an uncertain future, Shelly must navigate the challenges of reinvention in a city that venerates youth and novelty. Her journey is intertwined with that of Annette (Jamie Lee Curtis), a former showgirl turned casino cocktail waitress, whose own dreams were derailed by personal struggles. Together, they confront the harsh realities of aging in an industry that often overlooks the contributions of its veterans. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, THE LAST SHOWGIRL has been lauded for its authentic portrayal of the complexities faced by women in the entertainment industry. Critics have praised Anderson's nuanced performance, noting it as a significant departure from her previous roles and a testament to her versatility as an actress. With its compelling narrative and standout performances, THE LAST SHOWGIRL offers a reflective look at the sacrifices made in the name of art and the enduring spirit required to forge a new path when the curtain falls.
The Lost Tiger
Release Date: Thursday 27th February
Teo is a plucky young tiger and one of the last of his kind. Found abandoned and wearing a mysterious crystal necklace, he is adopted into a big, boisterous kangaroo family of travelling wrestlers. After receiving visions from an unfamiliar land, Teo must suddenly embark on an epic quest to reconnect with his heritage and save his homeland from the clutches of destruction. THE LOST TIGER features an incredible local voice cast including Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords), Celeste Barber (Runt), and Thomas Weatherall (Heartbreak High).
The Monkey
Release Date: Thursday 20th February
Director: Oz Perkins
Cast: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood
A new trip from Osgood Perkins. When twin brothers Bill and Hal find their father's old monkey toy in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths start. The siblings decide to throw the toy away and move on with their lives, growing apart over the years. Based on the short story by Stephen King and produced by James Wan.
The Princess Bride
Director: Rob Reiner
Cast: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright
The story is a classic tale of love and adventure as the beautiful maiden Buttercup (Robin Wright) hears that her true love Westley (Cary Elwes) is dead, she reluctantly agrees to marry the loathsome Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). After Westley returns to rescue Buttercup, the two begin an epic adventure filled with fencing, fighting, giants, monsters, miracles, true love and hilarity! Based on the William Goldman novel "The Princess Bride" which earned its own loyal audience.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Release Date: Thursday 27th February
Family bonds unravel and generations clash in this extaordinary drama from acclaimed filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof. Winner of the Cannes Film Festival Fipresci Award, THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG was received with record breaking ovation, voted top film in Screen International Critics Grid for Cannes 2024 and displays the true power of cinema to change us and the world we live in. Shot in secret and resulting in the persecution of its director, who eventually forced to flee Iran, the film combines gripping storytelling with real-life footage of recent protests in Iran, capturing a family's turmoil amid a society in upheaval. In Tehran, Iman and his family celebrate his recent promotion to an investigating judge. As public protests erupt against compulsory hijab, the dynamics within his family begin to shift. When his service weapon goes missing, Iman becomes increasingly paranoid, even suspecting his own wife Najmeh, and daughters Sana and Rezvan. Renowned for his thought-provoking and politically charged cinema, THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG is being hailed as Rasoulof's most daring and important work yet. Born in 1972 in Shiraz, Iran, Rasoulof's works often critique the socio-political climate of his home country, resulting in frequent confrontations with Iranian authorities. His notable films, such as There Is No Evil and A Man of Integrity, have garnered international recognition at prestigious film festivals. In 2010, he fled Iran after being arrested and sentenced to prison for his politically charged films.
The Terminator
A cyborg is sent from the future on a deadly mission. He has to kill Sarah Connor, a young woman whose life will have a great significance in years to come. Sarah has only one protector - Kyle Reese - also sent from the future. The Terminator uses his exceptional intelligence and strength to find Sarah, but is there any way to stop the seemingly indestructible cyborg?
The Terminator
A cyborg is sent from the future on a deadly mission. He has to kill Sarah Connor, a young woman whose life will have a great significance in years to come. Sarah has only one protector - Kyle Reese - also sent from the future. The Terminator uses his exceptional intelligence and strength to find Sarah, but is there any way to stop the seemingly indestructible cyborg?
Wake in Fright 4K
Director: Ted Kotcheff
Cast: Jack Thompson, Donald Pleasence, John Meillon
There is no Australian film quite like WAKE IN FRIGHT. Nominated cinema's ultimate prize, the Palme d'Or, at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival and still as raw and fresh today as it was then, rediscover this lost cinematic masterpiece in a brand new 4k restoration. Brutal, uncompromising and stunning - WAKE IN FRIGHT tells is the story of a young teacher, John Grant, who arrives in a rough outback mining town planning to stay overnight before catching the plane to Sydney. But, on this one hot night in Bundanyabba, Grant decides to go into a smoky, crowded pub... However, one night stretches to five, in which he discovers gambling, ruins himself financially and plunges headlong toward his own destruction. When the alcohol-induced mist lifts, the educated John Grant is no more. Instead there is a self-loathing man in a desolate wasteland, dirty, red-eyed, sitting against a tree and looking at a rifle with one bullet left... A disquieting classic of Australian cinema, WAKE IN FRIGHT surveys a landscape both sun-drenched and ruthlessly dark.
Warfare
Release Date: TBC
Written and directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (Civil War, 28 Days Later), Warfare embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs in the home of an Iraqi family, overwatching the movement of US forces through insurgent territory. A visceral, boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare, told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it.
We Live in Time
Director: John Crowley
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Aoife Hinds
With stunningly nuanced performances from Oscar nominees Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, this cleverly structured romance, directed by John Crowley and penned by screenwriter Nick Payne, delves into the profound question of how to make the most of the time we have in this world. From their very first encounter, Almut (Pugh) and Tobias (Garfield) have experienced anything but an ordinary relationship. When Almut faces a life-altering medical diagnosis, with treatment options that may or may not be effective. Should she risk spending precious time on treatments, or embrace what remains of her life to the fullest? WE LIVE IN TIME unfolds across three distinct timelines, offering a layered experience of their relationship that deepens our understanding of how memories intersect with the present and how life’s meaning builds through shared moments. Bringing this intricately crafted story to life, Pugh captivates as a young woman striving to balance her personal connections with her ambitious career, while Garfield delivers a career-defining performance, using Tobias' quiet demeanour to reveal an underlying depth of emotion.
Wicked
Director: Jon M. Chu
Cast: Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh
After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba's determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
Widow Clicquot
Director: Thomas Napper
Cast: Haley Bennett, Sam Riley, Tom Sturridge
Widow Clicquot is based on the true story behind the Veuve Clicquot champagne family and business that began in the late 18th century. After her husband's untimely death, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot flouts convention by assuming the reins of the fledgling wine business they had nurtured together. Steering the company through dizzying political and financial reversals, she defies her critics and revolutionizes the champagne industry to become one of the world's first great entrepreneurs.