When renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner learns of the death of one of her patients she is deeply troubled. Convinced that it was murder, she decides to investigate.

When memory begins to fade, love is put to the test. Set in a run-down Wellington villa in 2003, Caterpillar follows three women living separate lives under one leaky roof. Sixteen-year-old Cassie is all bravado and vulnerability, drifting into risky territory as she searches for belonging. Her mother Maxine, 52, is a formidable single parent and filmmaker on the brink of a long-awaited breakthrough, finally offered a greenlight—if she can land a star. Holding everything together is Huia, Cassie’s grandmother, 80, whose life has been defined by quiet service to family and a private obsession with raising monarch caterpillars, dreaming of one day witnessing the legendary butterfly migration in Mexico.

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Festival de Cannes (Out of Competition) - Based on the incredible true story and autobiography of Commander Mohamed Bida, 13 Days, 13 Nights is an intense and profound thriller. Kabul, August 15, 2021. As US troops prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan, the Taliban storm the capital and seize power, plunging the city into chaos. Thousands of Afghans flock to the last safe haven: the French Embassy, where Commander Mohamed Bida (Roschdy Zem, The Innocent) and his elite crew ensure security. Inside the compound, Bida and his team scramble to hold the line as the world outside descends into chaos. With the help of Eva (Lyna Khoudri, The French Dispatch) - a young French-Afghan humanitarian worker - they must negotiate with the Taliban to organize a convoy in a last-ditch attempt to evacuate. Thus begins a race against time to reach the airport and flee the hell of Kabul before it’s too late... With 13 Days, 13 Nights, director Martin Bourboulon (The Three Musketeers, Eiffel) has crafted a breathless, edge-of-your-seat experience that simply must be seen on the big screen.

This exciting debut feature from Maël Piriou follows a delightful cast of characters on a road trip that will change their lives. Julia Piaton (also starring in Colours of Time) plays Mélanie, a gifted lawyer suffering from a terminal illness. Deciding it’s time to live life on her own terms, she convinces her old school friend Benjamin (Quentin Dolmaire, also starring in The Money Maker) to accompany her on a road trip to Spain. Joining them as their burly chauffer is Lucas (Grégory Gadebois, also starring in Jean Valjean), one of Mélanie’s clients who has recently been released from prison. In exchange for her legal services, Mélanie ropes him into taking the wheel. The unlikely trio embark on an unforgettable journey across stunning vistas that will lead them to understand more about themselves, and each other. Mélanie is driven by urgency, while Benjamin lingers over every detour, stretching out the miles in an attempt to somehow slow down the clock. What began as an impulsive getaway becomes a poignant exploration of friendship, intimacy, and the true meaning of independence. A Dash of Love is a tender and deeply human reminder for us to embrace joy while we can. This is a trip you will most certainly want to take!

After twenty years of devotion to her convent, Sister Lucie’s (Marilou Berry) quiet life is upended when she is separated from her sisterhood during a group outing. While trying to find her way home, she spots a familiar face on a television screen: her teenage sweetheart, now accused of a high-profile murder. Convinced of his innocence, she makes the impulsive decision to try to help him. Lucie’s disappearance has caused panic back at the convent, and the formidable Mother Superior Henriette (Isabelle Nanty, Amélie) sends two nuns to track her down and bring her back. A Nun in the City is a heartwarming, comedic story where faith, freedom and past love collide with surprising results.

Director Pascal Bonitzer (Maigret and the Dead Lover) brings this charming tale from the late Sophie Fillières brilliantly to life. French acting legend Fabrice Luchini plays popular performer Robert Zucchini, who has built his career on a stage act that lauds the works of the famous writer Victor Hugo. Robert’s bold reverence of Hugo’s ‘male genius’ doesn’t always play well with more enlightened modern audiences, and he finds himself not only at odds with a feminist theatre troupe, but with his adult daughter Lisbeth (Marie Narbonne, The Count of Monte Cristo), who has recently reappeared in his life. Robert wrestles with how art meets with politics - but more importantly, with his real-life relationships. Where he once took refuge in texts of the past, Lisbeth demands his presence in the moment. Little by little, with his daughter’s help, Robert begins to reconnect with his past, open up to others and relearn the practice of his craft. Pascal Bonitzer has crafted a slick, emotional, funny account of modern problems playing out on and off stage. Centred by a brilliant performance from the always-exceptional Fabrice Luchini, An Evening with Victor Hugo is a must-see at the 2026 Festival.

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Festival de Cannes (Competition) - - CÉSAR AWARD WINNER: Best Actress – Léa Drucker - Léa Drucker took home the Best Actress César award for her performance in this gripping thriller from Dominik Moll (Only the Animals), selected for official competition at Cannes International Film Festival 2025. Drucker plays Stéphanie, an Internal Affairs police officer who is assigned the case of a young man severely wounded during a tense and chaotic demonstration in Paris. When she discovers that the victim hails from her hometown of Saint-Dizier, the case suddenly becomes far more personal. While nothing initially points to police misconduct, Stéphanie soon finds herself isolated in a system hellbent on protecting its own. With officers refusing to talk, Sophie turns to housekeeper and reluctant witness Alicia Mady (Guslagie Malanda, Saint Omer), whose testimony holds the key to the truth - but puts them both in danger. This compelling crime drama highlights themes of loyalty and justice that resonate long after the final scene, anchored strongly by Lea Drucker’s commanding role.

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Festival de Cannes (Out of Competition) - Director Cedric Klapisch has crafted a genuine crowd pleasing story that blends the excitement, wonder and art of Belle Epoque France with present day themes around identity, legacy and connection. In 1895, young Adele (Suzanne Lindon) leaves Normandy for Paris, a city alive and buzzing with invention, photography and the rise of Impressionism. In the present day, her descendants inherit an unexpected legacy : a country side house in Normandy, abandoned for decades and suspended in time. Four of Adele’s descendants arrive to survey the Estate, and together end up piecing together the story of Adele’s unexpected life. Colours of Time is a charming and fascinating family saga, and is sure to be a hit at this year’s Festival. Book your opening night tickets now!

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Toronto International Film Festival - - OFFICIAL SELECTION: San Sebastian Film Festival - Angelina Jolie turns in a career-best performance in this immaculate drama set in the high stakes fashion world. Taking place during the frenzy of Paris Fashion week, Jolie plays American filmmaker Maxine Walker, commissioned to direct a film for a prestigious label. After receiving sudden, life-changing news, Maxine crosses paths with two other women: Ada (Anyier Anei), a young South Sudanese model who has escaped her predetermined destiny to make a name for herself, and makeup artist Angéle (Ella Rumpf, Marguerite’s Theorem) who quietly dreams of a different life. While their backgrounds couldn’t be more different, the three women form a strong bond. Amid the glamorous scenes of haute couture, each must make choices small and significant, and confront major career decisions. Anchored by Jolie’s memorable portrayal, the intertwining journeys of these three women are supported by excellent turns from Louis Garrel (The Three Musketeers) and Vincent Lindon (Another World).

Elsa Zylberstein (Simone: Woman of the Century) and Didier Bourdon (The Scammers) star in this inventive time travel comedy that sharply explores societal roles. It’s 1958 in quiet suburbia. Hélène (Zylberstein) and Michel (Bourdon) live a simple but happy life with their two children. Michel works in a bank, while Hélène focuses her efforts on their home and family life. Through an unexpected and unlikely series of events, the couple find themselves catapulted into the 21st century. The year is 2025, and everything they know has changed. Hélène and Michel grapple with new technology, social rituals, and the frantic pace of modern life. Hélène now finds herself a successful bank manager and the sole breadwinner, while Michel has become the stay-at-home-husband. As they navigate this unfamiliar world, the pair must confront new ways of thinking, loving and living. Hélène and Michel are left wondering not how they will survive in their new reality, but whether they even want to... Propelled by hilarious performances from Zylberstein and Bourdon, Cycle of Time is a delightfully subversive comedy that will have you rediscovering the present through the eyes of two characters from a bygone era.

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Festival de Cannes (Out of Competition) – Direct from the world premiere in France comes De Gaulle: Tilting Iron. June 1940. France collapses and signs the Armistice. In the midst of the chaos, one man, Charles de Gaulle, refuses to give up. Taking the ultimate gamble he flees to London and seeks to convince the world that the battle for France is neither over or lost. What follows next is a triumphant story of faith, audacity and an unshakeable quest for freedom. Antonin Baudry has crafted a powerful and dramatic view of a man at the very centre of a turning point in history, on his path to becoming a 20th century leader and cultural icon. The reality of intense politics, family struggles and the impact of war are deftly drawn in this geopolitical thriller, which has been more than five years in the making. Simon Abkarian commands the screen as the titular General, leading a stand-out ensemble cast including Benoît Magimel, Mathieu Kassovitz, Francois Darlan, Niels Schneider and the César-winner Anamaria Vartolomei (The Count of Monte Cristo). The talented Simon Russell Beale (The Choral) rounds out the cast as Winston Churchill, with the film exploring the complex relationship between De Gaulle and the British Bulldog. Sure to be a talking point of the Festival, don’t miss out on seeing this keenly anticipated film.

In this tense psychological thriller, Pierre Niney (The Count of Monte Cristo) delivers a chilling performance as a popular life coach with a dedicated following. Mathieu Vasseur (Niney) delivers electrifying seminars, promising empowerment and transformation to his loyal fanbase. But behind his carefully curated image lies a more sinister reality. As Vasseur’s reach grows, the bonds he forms with his followers tighten into chains of control. Self-growth is traded for emotional reliance, and subtle influence becomes total psychological domination. What began as a quest for enlightenment for all involved becomes a predatory hierarchy. As scrutiny from skeptics and the law pushes Vasseur’s organisation towards obsession and collapse, he faces the question: how far can he go before his promise of freedom becomes a prison? Niney’s outstanding turn is bolstered by the excellent supporting cast of Marion Barbeau, Anthony Bajon (Beating Hearts), Christophe Montenez (also starring in 13 Days, 13 Nights) and Holt McCallany (Mindhunter). Guru is a razor-sharp examination of power dynamics that masterfully explores the thin line between mentorship and manipulation. Already a box office hit in France with over $16 million USD at the box office, make sure you don’t miss it!

Victor Hugo’s masterpiece Les Misérables is one of the most beloved novels of the 19th century, and now the superb Grégory Gadebois has re-teamed with his Delicious writer/director Éric Besnard for this authentic and emotionally affecting retelling that charts the origin story of the tale’s legendary protagonist. 1815. Provence, France. In the peaceful village of Digne, rumour spreads that a dangerous man has entered the area; indeed, the hulking Valjean (Gadebois) has just been released from prison after nineteen years of hard labour. Branded a criminal and ostracised, Jean is repeatedly turned away. Desperate for a bed, he knocks at the door of the house of Monseigneur Bienvenu (Bernard Campan), who lives simply with his ailing sister (Isabelle Carré) and dedicated – but suspicious – servant (Alexandra Lamy). Without judgement, Bienvenu invites him in. And on this crucial night, Jean will face a choice that will define his future… With this superbly filmed exploration of justice, empathy and moral redemption, Besnard’s reflective and intimate drama – and Gadebois’ towering performance – bring new depth to Hugo’s hero, a spurned man transformed by kindness and compassion. Admirers of the source text and rich historical drama will not be disappointed by Jean Valjean.

From Eric Toledano and Oliver Nakache, the award-winning directors of The Intouchables and A Difficult Year comes Just an Illusion, a heartwarming and brilliant comedy set in the suburbs of Paris in 1985. The film follows Vincent (an incredible debut performance from Simon Boublil), a boy standing on the precipice of his 13th birthday and his Bar Mitzvah - a milestone that feels more like an identity crisis than a celebration. Vincent’s mother Sandrine (Camille Cottin, Three Friends) tries to hold the family together with her job as a secretary, while his father Yves (Louis Garrel, also starring in Couture) grapples with unemployment and a wounded ego. Caught between his parents’ frequent arguments and a distant older brother, Arnaud (Alexis Rosenstiehl), Vincent must find his own rhythm in a family that is out of sync. Simon Boublil is being hailed as a major discovery for his performance as Vincent, carrying this nostalgia soaked tale with a winning combination of vulnerability and dry humour. Meanwhile, French cinema stalwarts Cottin and Garrel deliver explosive but grounded chemistry. Directors Toledano and Nakache blend the infectious energy of a classic 80s soundtrack with their signature brand of heartfelt humour, for their most personal film to date. Book in quick to avoid disappointment!

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Festival de Cannes (Opening Film) - Making waves in 2025 as the first-ever debut feature selected to open the Cannes Film Festival, Amélie Bonnin’s joyously entertaining musical romance stars break-out singer/songwriter Juliette Armanet as a talented Parisian chef forced to reconnect with her small-town upbringing during an unexpected trip home. Cécile (Armanet) – a fan-favourite Top Chef winner – is about to finally realise her dream and open her own restaurant when her father, the cook at a small rural truck stop, falls unwell. Cécile must deal with a return to her roots that is more complicated than she imagined; when she runs into her teenage first love (César Award-winner Bastien Bouillon), old memories and sensations resurface... and then her fiancé, who senses something’s wrong, shows up. Evocatively depicting regional France and the complications of family life with tenderness and wit, Leave One Day interweaves music naturally into the story, blending several classics with more recent hits by artists such as Stromae and Céline Dion. Armanet, herself one of France’s most popular contemporary artists, performed John Lennon’s “Imagine” during the Paris Olympic Games’ opening ceremony and proves to be a shining discovery, in this warm-hearted and completely endearing gem.

Following the break-out success of 2025 hit The Stolen Painting, acclaimed writer/director Pascal Bonitzer brings his unique perspective and panache to Simenon’s cherished Parisian detective - a French counterpart to Agatha Christie’s Poirot - as he attempts to solve the murder of a diplomat with a long-held secret. Inspector Maigret (four-time César nominee Denis Podalydès, in a tremendous performance) is urgently summoned to the Quai d’Orsay: a former ambassador has been found shot dead by his long-serving housekeeper (Anne Alvaro, The Taste of Others). But rather than contact the police, she has followed diplomatic protocols by first informing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Forewarned that he will find a series of salacious letters - and cautioned to be discrete - Maigret heads to the victim’s opulent apartment. He finds no forensic evidence at the crime scene, but certainly, the letters prove startling - secret, decades-spanning correspondence between the ambassador and the Princess of Vuynes, whose own husband, by strange coincidence, has also just died… Bonitzer, renowned for an intuitive and empathetic focus, finds a perfect match with a protagonist who relies on quiet observation. He delivers an absorbing, wholly compelling mystery that also serves as a thoughtful examination of modern life’s key concerns: hierarchy, aging, and the very different worlds that money creates. Best of all, the twist ending is… a killer.

Based on the bestselling autobiography by Roland Perez, this exuberant and heartrending film pays tribute to a love like no other – a mother’s love for her child. In 1963, Roland is born to Esther, her sixth child in their close-knit Jewish immigrant family living in the Parisian suburbs. When Esther learns that Roland has been born with a club foot, she vows to ensure her son lives not just a normal life, but a fabulous one. She enlists the help of a determined specialist and the pop songs of Sylvie Vartan (who makes a cameo in the film) to help Roland defy all expectations and learn to walk. This joyful crowd-pleaser is vibrantly shot by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman (The Artist) and features a powerhouse performance from Leïla Bekhti (Paris, je t’aime) as the fiercely devoted Esther. Once Upon My Mother absolutely smashed the French box office with over 1.5 million admissions, so is sure to be popular at this year’s Festival. Book your tickets now to avoid missing out!

Enjoy Drinks and Canapes from 7.00pm with the screening from 7.30pm Follows the lives of the cousins who inherit an old house in rural Normandy and retrace their steps of their ancestors in 19th century Paris.

Auteur Régis Wargnier (director of the Oscar-winning Indochine) returns to filmmaking for the first time in over a decade with the masterfully crafted globe-trotting drama Redress. Renowned chef Paskal Jankovski (Clovis Cornillac, A Little Something Extra) is moments away from announcing his third Michelin star when he suddenly vanishes. Disappearing alongside him is Antoine (Julien de Saint-Jean, Lie with Me), his trusted sous-chef. Paskal’s daughter Clara (Julia de Nunez) suddenly finds herself the inheritor of the family restaurant at just 20 years old. Once a paragon of Gallic gastronomic excellence, the establishment now faces an uncertain future. The void left by Paskal’s absence feels inescapable, while the mystery of his and Antoine’s disappearance remains unsolved. The enigma deepens when years later, traces of Paskal’s cooking style crop up at a restaurant in Taiwan. Clara must embark on a journey to find the truth about her father’s fate. A story that covers continents, cuisines and cultures, Redress is brought to life by strong performances and immaculate cinematography. You’ll be drawn in by the intriguing mystery, lush environments and variety of sumptuous dishes - just don’t see it on an empty stomach!

Experience the breathtaking scenery of the Camino de Santiago in this life-affirming drama centred on an unforgettable pairing of characters. Adam (a powerful performance from up-and-comer Julien Le Berre) is a teenager who’s lost and heading in the wrong direction. After a run-in with the law, a judge hands over a surprising sentence: he must walk the 800 kilometre Camino de Santiago to think about his future. Assigned to walk the path with Adam is Fred (an excellent-as-always Alexandra Lamy, Miss Violet), a tough and outspoken woman coming to terms with her own chequered history. The two begin a journey that could change their lives. The pair make an unlikely team; Fred is looking to heal from her past, while Adam is struggling to channel his anger and feelings of abandonment. With every mile travelled, they inevitably endure exhaustion, clashes and arguments. But among the points of tension are moments of peace. As the miles rack up, Fred and Adam begin to form a strong bond. Walking The Way, they each discover an inner strengh they didn’t know they had. Will it be enough to accomplish the goals they set out to achieve? Santiago: The Camino Therapy is an uplifting and inspirational story with gorgeous vistas that deserve to be seen on the big screen.

Based on an incredible true story, The Money Maker follows Jan Bojarski (Reda Kateb, The Extraordinary), a young Polish engineer taking refuge in France during World War II. Desperate to survive, he turns his talents to forging identity documents during the German occupation. Once the war ends, Jan still finds himself struggling to make ends meet. Stuck in underpaid jobs and denied citizenship, he is unable to patent his many inventions. Jan’s engineering expertise seems to be wasted, until a gangster recognises his skills and presents a risky opportunity - to produce counterfeit banknotes... So begins a thrilling and nail-biting series of events, as Jan begins to lead a double life. For over 15 years he runs a counterfeiting operation from his garden shed - unbeknownst to his family. Jan’s fakes are so precise he earns the moniker “the Cézanne of counterfeit money.” - but this also draws attention. Jan soon finds himself in the crosshairs of Inspector Mattéi (Bastien Bouillon, also starring in Leave One Day), one of France’s most determined detectives. Director Jean-Paul Salomé (The Godmother, The Sitting Duck) brings this fascinating and gripping tale to life, with an unforgettable performance from Reda Kateb as the man who shook the Bank of France. The film was a certified hit in France, with over 1.1 million admissions Make time for The Money Maker at this year’s Festival!

The enchanting new comedy of manners from acclaimed writer/director Grégory Magne (whose debut Perfumes was a success in the 2021 Festival), The Musicians stars Valérie Donzelli as a wealthy heiress whose plan to stage a landmark concert is derailed by the clashing egos of the virtuosos recruited for the performance. Astrid Thompson (Donzelli) is determined to honour her late industrialist father’s final wish: unite four priceless Stradivarius-stringed instruments for the premiere recital of a new composition by his favourite artist, to be live-streamed for music lovers globally. With just six days to rehearse, a quartet is assembled, but the dream quickly unravels: the musicians are at odds, blinded by their differences and prejudices, and seemingly incapable of working together. With the deadline fast approaching, Astrid tries to coax the reclusive composer of the score, Charlie Beaumont (Frédéric Pierrot), out from creative seclusion in the desperate hope of salvaging the event… As the film crescendos to a tender, exhilarating finale where harmony is found not only in music but human connection, The Musicians celebrates both the chaos and beauty of collaboration. Set amidst the villas, vineyards and chapels of the stunning Champagne region, with an exquisite original score by Grégoire Hetzel, this is sparkling entertainment for the heart (and ears).

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Festival de Cannes (Director’s Fortnight) - This entertaining black comedy follows Mehdi (Sami Outalbali, Lucky Winners), a recent law graduate from a modest background spending the summer at his girlfriend’s luxurious family villa. He soon finds himself caught in an escalating class conflict between the entitled Trousselard family and their mistreated caretakers. Hoping to secure an internship at his girlfriend’s father’s prestigious law firm, Mehdi attempts to mediate between the two sides, only to be trapped in a spiralling conflict over money, power and pride. The Party’s Over! is a biting satirical portrait of class privilege with a sensational comic cast including Laure Calamy and recent César award-winner Laurent Lafitte.

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

One week after a chaotic presidential election, France urgently needs a new Prime Minister. A hapless but ambitious young parliamentary assistant (Jean Chevalier) has a plan: convince his retired and highly erratic politician father (François Cluzet, The Intouchables) to return from exile and seize the top job. What follows is a breakneck political comedy that transforms into a razor-sharp portrait of power, ambition, and the flexibility of principle. With The Son Of, former political journalist Carlos Abascal Peiró makes an audacious debut, dynamically navigating the treacherous corridors of the French Republic, his camera stalking the backrooms where ideology evaporates and egos dominate, capturing politicians, fixers and media operators engaged in verbal warfare with astonishing ferocity. Filmed before France’s current political turmoil, the narrative hums with uncanny and prophetic resonance. Think Veep with a distinctly Gallic accent; anyone appreciative of Armando Iannucci’s savage political dissections and Succession will find much to savour here. Newcomer Chevalier is perfectly cast as the slippery modern opportunist, supported by an hilarious, never-better Cluzet’s reluctant patriarch, Karin Viard’s irresistible party operative and Alex Lutz (The Stolen Painting) rounding out a stellar ensemble. Sharp, unsparing, and mischievously satisfying, The Son Of is a winning satire.

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Venice International Film Festival - - CÉSAR AWARD WINNER: Best Supporting Actor – Pierre Lottin - The superb new drama from multi award-winning writer/director François Ozon (Swimming Pool, 8 Women, Under the Sand), The Stranger is a gripping adaptation of Albert Camus’ landmark novella about a detached young expatriate on trial for murder in French-colonised Algeria. Summer, 1938. Meursault (Benjamin Voisin, Lost Illusions), a quiet and unassuming clerk in his early thirties, attends his mother’s funeral. The next day he begins a casual affair with Marie (Rebecca Marder), a colleague randomly encountered at the local baths, and quickly slips back into routine. However, daily life is soon disrupted by his volatile neighbour (an excellent Pierre Lottin, who won a César award for his performance), who draws Meursault into a dispute involving an ex-lover. And then, one blisteringly hot afternoon, an inexplicable event occurs on a beach, one that will see Meursault’s very moral standing brought to question… Visually resplendent with sensuous black-and-white imagery, Ozon’s elegant and masterfully realized film shines a contemporary lens on Camus’ classic tale of dissociation and morality, capturing the beauty and heat of a charged society on the boil. Both impactful and mysterious, The Stranger is one of the major highlights of this year’s Festival and should not be missed.

What is Love? is an uplifting and comedic examination of relationships and new beginnings, brought to life by an all-star cast. Marguerite (Festival favourite Laure Calamy, How to Make a Killing) has long since moved on from her ex-husband Fred (Vincent Macaigne, also starring in Colours of Time), having established a new life with a different partner and a teenage daughter. Fred has also put the past behind him, intending to marry Chloé (Mélanie Thierry, Suddenly), the woman with whom he now shares his life. When Fred asks for Marguerite’s help in obtaining an annulment of their marriage from the Catholic Church, she is only too happy to oblige. However, the process turns out to be far more than a simple paperwork exercise, and the pair find out they must prove their union was doomed from the beginning. What begins as an administrative task soon becomes a deeply personal odyssey through their shared past. As Marguerite and Fred navigate old memories and rediscover genuine affection - as well as the tensions that broke them - long-buried feelings begin to surface. This charming and perceptive family comedy examines the complicated aftermath of breakups, featuring stellar performances from all involved.

Opening Night Event - Drinks and Canapes from 6.30pm - followed by screening at 7.00 pm After the global success of 2016’s Perfect Strangers, writer/director Paolo Genovese has struck gold again with his record-breaking hit Somebody to Love, an hilarious, all-star romantic comedy that reveals the innermost thoughts and uncertainties of an Italian couple on their awkward first date.

After being forgotten at a highway service station during a family vacation, a housewife decides to start a new, independent life in Venice. She finds a new job, friends, and romance, forcing her to choose between her old life and her newfound freedom.

Set in the 1970s, this film follows the lives of the Canova sisters and their employees in a prestigious Roman dressmaker's shop. It explores their personal and professional struggles within a world of high fashion and glamour.

Against the racy backdrop of Italy in the 1980s and ‘90s, Riccardo Schicchi and his agency translate free love into the phenomenon of porn. This raunchy comedy follows antics at porn studio Diva Futura as fresh-faced ‘girls next door’ such as Ilona Staller, Moana Pozzi, Eva Henger and others become stars thanks to the video tape boom. Staller – better known as ‘Cicciolina’ – gets elected to Parliament and Pozzi runs for Mayor of Rome, with the film offering a fascinating insight into Italian society.

Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso NZIFF 1990) pays tribute to legendary composer Ennio Morricone and his prolific career that spanned over seven decades and included the scores to more than 70 award-winning films.

Rome, 1980. Unable to get her novel The Art of Joy published, author Goliarda Sapienza finds herself briefly imprisoned after she steals some jewellery from a wealthy friend. The experience turns out to be life-changing, as Goliarda discovers a world without class barriers, and forms a deep bond with some of the younger inmates.

Set in the late 19th century, this surreal Italian-American anti-Western follows Rosa and her lover, the outlaw-turned-folk-hero Santino, as they flee across the Italian wilderness after a deadly confrontation, pursued by an American showman (John C. Reilly). As their tale grows into a legend, it transforms into a whimsical, and sometimes ghostly journey that merges local folklore with the myth of the American Wild West.

As the 1930’s African Campaign casts its shadow, the tranquil life of a small Italian village is upendedby Ras Abraham, a captive Ethiopian leader. Young Emilio, the daydreaming son of the fascist mayor,finds an unexpected friend in the prisoner. Their deepening bond exposes Emilio to Italy's harshreality, challenging his worldview and igniting a quest for freedom. This story poignantly captures ajourney of friendship, awakening, and defiance against oppression.

Set during a surreal January heatwave in Rome, various characters struggle to maintain control as temperatures reach an unprecedented 50 degrees Celsius. The intense heat causes people and animals to lose their inhibitions, resulting in a chaotic examination of human anxiety.

Antonio (Alessandro Siani) and Pieraldo (Leonardo Pieraccioni) are two police officers with a "not-so-brilliant" career and a slightly bruised friendship. Their lives are quiet until they find themselves facing a real, intricate, and risky crime. This brings unexpected twists and forces the duo to change their lives forever.

Outgoing Italian President Mariano De Santis navigates his final term while grappling with moral dilemmas, including a bill on euthanasia and personal petitions for presidential pardons. Amidst the political pressure, he faces intense personal grief and nostalgia for his late wife, bringing to light questions about love and memory.

Starring Ludovica Martino (SKAM Italia) and Marco Leonardi (Cinema Paradiso) My Place Is Here is a compelling tale of a woman’s pursuit of happiness. Written and co-directed by Daniela Porto and Cristiano Bortone, based on the eponymous novel by Daniela Porto, this thoughtful drama is set in 1940s Southern Italy, at the time of the first feminist movement.

In the aftermath of World War II, two Neapolitan children, Carmine and Celestina, escape the poverty of their hometown by sneaking onto a ship bound for the United States. Relying on each other and a kindly ship’s officer, they journey to New York City to find a better life, navigating misadventures and a new world together.

A mysterious, harmonica-playing stranger and a notorious bandit form an uneasy alliance to protect a widowed settler from a ruthless hired gun working for the railroad. Set against the backdrop of the dying American frontier, this epic Western revolves around a bloody land battle and a quest for vengeance.

A fun dramedy, Siblings is inspired by the true story of Margherita and Damiano Tercon. Irene (Matilda De Angelis) is trying to build a regular life in Rome when she is forced to return to her hometown Rimini, to take care of Omar (newcomer Yuri Tuci), her 40-year-old autistic brother.

From Fabio Grassadoni and Antonio Piazza (Sicilian Ghost Story), this fictionalised mafia story features standout performances from Elio Germano and Toni Servillo. A dangerous liaisons crime drama with blackly comic elements, Sicilian Letters is loosely inspired by true events and real ‘pizzini’ messages by fugitive Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro.

After the global success of 2016’s Perfect Strangers, writer/director Paolo Genovese has struck gold again with his record-breaking hit Somebody to Love, an hilarious, all-star romantic comedy that reveals the innermost thoughts and uncertainties of an Italian couple on their awkward first date.

A cultural phenomenon and box office sensation in Italy, this emotional drama set in a Rome high school explores the real story behind Italy’s first publicised case of online bullying.

Elio Germano delivers a standout performance as Enrico Berlinguer in this meticulous, intelligent biopic of a man for whom life and politics, private and collective, were inextricably linked. Italy, 1970s. Enrico Berlinguer is the Secretary of the most important Communist party in the western world, with over one million seven hundred thousand card-holding members and more than twelve million voters, united by the great ambition of achieving socialism within a democracy.

Starring popular comic duo Salvatore Ficarra & Valentino Picone (Strangeness IFF23) and festival favourite Toni Servillo (also in La Grazia and Sicilian Letters), The Illusion is a fun re-imagining of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s 1860 campaign that unified Italy.

Two blustery 50-somethings, have an obsession: going for their last drink. One night, they run into Giulio, a shy architecture student, whose way of seeing the world and love will be transformed as the trio wander from bar to bar of Veneto

The Sleeper. El Caravaggio perdido (2025) is a documentary-thriller tracking the frantic, high-stakes hunt for a lost Caravaggio masterpiece, Ecce Homo, discovered in 2021 in a Madrid home, valued at over €300 million. Directed by Álvaro Longoria, the film documents the intense, three-year process of authentication, restoration, and auction.

Adapted from Rosella Postorino’s bestselling novel At The Wolf’s Table, the new film from multi award-winning writer/director Silvio Soldini (Bread and Tulips, Days and Clouds) is a gripping historical drama inspired by the incredible true story of Margot Wölk, a woman who was conscripted to be one of Hitler’s food tasters.

Trifole (2025) is a drama about Dalia, a young woman who travels to Italy's Piedmont region to care for her aging grandfather, Igor, a reclusive expert forager. Together with his loyal dog Birba, they search for a legendary truffle to save their family home, exploring themes of tradition, dementia, and the changing landscape of rural life.

The documentary serves as a loving portrait of a brilliant mind and a testament to the enduring power of literature and knowledge, often featuring scenes of the author navigating his labyrinthine, book-lined shelves.

Jasmine (Marilena Amato) is a hairdresser in her 40s and appears to have everything she ever wanted: a devoted husband, three loving sons, and a thriving salon just south of Naples. But after her father’s passing, she is haunted by a recurring dream in which a young girl runs into her arms, offering Jasmine a new sense of fulfilment and completeness she cannot ignore.

Fabio De Luigi and Valentina Lodovini return as Carlo and Giulia Rovelli and this time, the family is heading to sunny Puglia, where their eldest daughter, eighteen-year-old Camilla, is moving to attend university with her boyfriend, Antonio Paradiso. However, Carlo is not ready to let go of his firstborn—especially if it means having her live with a young man he does not trust at all.

A comedy about a couple who are desperately looking to conceive a child and move to Spain to get the help of a renowned doctor. Their plans change after they meet an apparently perfect girl that volunteers to carry on the pregnancy in their place.

Never-before-seen footage, exclusive voice messages, and accounts from Jeff Buckley's inner circle paint a captivating portrait of the gifted musician who died tragically in 1997, having only released one album.

From the quiet suburbs of Dunedin, to packed venues and signing with international record labels, Shayne Carter has never been one to follow the rules — and his music shows it. Life in One Chord chronicles his early teenage punk ambitions, to being swept up in the Dunedin sound, forming band Straitjacket Fits, and his later reinvention with Dimmer. Directed by Margaret Gordon (Into the Void) and narrated by Carol Hirschfeld, Life in One Chord fuses candid interviews, extensive archival footage and Carter’s own sharp reflections to capture the grit, chaos, and creativity behind his music and legacy.

How can AI driven sound shape environments? This work recalls stories of a post-natural world that has been computationally updated, where nature itself has been reprogrammed. It takes the form of an LP record and a multi-channel playback experience in the Len Lye Cinema and was devised by Machine Listening, an artist collective known for exploring the politics of AI, data sets, and networked technology through sound. Environments 12 is an artistic intervention into the histories of ambient soundscape recordings—the sampling of the natural world popularised by the wellness industry. It takes after Irv Teibel, an ambient new age music pioneer and field recordist who founded the ‘Environments Series’, 11 records produced across 1969-79 with titles such as ‘Psychologically Ultimate Seashore,’ ‘Gentle Rain in a Pine Forest,’ and ‘Ultimate Heartbeat’ —marketed as “a stethoscope recording which could be used to calm infants, aid meditation or enhance lovemaking.” Released around the time of the 1979 oil crisis, the series was a response to early signs of climate emergency and yet, each recording was smoothed and edited to auditory perfection so it could be even better than nature. As a speculative 12th edition to the Environments Series, this record could be thought of as an inverted environmental recording. Rather than presenting the ‘sounds of nature’ on their own, it is about these sounds, how they came into being, and how they are being used to reprogram nature itself. Through a chorus of AI clones trained on human voices that embody the unhinged anxiety of climate grief, the narrative recounts tales of an environment-to-come that is all too close. Artificial voices recall artificial environments shaped by sound, a strange future of acoustically enriched ecosystems where the dying Great Barrier Reef is kept on life-support by broadcasting the soundscapes of healthy coral reefs, and cross-species communication between animals and AI is possible, but only without cognition by humans. Responding to past acoustic histories, Environments 12 augurs the ruins of a future history, a post-natural world where nature itself has been upgraded.

2026 Oscar and Bafta Award Winning Documentary A Russian teacher secretly documents his small town school's transformation into a war recruitment center during the Ukraine invasion, revealing the ethical dilemmas educators face amid propaganda and militarization.

In this scrum, sisterhood is the strategy. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Lisa Burd (The Pinkies Are Back), NO TEARS ON THE FIELD is an inspiring story of family, community and sisterhood set against the backdrop of a season of grassroots club rugby in Taranaki. Filmed over two years, it follows two local teams and several individual players - including Sevens Superstar Michaela Brake, as they navigate ambition, community and personal challenges. Capturing the joy and camaraderie of the game, the film goes beyond the hits and triumphs on the field to reveal the emotional weight off the pitch—how their love of rugby intertwines with balancing work, whānau and the demands of rural life.

Wallflower Colin (Harry Melling) leads a humdrum existence until he meets the impossibly handsome Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a mysterious biker he is soon desperately devoted to. As Colin submits to Ray and enters an exciting new world of desire, he must decide the limits of his devotion. Hilarious, subversive and sexy, PILLION is the acclaimed and surprisingly tender love story from writer-director Harry Lighton, starring Melling and Skarsgård in fearless performances as a mild young man and his leather-clad lover.

In 2024, acclaimed Iranian director Sepideh Farsi tried to enter Gaza to document the living conditions amidst Israel's war on Palestine. Unable to secure a passage to the city via Cairo, a Palestinian refugee in Cairo introduced Farsi to Fatma Hosanna, a young photojournalist and poet, who spent her days documenting the conditions in which Palestinians are forced to exist. Told through a series of video calls between Fatma and Sepideh, Hosanna paints an urgent visual diary of life in Gaza. Under the constant barrage of Israeli missile fire, Fatma embodies the resilience, strength and hope of her people. On 16 April 2025, the day after it was announced the film was to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, an Israeli missile killed Hassona and her family in what was alleged to have been a targeted assassination. Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk is both a celebration of an inspirational life and an urgent first-hand account of the invasion of Palestine.

Haane Manahi of the 28th Māori Battalion is told that taking the German desert fortress of Takrouna will be a 'cakewalk'. But when the chain of command collapses under enemy fire, Haane leads a small group of Māori Battalion soldiers – all related, all cousins – up a precipitous cliff face and into the pages of history – where his Victoria Cross recommendation and its downgrade continue to echo throughout his descendants today. WWII. True story.

After the theft of the century, the madness begins... On the night of May 19th, 2010, five paintings were stolen from the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. The five artworks, from artists including Matisse, Modigliani and Picasso, were estimated to be worth more than 100 million euros. While the paintings have never been recovered, this outrageous comedy tells a frenetic and madcap tale of what could have happened to these famous works. Melvil Poupaud (Jeanne du Barry) plays Yonathan, whose monotonous life is turned upside down when he encounters Eric (Sofiane Zermani), a brash, smooth-talking con artist/fence. When Eric hires Jo (Steve TIentcheu, Neneh Superstar), a skilled thief known as “The Spider Man of Paris”, to steal the paintings from the Museum of Modern Art, the three men’s lives are intertwined in an uncontrollable spiral. Anchored by a star turn from Melvil Poupaud as the perpetually anxious watch expert turned in circles by a fast talking criminal, this wonderfully told story takes audiences on an entertaining ride through one of the most famous art heists of recent times.

Feature length documentary on internationally celebrated New Zealand writer Fiona Kidman, examining the way in which life and fiction collide and how they become inescapably braided together in time. "At 84, Fiona Kidman has published more than 30 books of fiction, poetry, and memoir, and received a raft of the highest accolades here and abroad. As the New Zealand Listener put it, 'in her craft and storytelling and in her compassionate, gutsy, tough expression of female experience, she is the best we have.' "In this gentle, meandering film, we’re shown a vocational life lived with conviction and courage, punctuated by loss. From precocious beginnings in rural Northland to her involvement with the New Zealand Women’s Liberation Movement, Fiona Kidman has always been propelled by her sense of the power of words to inspire change, and a nose for thinly veiled Kiwi conservatism." (Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival)

Winner Best Actor and Best Non-English Language film at the 2026 Golden Globes. 1977. In a Brazil tormented by the military dictatorship, Marcelo, a man in his forties fleeing a troubled past, arrives in the city of Recife where he hopes to build a new life and reconnect with his family. That's without taking into account the death threats that lurk and hover over his head.

How did a city rubbish dump transform into a collection of gardens that is now a major visitor attraction? The story of how Hamilton Gardens became a unique museum of humanity, showcasing gardens from ancient Egypt to the surreal future, is told on screen. A Museum of Humanity: The Time Traveller’s Guide to Hamilton Gardens documentary explores this stunning achievement. Each of the gardens reflects the beliefs, lifestyles, and values of those who created them. The viewer can travel backwards and forwards in time – moving from 16th-century England, back to Song Dynasty China, Ancient Egypt, and the Italian Renaissance, and forward to the future, from sustainable to surreal. Masterminded by designer Peter Sergel and developed with council, community support, and sponsorship, Hamilton Gardens is now recognised as one of the great gardens of the world. More than places to walk, these gardens are living histories, waiting to be explored. Directed by Grant Sheehan and featuring Peter Sergel, Mark de Lisle, John Dobson, Lucy Ryan, Gus Flower, Alice Gwilliam, and Glen Morris.

When Jules joins her new boyfriend on a New Year’s Eve getaway with his old high school mates, she’s looking to get some peace and quiet, smoke a bit of weed, and make some new friends. But when the holidaymakers stumble across their host’s long-forgotten stash of ancient weed, things quickly take a turn for the nightmarish. By the time they figure out the weed’s strange effect - an insatiable hunger for human flesh - it’s too late, and the four would-be friends become accidental cannibals. Their efforts to cover up their crime trigger a darkly comic spiral of panic, blame, and even more cannibalism that Jules is determined to survive - even if she’s the only one.