ENCORE SCREENINGS Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician BOB DYLAN’s (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts – his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation – culminating in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2025: April 11-13 “Bolero is a film concealing a muted pain under its traditional appearance...” - CINEUROPA 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), 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.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2025: April 11-13 “Under the guise of a jubilant police comedy that alternates between hilarious and gently nerve-wracking, Franck Dubosc delivers a scathing allegory of our ruthless modern societies.” - MONDOCINÉ 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), 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?

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2025: April 11-13 Featuring a fantastic ensemble cast, the charming new dramedy by Blandine Lenoir 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.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2025: April 11-13 “Surrounded by two perfect young actors, Charlotte Gainsbourg and José Garcia are magnificent.” 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) 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.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2025: April 11-13 OPENING NIGHT FILM “A superb and powerful tribute.”- PUBLIC 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.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2025: April 11-13 “A heartfelt narrative that blends humor and poignancy… truly memorable and feel-good.”- NEXT BEST PICTURE 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.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2025: April 11-13 “Shines the spotlight on a figure as eccentric as she was visionary, still regarded today as a legend of world theater.”- SORTIR À PARIS 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) 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.

An orphan in a facility run by the mean Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett), Annie (Aileen Quinn) believes that her parents left her there by mistake. When a rich man named Oliver Daddy Warbucks (Albert Finney) decides to let an orphan live at his home to promote his image, Annie is selected. While Annie gets accustomed to living in Warbucks' mansion, she still longs to meet her parents. So Warbucks announces a search for them and a reward, which brings out many frauds.

Ever since her parents left her as a baby, little Annie (Quvenzhané Wallis) has led a hard-knock life with her calculating foster mother, Miss Hannigan. However, all that changes when hard-nosed billionaire and mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) takes her in on the recommendation of his advisers (Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale). Stacks believes that he's Annie's guardian angel, but the plucky youngster's confidence and sunny outlook may mean that Annie will save Will instead.

Bendigo East Baseball Club - Juniors fundraiser. 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.

Bendigo Historical Society fundraiser. Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history.

Bendigo Interfaith Council fundraiser. Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history.

Bendigo Maubisse Friendship Committee fundraiser. In “SPIT,’ Spitteri finds himself locked up in an immigration detention centre upon his return to Australia. With old enemies on his tail and a target on his back, he navigates a series of comedic misadventures, sharing with his fellow detainees the meaning of mateship and what it is to be truly Australian.

From Academy Award® winning director Steven Soderbergh, BLACK BAG is a high-stakes mystery starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender alongside Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke and Pierce Brosnan.

A day in the life of the employees of Empire Records. Except this is a day where everything comes to a head for a number of them facing personal crises - can they pull through together? And more importantly, can they keep their record store independent and not swallowed up by corporate greed?

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.

This is the true story of Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek) and her husband Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), the larger-than-life painters who became the most acclaimed artists in Mexican history. Their tempestuous love affair, landmark journeys to America, and outrageous personalities made them legendary.

The film highlights the two sides of Frida Kahlo’s spirit: on one side the revolutionary, pioneering artist of contemporary feminism and on the other, the human being, victim of her tortured body and a tormented relationship. With Asia Argento as narrator, the two faces of the artist will be revealed, by pursuing a common thread consisting of Frida’s own words: letters, diaries and private confessions. The film alternates interviews, with original documents, captivating reconstructions and Frida Kahlo’s own paintings, kept in some of the most amazing museums in Mexico.

Brazil, 1971. Brazil faces the tightening grip of a military dictatorship. Eunice Paiva, a mother of five children, is forced to reinvent herself after her family suffers a violent and arbitrary act by the government. The film is based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's biographical book and tells the true story that helped reconstruct an important part of Brazil’s hidden history.

Documentary following singer Madonna on her controversial Blond Ambition tour in 1990.

Take a journey with maverick musician Neil Young in this personal, behind-the-scenes doc as he cruises the coast on his recent solo tour. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker and Young’s wife, Daryl Hannah, Coastal offers a glimpse behind the curtain of this unguarded iconoclast, as he navigates a return to the stage post-Covid – from his everyday observations on the bus to his candid, wry banter with his audience. The illuminating film also features songs rarely, if ever played live, performed in breathtakingly beautiful theaters.

After being sold to a mortician, young orphan Oliver Twist runs away and meets a group of boys trained to be pickpockets by an elderly mentor.

A dazzling, mind-bending anime where dreams and reality blur. A stolen device lets users invade dreams, unleashing chaos. Therapist-turned-dream-detective Paprika dives into surreal landscapes to restore order. Stunning visuals, deep themes, and Kon’s signature brilliance make it unforgettable. English subtitles.

Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII, the groundbreaking 1972 film directed by Adrian Maben, returns to theaters, now digitally re-mastered in 4K from the original 35mm footage with enhanced audio. Set in the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the ancient Roman Amphitheater in Pompeii, Italy, the film captures Pink Floyd performing an intimate concert without an audience. Filmed in October 1971, the performance features unforgettable tracks such as “Echoes,” “A Saucerful of Secrets,” and “One of These Days.” The breathtaking visuals of the amphitheater, captured both day and night, amplify the magic of the performance, creating a unique and immersive experience. Additionally, the film includes rare behind-the-scenes glimpses of the band working on The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios. This meticulous restoration delivers stunning image and sound quality, featuring a theatrical and home entertainment mix from Steven Wilson in 5.1 and Dolby Atmos. These upgrades enhance the film's depth and clarity while preserving the authenticity and spirit of the original 1972 release. Inspired by the golden warmth of Pompeii’s iconic setting, the remaster transforms this timeless piece into a masterpiece of sight and sound. Experience Pink Floyd like never before through this pioneering audio-visual remaster!

In 1985 devoted father Bill Furlong discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers shocking truths of his own.

In “SPIT,’ Spitteri finds himself locked up in an immigration detention centre upon his return to Australia. With old enemies on his tail and a target on his back, he navigates a series of comedic misadventures, sharing with his fellow detainees the meaning of mateship and what it is to be truly Australian.

Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, a pair of Italian Americans who run two separate crime families in the mid-20th century. Genovese attempted to assassinate Costello in 1957, although Costello retired from the mob.

WIN A GREAT RIDES OF NEW ZEALAND CYCLING HOLIDAY* Purchase a ticket to any Australian screening and, thanks to our presenting partner Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand, you could win an epic cycling holiday in New Zealand for two. T’s and C’s apply* land only, flights not included. You must keep proof of your ticket purchase in the event you are drawn as the winner. One entry per person. ---- The Big Bike Film Night is on a mission - bringing the best short cycling films from around the world together for you. Showcasing 2.5 hours of riveting bike films that have everything a cycle-centric audience could want – action, drama, humour, and plenty of inspiration. The evening is unashamedly and utterly, utterly, utterly designed and devised to delight the two-wheel devotee! The 2025 treasure chest of films includes: • an exhilarating film that redefines what’s possible on a gravel bike on technically challenging terrains • a celebration of grit, camaraderie, and the beauty of "Type 2 Fun", this film is an ode to the ride, not the finish line • a captivating film that promises to take you on a journey of compassion, community, and the joy of cycling • an uplifting film that follows a group of adventurers from Wānaka, New Zealand, who gather to cycle from town out to the local Ski Field and back, carrying all their gear, with the purpose to raise awareness about the climate impact that comes with travelling and adventuring • an inspiring mountain bike ride through back country Queenstown that is both poetic and meaningful • a life-changing experience for a group of friends who undertake a trip to a bothie (hut) in the Highlands of Scotland to show what can be achieved by people with disabilities in relation to having adventures • a film that celebrates the art of “winging it” and how travelling by bicycle and the power of exploration can obliterate preconceptions and contribute to understanding others • and a classic Kiwi story of a young trail blazer participating in a gruelling six-day mountain bike rally, exploring his boundaries with his own signature entirely unsupported style - fueled by a penchant for chocolate milk and a single-minded approach to making it happen ALL in the mix! These short films are a great reminder of why we love to ride our bike; with stories that captivate us, stories that move us, and most importantly of all – inspiring us to get out and ride. All celebrate the fun, adventure, and joy that cycling enables. So...listen to the voice inside you; it’s telling you to go. Grab your mates, GO ON… grab your bike and come along for the ride!! PREVIOUS ATTENDEE’S COMMENTS: “One of the most inspiring events of the year" “The Big Bike Film Night is always a wonderful, eclectic, wacky mix of films and I love it!” “If you haven’t experienced the cinematic excellence of The Big Bike Film Night – then YOU MUST!!!”

An ample cat colony inhabits a Shinto shrine. Residents care for them; others disturbed by the mess. Filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda observes their coexistence.

Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history.

While home sick in bed, a young boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.