Bendigo Evening VIEW Club fundraiser. MIDWINTER BREAK is a compelling story about lost faith, commitment, and the enduring power of love, as a longtime couple takes a life-changing trip to Amsterdam.

2026 DAHLIA & ARTS FESTIVAL CLOSING NIGHT Gentle farmer Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell) wins a piglet named Babe at a local fair. Narrowly escaping his fate as Christmas dinner when Farmer Hoggett decides to show him at the next fair, Babe bonds with motherly border collie Fly (Miriam Margolyes) and discovers that he too can herd sheep. But will the other farm animals, including Fly's jealous husband Rex, accept a pig who doesn't conform to the farm's social hierarchy?

Bendigo Brass Band fundraiser. Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams.

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “A funny and tender road trip.” Le Monde At 80 years old and suffering from an incurable cancer, Marie (Hélène Vincent) is exhausted by pain and determined to leave life on her own terms. Her decision is clear: she plans to travel to Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal, and end her life with dignity. When the time comes to tell her family, however, Marie panics. Faced with Bruno (David Ayala), her immature and unreliable son, and Anna (Juliette Gasquet), her teenage granddaughter navigating her own turmoil, she invents an elaborate lie. To spare them worry, she announces a family trip to Switzerland, supposedly to collect a mysterious inheritance from a Swiss bank. Accompanied by Rudy (Pierre Lottin), a caregiver she has only just met and who reluctantly becomes their driver, Marie and her family set off in an old camper van on an unexpected road trip. As the kilometres pass, will Marie find the courage to reveal her true intention before it is too late? Awarded at the Alpe d’Huez Comedy Film Festival for the performances of Hélène Vincent and Juliette Gasquet, BON VOYAGE MARIE, directed by Enya Baroux, is a tender and lucid family dramedy that approaches end-of-life choices with humour and deep humanity. Not to be missed!

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “Léa Drucker delivers a powerful, masterful performance.” The Hollywood news Stéphanie (Léa Drucker), an investigator at the French National Police General Inspectorate (IGPN), is assigned Case 137, involving Guillaume Girard (Côme Péronnet), a young man left in a critical condition after being struck by a rubber bullet during a tense demonstration in Paris. At first, nothing points to clear police misconduct — until Stéphanie discovers that the victim is from her own hometown, Saint-Dizier, turning the case into something far more personal. As she digs deeper, reviewing surveillance footage, retracing movements, and interviewing officers, Stéphanie confronts the 'blue wall of silence' that shields the institution. The few who might talk, hesitate; those who know more, refuse to. Her only support comes from Alicia Mady (Guslagie Malanda), a chambermaid and reluctant witness whose testimony could unlock the truth — but puts them both at risk of retaliation. Torn between loyalty and justice, Stéphanie finds herself increasingly isolated within a system determined to protect its own. Set against the backdrop of the gilets jaunes protests, CASE 137 is a gripping, socially-charged thriller from Dominik Moll, selected for official competition at the Cannes International Film Festival 2025.

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 In 2025, four former high school friends are jolted back into the past when a classmate suddenly disappears after an incident as absurd as it is tragic. As they approach their fifties, the shock prompts an impulsive decision: to organise a full class reunion, thirty years after graduation. What begins as a nostalgic attempt to reconnect quickly spirals into something far more unsettling. Old dynamics resurface, buried resentments re-emerge, and long-avoided questions come sharply into focus. As the reunion unfolds, it becomes clear that time has passed but not always moved forward. Through flashbacks to the 1990s and a soundtrack packed with era-defining tracks, the film explores what these friends have become, and what they have stubbornly refused to leave behind. Their struggle to grow up, let go, and adapt is by turns hilarious, uncomfortable, and unexpectedly touching. Jérôme Commandeur’s latest comedy – about friendship, memory, and the passage of time – brings together major figures of French cinema, including Laurent Lafitte, François Damiens, and Vanessa Paradis. When the past comes knocking, can a group of old friends finally face what they’ve avoided for decades, or will their reunion change nothing at all?

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “Garrel has one of his best roles.” Pete Hammond, Deadline In Paris, at the heart of Fashion Week, Maxine (Angelina Jolie), an American filmmaker commissioned to direct a film for a prestigious fashion house, receives sudden news that destabilises her whole world. Her path soon crosses with two other women: Ada (Anyier Anei), a young South Sudanese model who has travelled far to carve out her place in Paris, and Angèle (Ella Rumpf), a French makeup artist quietly dreaming of a different life. Between these three women from vastly different backgrounds, an unexpected solidarity begins to take shape. Beneath the glamorous surface of haute couture lies a quiet form of rebellion, as each woman, in her own way, attempts to mend the loose threads of her personal story. The film follows their intertwined journeys through a world that is as captivating as it is ruthless, gradually revealing vulnerabilities, aspirations, and the power of a subtle yet essential bond. Presented in a bilingual French-English format, COUTURE offers an intimate glimpse into the fashion world while exploring human connection and the resilience of women.

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “A French take on Back to the Future.” Canal + Get ready for a sharp, funny, and delightfully subversive leap through time with CYCLE OF TIME, the new social comedy from director Vinciane Millereau, starring Elsa Zylberstein and Didier Bourdon. In a quiet 1950s French town, Hélène (Elsa Zylberstein), Michel (Didier Bourdon) and their two children live simple happy days. Michel works at the bank while Hélène dedicates herself entirely to the home and family… until a sudden twist catapults them straight into 2025, in a time-jump worthy of Back to the Future. Suddenly, everything familiar has vanished: technology, social codes, and the pace of life itself. The world they knew has been replaced by something faster, louder, and far less predictable. But as they encounter new ways of thinking, loving, and living, the question becomes not just how they will adapt – but whether they even want to. With humour, charm, and an eye for social detail, CYCLE OF TIME invites viewers to rediscover the present through the eyes of two people from another time. This inventive time-travel tale asks: when the future arrives without warning, what do we hold onto and what do we let go of?

EPiC features long-lost footage from Presely's legendary Las Vegas residency in the 1970s, woven together with rare 16mm footage from Elvis on Tour, and precious 8mm from the Graceland archive, plus recordings of Elvis telling "his side of the story" rediscovered during Luhrmann's research for his Best Picture Oscar-nominated 2022 film Elvis.

A spoof that crosses Downton Abbey with Flying High and Monty Python, Fackham Hall follows lovable pick-pocket Eric Noone as he lands a job at a unique English manor house. He quickly rises through the ranks, and a forbidden romance with lady-of-the-house Rose Davenport blossoms. But when an unexpected murder occurs, Eric gets framed - leaving Rose and her family’s future perilously uncertain.

From Academy Award® winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, HAMNET tells the powerful love story that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

Inner Wheel Club of Bendigo fundraiser for Harcourt Progress committee. MIDWINTER BREAK is a compelling story about lost faith, commitment, and the enduring power of love, as a longtime couple takes a life-changing trip to Amsterdam.

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “The incredible Gadebois elevates Jean Valjean to great heights. Clearly Besnard’s best film.” Thierry Chèze, PREMIERE Victor Hugo’s masterpiece Les Misérables is one of the most beloved novels of the 19th century, but arguably has been tarnished by its many musical adaptations. Fortunately, the fabulous 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 exquisitely 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. Fans of the source text and thought-provoking historical drama will not be disappointed by JEAN VALJEAN.

From acclaimed director Sophie Hyde (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande), JIMPA is an uplifting multi-generational family story starring award-winning favourites Olivia Colman and John Lithgow. Hannah (Colman) travels to vibrant Amsterdam with her teen, Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde), to reconnect with her politically-engaged, gay father—affectionately known as “Jimpa” (Lithgow). Frances is besotted with Jimpa and announces they wish to stay with him for a year – to Hannah’s apprehension. Jimpa is fiercely independent, so it is a shock when his declining health is revealed, upending Frances' plans and bringing Hannah’s sister in from the UK. As the siblings negotiate what happens next, Hannah must confront her past and the stories she has told about her family. With warmth, humour and joy, JIMPA reminds us that, in every family, there are stories that don't add up.

MIDWINTER BREAK is a compelling story about lost faith, commitment, and the enduring power of love, as a longtime couple takes a life-changing trip to Amsterdam.

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “A great film about family.” Première One summer evening, Suzanne (Juliette Armanet, the famous French singer) arrives unannounced at her sister Jeanne’s home, accompanied by her two young children. The visit is unsettling. The sisters have not seen each other for months, and Suzanne seems distant and hard to read, her behaviour raising quiet concern. The following morning, Jeanne (Camille Cottin) wakes to a shock. Suzanne has vanished, leaving behind only a farewell letter. At the police station, Jeanne’s confusion turns to anger when she is told that no search can be launched: her sister has chosen to disappear. Suddenly responsible for her niece and nephew, Jeanne must put her own life on hold. Recently separated and only beginning to rebuild herself, she is forced to confront the weight of responsibility, the silence left behind, and the unanswered question of why her sister walked away. Directed by Nathan Ambrosioni, OUT OF LOVE is a quiet, deeply affecting family drama about sisterhood, absence and the bonds that endure when words fail. Carried by restrained performances and a sensitive use of light and silence, the film offers a poignant reflection on what it truly means to be there for those we love, even when they choose to leave.

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “A lovely culinary journey.” Ouest-France Prepare to be drawn into the mouth-watering mystery of REDRESS, where brilliance at the table coexists with unanswered questions lurking far from the spotlight. Paskal Jankovski (Clovis Cornillac) is hours away from the announcement of his third Michelin star - the ultimate consecration in global gastronomy - when he vanishes during a dawn hunting trip. At his side that day is Antoine, his trusted sous-chef (Julien de Saint Jean), whose ties to the Jankovski family run deeper than the kitchen, adding an unspoken layer of intrigue to the investigation that follows. Just 20 years old, Clara (Julia de Nunez), Paskal’s daughter, unexpectedly inherits the family restaurant, a bastion of French culinary artistry suddenly beseiged by uncertainty. The team, the produce, the rituals of service all hold firm, but the silence left behind grows louder. Two years later, a cryptic invitation draws her to Taiwan, where the puzzle begins to shift shape once again. Returning with renewed intensity after almost a decade away, auteur Régis Wargnier, France’s last Oscar-winning film Indochine, masterfully concocts a rare, cross-continental drama — a film crafted like a recipe, layered with mystery and emotion, designed to awaken curiosity long after the final course...

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “Bittersweet middle-aged bromance.” The Guardian Mathias (Mathias Mlekuz), a father mourning his son, decides to honour his memory by retracing the bicycle journey his son once undertook, from La Rochelle to Istanbul. Seeking a way to come to terms with his grief, Mathias sets off with his longtime friend Philippe (Philippe Rebbot) on this unusual road trip from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea. What begins as a personal pilgrimage soon evolves into a deeply emotional human adventure exploring friendship and marked by laughter and pain. As the kilometres unfold, the journey becomes less about the destination than about learning how to move forward. Between moments of humour, silence, and raw emotion, the two men navigate vulnerability, allowing space for tenderness and unexpected lightness. Philippe Rebbot delivers a critically acclaimed performance, earning the Best Actor award at the Festival 2 Cinéma de Valenciennes 2024. Premiering worldwide at the Festival du Film Francophone d’Angoulême 2024, the film received three awards: Best Direction, Audience Award, and Best Film Music. Shot in a style reminiscent of a documentary, RIDE AWAY captures the authenticity of the journey with remarkable sincerity. A moving and soothing film that gently shows how, even after tragedy, it is possible to heal, reconnect, and rediscover the joy of being alive.

Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams.

English language. In Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award®-winning masterpiece, Chihiro thinks she is on another boring trip with her parents. But when they stop at a village that is not all that it seems, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits, shape-shifting dragons and a witch who never wants to see her leave. She must call on the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world. The biggest box office hit of all time in Japan (surpassed only recently by Demon Slayer the Movie), Spirited Away helped redefine the possibilities of animation for Western audiences and a generation of new filmmakers. Combining Japanese mythology with Alice in Wonderland-type whimsy, Spirited Away cemented Miyazaki’s reputation as an icon of animation and storytelling.

Swordcraft Bendigo fundraiser. After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.

British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than advertised, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways.

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “A flawless and highly elegant comedy about music and the quest for harmony.” FRANÇOISE DELBECQ, ELLE The enchanting new comedy of manners from acclaimed writer/director Grégory Magne (whose debut Perfumes was a sleeper success in 2019), 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 Stradivariusstringed 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).

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “A savage treat of a tale.” Le Parisien Freshly graduated corporate lawyer Mehdi (Sami Outalbali, internationally recognised as Rahim in Sex Education) is spending the summer at the luxurious South of France villa owned by his girlfriend Garance’s family. The Trousselards are everything he is not: wealthy, polished, and quietly condescending. Philippe (Laurent Lafitte), Garance’s father, is a celebrated Parisian lawyer who never misses an opportunity to assert his superiority. His wife, a once-promising actress, struggles with a fading fame and unfulfilled ambitions. In the background, the estate’s caretakers, Tony and Nadine (Ramzy Bedia and Laure Calamy – who needs no introduction), live on the property with their daughter, maintaining the villa while enduring a series of subtle humiliations. When a financial dispute arises, the family’s refined manners begin to crumble, exposing long-simmering tensions. Coming from a modest background, Mehdi instinctively sympathises with the caretakers. But eager to secure an internship at Philippe’s prestigious law firm, he attempts to mediate between the two sides, only to find himself trapped in a conflict that spirals beyond his control, where money, pride, and power collide. Directed by Antony Cordier, this sharp dark comedy draws on real-life situations pushed to satirical extremes, delivering a biting portrait of class privilege and the fragility of civility.

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.

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “Irresistible. A treat.” Justine Boivin, CLOSER Few modern scandals have captivated France as the astonishing events surrounding Liliane Bettencourt, the billionaire heiress to the L’Oréal fortune and doyenne of Parisian society. Now writer/director Thierry Klifa has freely adapted the incredible story into a captivating dark comedy, featuring a jaw-dropping, tailor-made role for one of France’s most iconic stars. Marianne Farrère (Isabelle Huppert), the head of the Windler Group, is the richest woman in the world. Pierre-Alain Fantin (Laurent Lafitte) is a vivacious dandy, writer and photographer. After meeting on a photo shoot, the two quickly become inseparable. Their friendship – one where Pierre-Alain is only too happy to take financial advantage – surprises, amuses, intrigues, and eventually unsettles the billionaire’s entourage and family. Most of all, Marianne’s daughter (Marina Fois) struggles with her mother’s sudden complicity with this younger man, but her husband (André Marcon) and loyal butler (Raphaël Personnaz) share her concerns. Surreptitious queries soon transition into a private investigation, resulting in extraordinary ramifications for all involved… With several twists too good to spoil, THE RICHEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD makes the most of its fabulous ensemble cast, but Huppert and Lafitte simply eat up the screen. This wildly entertaining film became an enormous box-office hit in France for good reason.

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “A true gem in every respect. Ozon achieves perfection.” Fabian Lemercier, CINEUROPA The superb new drama from multi award-winning writer/director François Ozon, THE STRANGER is a gripping adaptation of Albert Camus’ landmark novella about a detached young expatriate on trial for murder in 1930s French-colonised Algeria. Summer, 1938. Meursault (Benjamin Voisin), 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 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 realised 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 artistic highlights of this year’s Festival, and should not be missed.

January 29, 2024. Red Crescent volunteers receive an emergency call. A 5-year old girl is trapped in a car under fire in Gaza, pleading for rescue. While trying to keep her on the line, they do everything they can to get an ambulance to her. Her name was Hind Rajab.

Alliance Française French Film Festival: April 17-19 & 24 - 26 “A film that makes you feel good, with joyful performances.” Anne Fontaine, Festival 2 Valenciennes Jury President Marguerite (Laure Calamy) sees no reason to refuse her ex-husband Fred (Vincent Macaigne) when he asks for an official Catholic Church annulment of their marriage. They share a child, she has since rebuilt her life with a new partner and a teen daughter, and she is even genuinely pleased to learn that Fred hopes to remarry Chloé, the woman who now shares his life. To satisfy the Church authorities, the former spouses must prove that their marriage was destined to fail from the beginning. What begins as a simple administrative formality slowly turns into an unexpected emotional journey. As Marguerite and Fred revisit old memories, moments of tenderness, and the cracks that once separated them, emotions they believe long-resolved begin to resurface. What follows is a touching and witty family comedy about the strange afterlives of relationships, the surprises that linger after separation, and the subtle power of second chances that can shift everything. The latest film from Fabien Gorgeart, it is a warm and insightful exploration of love’s complexities and the fragile possibilities of new beginnings, carried by humour, humanity, and a glow that guarantees smiles as you exit the cinema.