Get ready to paint the city blue, red and white as the Alliance Française French Festival (AFFF) 2023 returns to Melbourne with a program of contemporary French films that are magnifique. Running from March 7-April 23, you can expect a suite of 39 French feature films, from box-office hits and timeless classics to infectious tales of hope and resilience, and to see legends such as Gérard Depardieu, Juliette Binoche and Laure Calamy up close and personal. The anticipated 34th edition of the festival will be opened with Nicolas Bedos’ glamorous Masquerade, a French drama starring Pierre Niney, Isabella Adjani and Marine Vacth, which will transport cinemagoers to the Côte d’Azur in this sexy double-dealing thriller. Didier Barcelo’s road trip comedy Freestyle will close the festival, starring the rising star Benjamin Voisin and Marina Foïs. Other must-see highlights from the 2023 festival include the Australian premiere of Two Tickets to Greece, starring Call my Agent’s Laure Calamy, Kirstin Scott Thomas and Oliva Côte as the three estranged friends who tentatively reunite for a trip to the Greek islands. Also premiering for the first time is The Innocent, which holds the highest number of nominations for a single film at the upcoming 2023 César awards. The new comedy hit from Louis Garrel follows widowed marine biologist Abel (Louis Garrel) who learns that his impulsive mother Sylvie (Anouk Grinberg) is re-marrying an inmate she met while teaching theatre in prison.  Cédric
After an unforgettable Melbourne movie experience? From the Melbourne International Film Festival to celebrations of indie, anime, queer and documentary films, there's a festival for every type of movie buff. Check out the festivals coming soon to Melbourne below.