Upcoming film screenings and events in Melbourne

Peninsula Hot Springs is one of Melbourne's most loved self-care spots, providing a way to escape the city and fully unwind. But did you know you can combine the joys of a movie night with a relaxing bathing sesh? The wellness haven has brought back its Bathe in Cinema event, where you can watch a film from the comfort of your own hot spring, spread out among the Bath House Amphitheatre.  The Peninsula Hot Springs Bathe in Cinema runs every Thursday night at 7pm, until the last week of June. Guests can kick back and watch a film under the stars, staying warm with the heat of the hot springs. The weekly movie program is filled with classics, like Mrs. Doubtfire, You've Got Mail and Never Been Kissed.  The film screening is complimentary with bathhouse bathing (which starts from $75), you just need to add on the free bathe-in cinema option when checking out. If you feel like treating yourself and turning your bathing sesh into a getaway, book a stay at one of the new, ultra-relaxing Eco Lodges. If you're curious as to what this swish accommodation is really like, we visited to find out, and you can read about it here.  To learn more about the Bathe in Cinema event, head to the website.  Craving some time to unwind? Here are the best day spas in Melbourne. 

Australia’s longest-running short film festival, the St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) returns this winter for its landmark 41st year. From June 5-15, the festival is set to showcase more than 150 films across 34 sessions to cast a light on Australia’s best local short filmmakers.  From family dramas to gothic horrors and brilliant animations, you can catch the films at sessions across the City of Port Phillip, which presents the festival. There are screenings at famous venues such as the Astor Theatre, Palais Theatre and South Melbourne Market, plus (for the first time since 2019) the St Kilda Town Hall.  Highlights from the 2025 SKFF program include the heartfelt documentary See Me: A Film About Redro Redriguez; Unspoken, by acclaimed actor Damian Walshe-Howling; Rage, a snapshot of the Sharpie subculture in 1970s Melbourne; and Born to Hustle, about jeweller, artist and entrepreneur Emma Addams. All the familiar showcases will also return in 2025, including the Australian Comedy Showcase; Pride Without Prejudice hosted by Victorian Pride Centre; the Documentary Showcase; Brave New Worlds; Shifting The Gaze; Under The Radar and more.  This year, the line-up will feature the festival’s largest First Nations program to date, with a particular focus on stories of motherhood and birthing by First Nations female filmmakers. There's also been a resurgence in Super 8 and 16mm filmmaking, with 12 titles shot on film, illustrating how the next generation of filmmakers are embracing...