A Feast of French Cinema: The 37th Alliance Française French Film Festival Returns to Australia
Arts& Culturew Publicity posted 23 February,2026
Australia’s most beloved cultural odyssey is back. The Alliance Française French Film Festival (AF FFF) has officially unveiled its 2026 program, marking its 37th year as the largest celebration of French cinema in the world outside of France.
The 37th Alliance Française French Film Festival (AF FFF), Australia’s largest national film festival and the biggest celebration of French cinema outside France, has revealed its full 2026 program. Featuring 38 exceptional films screening over nine weeks across 18 cities and 40 venues nationwide, the Festival arrives in Australia from 3 March – 26 April 2026.
This year’s Festival continues its prestigious partnership with Palace Cinemas and key local Alliance Française chapters, bringing an unparalleled cinematic journey to fans of French film across metropolitan and regional Australia.
Festival Highlights & Curatorial Vision
Opening the Festival is Cédric Klapisch’s luminous drama La Venue de l’Avenir (Colours of Time)– a visually rich story weaving past and present through family, art and identity. The season closes with the romantic comedy Avignon (Rodrigue in Love), promising laughter, love and joie de vivre for audiences nationwide.
From powerful historical dramas and star-studded contemporary premieres to animation and heartfelt coming-of-age tales, the 2026 lineup champions both established icons and fresh voices in French cinema. Standout films include La Femme la Plus Riche du Monde (The Richest Woman in the World) starring Isabelle Huppert, François Ozon’s acclaimed L’Étranger (The Stranger) adaptation of Albert Camus’ classic, and Vie Privée (A Private Life) which features Jodie Foster in a rare French-language lead.
Spanning nine weeks from 3 March to 26 April 2026, the festival will treat audiences in 18 cities and 40 venues nationwide to a curated selection of 38 exceptional films.
Opening and Closing Highlights
The festival kicks off with the Australian Premiere of Cédric Klapisch’s La Venue de l’Avenir (Colours of Time). Known for the cult classic L’Auberge Espagnole, Klapisch delivers a visually stunning drama that weaves between 1895 and 2024. The story follows four cousins who inherit a house in Normandy and discover a connection to an ancestor who fled to Paris during the Belle Époque, exploring the enduring power of family, art, and identity.
Concluding the season is Avignon (Rodrigue in Love), a sun-drenched romantic comedy directed by Johann Dionnet. Set against the backdrop of France’s most famous theater festival, it follows an out-of-work actor who tells a “white lie” to impress a former flame, only to find himself trapped in a web of hilarious improvisations.
Star-Studded Highlights & Modern Classics
The 2026 program boasts a heavy-hitting roster of international stars and visionary directors:
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Isabelle Huppert takes the lead in La Femme la Plus Riche du Monde (The Richest Woman in the World). Freely inspired by the real-life Bettencourt scandal, Huppert plays a cosmetics heiress whose immense wealth creates a fascinating, often scandalous dynamic with a charming photographer (Laurent Lafitte).
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Jodie Foster delivers a rare, fully French-language performance in Vie Privée (A Private Life). Directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, this dark comedy-thriller features Foster as a psychoanalyst who turns detective after the suspicious death of a patient.
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François Ozon returns with L’Étranger (The Stranger). This moody, black-and-white adaptation of Albert Camus’ existential masterpiece stars Benjamin Voisin as Meursault, offering a provocative re-reading of the classic tale through a lens of colonial critique.
Strengthening Community Ties
Alliance Française has also appointed Australian filmmaker Gracie Otto as Festival Patron, underscoring the Festival’s deep engagement with Australia’s creative community. Alongside cinema screenings, the Festival includes family sessions, CinéWine nights, special premieres and Q&As that enrich the audience experience.
Alliance Française French Film Festival CEO Frédéric Alliod said:
“I am proud to unveil a selection of titles that invite Australian audiences to travel through French cinema, across time, continents and emotions. From powerful true stories and bold contemporary voices to comedies, period dramas and unforgettable romances, this year’s programme reflects the extraordinary vitality and diversity of French cinema.”
Beyond the screenings, the festival remains a community hub, offering:
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CinéWine nights for the perfect pairing of viticulture and cinema.
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Special family sessions and animation for younger cinephiles.
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Live Q&As with filmmakers to enrich the viewing experience.
Festival Dates & Locations (selected major seasons)
SYDNEY, NSW – 3 March to 8 April
MELBOURNE, VIC – 4 March to 8 April
BRISBANE, QLD – 5 March to 8 April
CANBERRA, ACT – 5 March to 8 April
PERTH, WA – 12 March to 15 April
ADELAIDE, SA – 18 March to 22 AprilAdditional regional dates and venues across the Festival footprint will be published on the official Festival website.
For tickets and full programme, visit affrenchfilmfestival.org
