A petit aperçu of what’s in store at the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2025

Posted on 6 February, 2025

That’s right, we have a glimpse of what must-see French cinema is hitting the screens at the Palace Electric this autumn.

Back for its 36^th year, the Alliance Française French Film Festival will once again be treating local Francophile’s to the crème de la crème of contemporary French film from the last 12 months.

Transporting you to France without needing to buy a plane ticket or dedicate hours to Duolingo (thank goodness for subtitles), from biopics of legendary figures in French culture, to stories of l’Amour in all its forms, there’s something for everyone.

With the full line-up still to be announced, here’s what you can expect when the festival arrives at Palace Electric from Thursday 6 March to Wednesday 9 April.

Make sure to keep an eye out for the details on our very special HerCanberra Ladies Night where we partner with the festival to eat lots of cheese, drink some wine and watch a spectacular film with a strong female lead. Sounds très magnifique, right?

Grab your popcorn, cause this is going to be good.

For those looking for the ‘must-see’ movie of the program…

If you have to choose one movie to see at the Alliance Française French Film Festival, make it the Australian premiere of Monsieur Aznavour on the Opening Night.

Hot off the heels of its French box office success, with over 1.8 million tickets sold, this grand and unmissable cinema experience is all about the iconic singer-songwriter Monsieur Aznavour, how he became one of France’s best-loved entertainers and personified French culture to the English-speaking world.

See it on Thursday 6 March. You won’t want to miss out.

For those obsessed with Emily in Paris…

Starring Camille Razat, we predict Emily in Paris fans will be flocking to see this one. Prodigies (Prodigieuses) is an unmissable film exploring passion, obsession, and sibling rivalry, lauded as France’s answer to Whiplash.

Based on a true story, twin pianists Claire (Razat) and Jeanne (Mélanie Robert) have been militantly trained by their father for one single goal: greatness. But when they are diagnosed with a sudden aggressive and incurable illness, their sibling rivalry pales by comparison. The twins must decide: will they defy the odds and do whatever it takes to truly become prodigies?

For those looking for a tale of romance and redemption…

Because no one does romance like the French.

Marseille, 1815. The dreams of principled young sailor Edmond Dantès are about to come true, and he can finally marry the love of his life. But his success inspires jealousy and Dantès is incarcerated without trial in an isolated prison. Romance lovers can thank us after they’ve seen the French cinematic treatment of the iconic tale of The Count of Monte Cristo.

For those who can’t resist a ‘written-in-the-stars’ infatuation…

A sensual standout this year is Beating Hearts (L’amour ouf), a vibrant, genre-spanning romantic epic featuring some of French cinema’s brightest young talents.

Paying homage to the US independent film wave of the 80s and early 90s, it follows Clotaire (Civil) and Jackie (Exarchopoulos), who meet in their teens in their Northern France working-class neighbourhood in the 1980s. Tested by social boundaries, betrayal and circumstances beyond their control, it promises to be a crowd pleaser.

For those who like a side of history with their drama…

Following the life of the world’s first celebrity actress, Sarah Bernhardt, The Divine Sarah Bernhardt (Sarah Bernhardt, la divine) has everything that makes a French film great: drama, opulent wealth, and delicious scandals.

Described as a ‘decadent biopic’ this is a great one to see with the girls.

For those who need a good giggle…

A road-trip movie always hits different. Meet the Leroys (Nous, les Leroys) was named the Grand Prix winner at the Alpe d’Huez Film Festival, so you know it’s going to be good.

Hitting the marks of all the great on-the-road dramatic comedies, this is moving story that will make you laugh and cry in the best way possible.

With more to be added to the program, we predict that you’ll be saying ‘Oui’ to multiple trips to the movies this autumn.

HerCanberra is a proud media partner of the Alliance Française French Film Festival.

Feature image: Beating Hearts. Supplied.