Melbourne Special Events

Opening this year’s festival is the Australian premiere of Lost Illusions. 

Audiences are invited to an extravagant foray into the gilded yet treacherous lives of the aristocracy in 19th century France. This star-studded film is set to beguile audiences as scandal erupts between the haves and have nots, and the line between love and revenge is blurred.

Nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography at the 2022 LUMIERE AWARDS, Lost Illusions is a grand adventure not to be missed!

The Astor Theatre

Thursday 3 March

6:15 Reception including a glass of French champagne/wine/beer on arrival, a delicious food box and a gift bag

7:00 Lost Illusions

Between Two Worlds is an eye-opening tale of everyday women trying to survive in the modern world.

Opening the 53rd Directors’ Fortnight as part of the 74th Cannes Film Festival, Juliette Binoche’s honest performance guides this ensemble of new talent through both heartbreaking and uplifting scenes. An adaption of French journalist Florence Aubenas' bestselling non-fiction book, Le Quai de Ouistreham (The Night Cleaner), this arthouse drama feels like a day in the life of 21st century workers.

Audiences will relate strongly to the deeply emotional atmosphere of uncertainty and struggle reflected in this contemporary tale.

Kino Cinema

Wednesday 9 March

6:00 Reception includes drinks and a food box

6:30 Between Two Worlds

Presented in partnership with COLLINS PLACE and SOFITEL MELBOURNE ON COLLINS

The Young Lovers proves that intimacy and connection are more powerful than a society’s expectations or perhaps even what audiences might consider a one true love. With every beat, the film draws audiences into a passionate affair, spurred on by the undeniable on-screen chemistry of romantic leads Fanny Ardant and Melvil Poupaud. Every glance and every touch propel the actors forwards, leading the audience on a fascinating and tension-filled journey. Will love conquer all or will heartbreak be inevitable?

Palace Brighton Bay & Palace Balwyn

Wednesday 16 March

6:00 Reception includes drinks and a food box

6:30 The Young Lovers

Presented in partnership with BLUE ILLUSION

Featuring stunning cinematography, Mali Twist explores a period in time with immense care and sensitivity. Audiences will become indelibly attached to these fresh-faced leads and yearn for freedom alongside them. Robert Guédiguian has crafted an exquisite time capsule of a place and a people which is seldomly explored. The films 60’s nostalgia and naïve romance create a bittersweet and compelling tale set against the epic backdrop of political upheaval. Together these themes are guaranteed to capture the viewer’s heart as only the promise of hope can.

Palace Westgarth

Wednesday 23 March

6:00 Reception includes drinks and a food box

6:30 Mali Twist

Presented in partnership with LE FORUM DE LA FRANCOPHONIE

Exploring the world of French gastronomy and issues of social justice and inclusion, The Kitchen Brigade is a story for our times.

Cathy (Audrey Lamy, already starring in Invisibles) is an inflexible 40-year-old sous-chef, finally fulfilling her lifelong dream of opening her own high-end restaurant. However, things do not go to plan. Facing serious financial difficulties, she reluctantly accepts a job in the cafeteria of a shelter for young migrants. Along the way both she and her charges learn valuable lessons.

The Kitchen Brigade is a wonderful mix of humour, realism, social justice and entertainment. It is a tribute to young people with a tormented past and an uncertain future, desperately trying to integrate into French culture whilst staying true to themselves.

Pentridge Cinemas

Wednesday 30 March

5:45 Reception includes drinks and a food box

6:15 The Kitchen Brigade

Presented in partnership with THE JOHN & MYRIAM WYLIE FOUNDATION, TANARRA PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION and MICHELIN

Celebrate the end of another brilliant season of French cinema with our Closing Night Reception!

The final inspiring note of this year's Festival is the Australian premiere of Fly Me Away.

The endearing energy of this film is sure to move audiences. Together Victor Belmondo and newcomer Yoann Eloundou prove family can be found in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Director Christophe Barratier captures audiences’ hearts and minds as his characters go through immense change. We guarantee that audiences will be left inspired to live every day to the fullest.

Palace Cinema Como

Wednesday 6 April

5:45 Reception includes drinks and a food box

6:15 Fly Me Away

Presented in partnership with BASTILLE DAY FRENCH FESTIVAL 2022