Dear Festival Enthusiasts,

As the new French Ambassador to Australia, I'm thrilled to greet you for the 35th Alliance Française French Film Festival, celebrating three and a half decades of French cinema on Australian soil. With 175,000 audience members, this festival is one of the world's largest French Film festivals: a testimony to Australians’ profound passion for our cinema.

The Festival couldn’t exist without the support of the Alliance Française. Learning French builds the cultural bridges that enrich both countries. This year holds special significance for this relationship, as we prepare for the Paris Olympic Games and deepen our shared values. I'm delighted that the establishment of the French Australian Cultural Exchanges Foundation was announced last December in Australia by the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The Foundation supports the arts, fosters new ideas, creates new projects.

I’m also happy to welcome a new director for the Alliance Française French Film Festival, Frederic Alliod, who will play a pivotal role in shaping the festival's future. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated partners, whose unwavering support has been instrumental in making this festival an enduring success. Together, we have crafted across borders and oceans a cultural tapestry bringing the essence of French storytelling to Australia.

To the Australian audience, thank you for 35 years of embracing French film and for your boundless curiosity!

As we embark on this landmark edition, may this Festival be a beacon of the enduring friendship between France and Australia.

Welcome to the 35th Alliance Française French Film Festival!

For over three decades, we've showcased the finest in French cinema, known for its profound simplicity and relatable humanity. Our stories reflect struggles, triumphs, passion, and possess an extraordinary ability to touch hearts. The greatest directors (Breillat, Gondry, Dupontel...) and actors (Binoche, Deneuve, Auteuil, Calamy, Cottin…) are gracing the lineup. Embracing The Three Musketeers’ motto, “All for one and one for all,” our festival dives into a diverse array of 41 movies from heart-warming comedies to gripping dramas, each offering its unique charm and allure.

The comedy Intouchables, chosen by the audience as the epitome of this anniversary, exemplifies this celebration - Omar Sy's remarkable performance explores friendship, resilience, and the transformative power of human connection.

As my final edition as Artistic Director, I'm thrilled to share one of my all-time favorite movies, Les Enfants du Paradis. This timeless masterpiece holds a special place in my cinematic memory, portraying love, art, and life in the theatrical world with poetic storytelling and captivating characters.

May this festival bring joy, inspiration, and connection to all. A heartfelt thanks to the wonderful Australian audiences, the talented distributors, and the remarkable Palace team for their support over the years. Special gratitude to the Alliances Françaises for an incredible four years of serving the passion for French cinema.

As we look forward, the best is yet to come in our cinema theaters. Merci!