Alliance Francaise French Film Festival Has Dropped Its Complete (and Impressive) 2022 Lineup

Late in January, the Alliance Française French Film Festival confirmed the news that Australian movie-goers wanted to hear: not only that the annual cinema showcase would be back this year, notching up its 33rd round of fests, but that it had set its dates and first ten movies. Now, the event has freshly unveiled its full program — so get ready to watch your way through more than 40 flicks that'll whisk you off to France while you're munching popcorn in your cinema seat.

There's no shortage of highlights from this year's complete lineup — including the festival's opening night pick, the 19th-century Paris-set Lost Illusions, which had already been announced — but Claire Denis' Fire is easily one of the most exciting films on the bill. It'll play AFFFF straight from the Berlinale, and marks the acclaimed French filmmaker's first release since 2018's exceptional High Life. It also stars her Let the Sunshine In lead Juliette Binoche, with the romantic drama pairing the latter up with French actor Vincent Lindon (Titane) for the first time.

Also a standout: Happening, winner of the 2021 Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, which adapts Annie Ernaux's autobiographical novel about the rights of women in France in the 60s. It just nabbed filmmaker Audrey Diwan a BAFTA nomination for Best Director, and follows a bright young student who gets pregnant, then sees her options — for her future, and regarding what to do about her situation — quickly dwindle.

When AFFFF tours Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart — and in Byron Bay and Parramatta, too — from Tuesday, March 1–Sunday, April 24, the exceptional Petite Maman also sits at the very top of the fest's must-see list. The latest film from Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Céline Sciamma, it already made a few Australian festival appearances in 2021, and channels the director's trademark sensitivity and empathy into a sci-fi-skewing tale of mothers and daughters that's instantly among Sciamma's best.

Other top new picks from its complete lineup include the latest film in the OSS 117 spy spoof series, OSS 117: From Africa With Love, once again starring The Artist Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin; François Ozon's Everything Went Fine, which sees the Summer of 85 filmmaker tackle the right to die with dignity; Paris, 13th District, a love story from A Prophet and Rust and Bone's Jacques Audiard; and Murder Party, a murder-mystery with big Cluedo vibes.

Or, there's also Anaïs in Love, a rom-com about a woman having an affair with a married man but then falling for his wife; biopic Authentik, about French hip-hop duo Suprême NTM; World War II drama Farewell, Mr Haffmann, as based on the play; and friendship drama The Braves, about two twentysomething women following their dreams to become theatre actors.

And yes, the list of French cinema treats gracing the fest's full bill goes on — so don't say you don't have anything to see at the cinema in March and April.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2022 DATES:

• March 1–April 6, with encore screenings from April 7–10: Palace Central, Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema and Hayden Orpheum Cremorne, Sydney
• March 2–April 6, with encore screenings from April 7–10: Palace Electric, Canberra
• March 3–April 6, with encore screenings from April 7–10: Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Como. Palace Westgarth, Pentridge Cinema, The Kino and The Astor Theatre , Melbourne
• March 9–20: State Cinema, Hobart
• March 9–April 6, with encore screenings from April 7–10: Camelot Outdoor Cinema, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, Palace Raine Square and Windsor Cinema, Perth
• March 16–April 13, with encore screenings from April 14–18: Palace Barracks and Palace James Street, Brisbane
• March 24–April 24, with encore screenings from April 25–26: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide, plus Victa Cinemas, Victor Harbor
• March 30–April 14, with encore screenings from April 15–16: Palace Byron Bay, Byron Bay
• April 7–10: Parramatta Riverside Theatres, Parramatta

The Alliance Française French Film Festival tours Australia from Tuesday, March 1–Tuesday, April 26. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the AFFFF website.