Alliance Francaise French Film Festival 2014

Overview

In 2014, the ultimate celebration of French cinema in Australia will mark its silver anniversary with one of its most impressive programs yet. Lighting up Palace Cinema locations around the country, the 25th annual Alliance Francaise French Film Festival has film-faring Francophiles covered, with light-hearted comedies to searing dramas, as well as hat-tips to two of France's most legendary filmmakers.

The festivities kick off on opening night with a screening of Nils Tavernier's inspiring sports drama The Finishers, followed by a post-film cocktail party. Other big tickets include the bloody Palme d'Or-nominated epic Michael Kohlhaas, Bruno Dumont's lauded biopic Camille Claudel 1915 and the Monaco-set espionage thriller Möbius starring The Artist's Jean Dujardin.

Lighter options can be found in the festival's romance and comedy streams. Stylish indie ensemble 2 Autumns, 3 Winters has garnered plenty of positive buzz internationally, while Bright Days Ahead offers something for the older crowd, recounting the tale of a newly retired senior who strikes up an affair with a much younger man.

Patrons can also preview the works of France's future filmmaking elite, with a program of short films from renowned Parisian film academy La Fémis. At the other end of the spectrum, fans of the classics might enjoy a retrospective of the works of new-wave pioneer Francois Truffaut, including his medium-shifting masterworks Jules and Jim and The 400 Blows.

Closing night serves up another iconic slice of French cinema, in the form of Jacques Tati's wonderful 1958 comedy Mon Oncle.

For the full Alliance Française French Film Festival program, visit http://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/