French film festival 2024



Tickets

Ama Gloria: Special Screening Friday 12pm: $12 No Concessions
The Three Musketeers - D´ Artagnan: Opening Night $30/$25 Concession (includes a glass of sparling wine and finger food)
All other sessions: $24 / $18 Concession
Festival Pass only TBC  Concession : 7 movies excluding opening night
Concessions apply to Alliance Française de Cairns & End Credits members. Membership card required.


Friday 10 May  
12pm

Ama Gloria


DRAMA / FRANCE / 2023 / 84 MINS / PG

WATCH TRAILER HERE

Celebrated as one of the major discoveries of the Cannes Film Festival, writer/director Marie Amachoukeli’s remarkable ÀMA GLORIA is a vibrant drama that explores the precious bond between a six-year-old French girl and her nanny, and what happens when it is unexpectedly placed in jeopardy. Paris, present day. Vivacious, personable young Cléo (extraordinary newcomer Louise Mauroy-Panzani) lives with her widowed father (Arnaud Rebotini), but has mostly been raised by her beloved Cape Verdean carer, Gloria (Ilça Moreno Zego), in whose comforting arms she finds refuge and emotional stability. So when Gloria’s mother passes away – a life-changing blow for both of them – Gloria must return to her homeland to care for her own children. To ease the anguish of the impending separation, Gloria invites Cléo to her island community to spend one last summer together... There, the young girl will discover an entirely different culture and a new family, and must learn to understand that the world does not revolve around her.

booking available soon




Friday 10 May  
8pm

the three musketeers - d´ artagnan

ACTION, ADVENTURE, HISTORICAL, THRILLER / FRANCE / 2023 / 121 MINS / M


WATCH TRAILER HERE

Alexandre Dumas’ thrilling and beloved classic novel The Three Musketeers has spawned multiple adaptations since its publication in 1844, but none have approached the scope and spectacle of this wildly entertaining, blockbuster two-film production from director Martin Bourboulon, who assembles an all-star cast for the first French cinematic treatment in over 30 years.

Set in the early 17th century kingdom of France, the opening instalment D’Artagnan follows a spirited young swordsman, Charles D’Artagnan (François Civil), on his journey from Gascony to Paris to join the King’s elite Musketeers of the Guard. Along the way, he narrowly escapes death whilst heroically saving a woman from being kidnapped. In his efforts to enlist, D’Artagnan manages to offend the sensibilities of three of the most formidable Musketeers in the ranks, Athos (Vincent Cassel), Porthos (Pio Marmaï) and Aramis (Romain Duris).

But D’Artagnan soon wins them over, and his dedication to help his newfound friends and serve King Louis XIII (Louis Garrel) will lead him not only into the path of the mysterious Milady de Winter (Eva Green) and the Queen’s consort Constance (Lyna Khoudri), but into the heart of a conspiracy where the future of the nation itself is at stake.

France’s biggest box-office success of 2023, Bourboulon’s magnificent production - lavishly produced with a budget of over €70 million - is respectful of its source but enriched with contemporary touches; the film is chock-full of humour, romance, palace intrigue and pulse-pounding action.

The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan unquestionably delivers as a smart and hugely involving big-screen experience for all ages. 

Booking available soon



Saturday 11 May  
1:30pm

Abbe pierre - a century of devotion

BIOPIC, DRAMA, HISTORICAL / FRANCE / 2023 / 138 MINS / M



WATCH TRAILER HERE

Featuring a revelatory lead performance from Benjamin Lavernhe (DeliciousC’est la vie!), writer/director Frédéric Tellier’s sweeping and deeply affecting historical drama charts the extraordinary life of the titular priest and humanitarian (1912-2007) who advocated for those most in need whilst frequently placing himself in peril and risk of ostracisation.

The fifth of eight Catholic children, Henri Grouès (Lavernhe) plans to join the monastery, only for WWII to intervene. Learning of the persecution of Jews and patriots, he joins the Resistance to help those fleeing Gestapo oppression, himself forced to use several false identities to avoid capture. As “Abbé Pierre”, Henri is exposed to the devastation of war, but also bears witness to the compassion and strength of brotherhood and the liberation of Paris; he emerges from the maelstrom a changed man and becomes dedicated to the lives of others.

A major word-of-mouth sensation and box office success in France in late 2023, Tellier’s grand, big-budget production features a stirring soundtrack by The National’s Bryce Dessner and is truly elevated by the remarkable Lavernhe. Abbé Pierre is both an uplifting and memorable drama that – in capturing the feelings, doubts and contradictions of one inspirational man - speaks eloquently to the concerns of our current era.

booking available soon




Saturday 11 May  
4pm

a difficult year

COMEDY, ROMANCE / FRANCE / 2023 / 120 MINS / M



WATCH TRAILER HERE

The wildly entertaining new comedy from irrepressible filmmaking duo Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache (The Intouchables, C'est la vie), A Difficult Year stars Pio Marmaï and Jonathan Cohen as two compulsive spenders who get much more than they bargained for when they try and scam their way out of trouble.

Both in debt up to their necks, Albert (Marmaï) and Bruno (Cohen) have turned to a community worker (Mathieu Amalric) to try and help get a grip on their lives. However, at one of their group sessions, they stumble into an adjoining meeting room hosting a gathering of young social activists, led by a vivacious organiser (the fabulous Noémie Merlant).

Attracted more by the free beer and chips than the group's struggle against consumerism and protection of the environment (whilst acknowledging the hugs are quite nice), Albert and Bruno join the movement without any particular conviction, but soon sense an opportunity... if they don’t get arrested first.

Expertly poking fun at their characters while simultaneously honouring them, A Difficult Year delivers both laughs and pathos in spades, thanks to the directors’ ongoing faith in humanity’s desire to change. With of-the-moment resonances to Australia’s social and “cozzie livs” concerns, A Difficult Year is a 2024 Festival must-see.

booking available soon




Saturday 11 May  
8pm

all your faces

DRAMA / FRANCE / 2023 / 118 MINS / MA 15+


WATCH TRAILER HERE

A powerhouse cast - Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue Is the Warmest Colour) and Gilles Lellouche (Kompromat, AF FFF22) - headlines this compelling drama about France’s Restorative Justice program, first introduced in Australia in 2001 and later in France in 2014. The program brings together crime victims and offenders in a controlled environment for open dialogue.

The film follows two stories, in which six characters, three offenders and three victims, cautiously take part in this process. Their experiences veer between anger and hope, alliances and torn relationships, realisations, and regained trust. For some, there is even the possibility of restoration...

Praised for her ‘talent for unearthing fascinating subjects and bringing them to the wider public’s attention without ever betraying their essence,’ writer/director Jeanne Herry (In Safe Hands, AF FFF19) dramatises the sometimes-controversial program that assists criminals to take responsibility for their actions and helps victims heal. Told with honesty and empathy, All Your Faces explores how the unspeakable can be subverted to guide characters on journeys of self-realisation and forgiveness in this intelligent and emotional film.

booking available soon




Sunday 12 May
1:30pm

a chance to win

COMEDY / FRANCE / 2023 / 97 MINS / M  

WATCH TRAILER HERE

In the picturesque South West of France, two villages have long been rivals. Particularly when it comes to rugby. Long-harboured resentments and pettiness find expression via scrums and tackles in this new comedy crafted by Philippe Guillard, renowned sports journalist, former professional rugby player and filmmaker (My Son Jo, AF FFF12).

As their 100th match nears, the arrival of asylum seekers injects a new dynamic into village life. Where some villagers harbour suspicion, others see opportunity and the newcomers are enlisted to bolster chances of victory on the field. Could this unexpected alliance on the field pave the way for a triumphant reconciliation off the pitch?

Much like The Merger did for Australian rules football, A Chance to Win uses a compelling blend of humor and heart to showcase the power of sport to create community. Differences are overcome, friendships are formed, vulnerabilities fade and tries are scored in this unpredictable and feel-good film.

An inspiring tale of unity that does a world of good.

booking available soon



Sunday 12 May
4pm

take a chance on me

COMEDY / FRANCE / 2023 / 103 MINS / M


WATCH TRAILER HERE

Rarely have there been two people so fundamentally different from each other as the down on her luck young woman Marie-Line and the older male judge who rules against her when she is brought before his court.

Yet this same judge sees something in Marie-Line that nobody else does, and hires her to be his driver. The result is a poignant, fun-filled and ultimately life-changing road trip, filled with heated debate, misadventures and personality clashes.

Beloved French pop singer Louane Emera, who made her acting debut in The Bélier Family, is sensational as the downtrodden yet high spirited Marie-Line, while legendary stage and screen veteran Michel Blanc (A Good Doctor, AF FFF23) inhabits his role as the loveably grumpy judge with conviction and humour. They're a gloriously mismatched odd couple, whose journey together results in a heartwarming and delightful film about the most unlikely of friendships and the unexpected joys of second chances.

booking available soon




Sunday 12 May
8pm

the sitting duck

BIOPIC, DRAMA, THRILLER / FRANCE / 2022 / 121 MINS / M



WATCH TRAILER HERE


Academy Award nominee Isabelle Huppert (The Godmother, AF FFF22) is nothing short of electrifying in the role of real-life whistle-blower Maureen Kearney, a trade unionist who dared to challenge the powerful nuclear industry at an immense personal cost.

Feared, admired and loathed for her considerable influence, Kearney's world takes a harrowing turn when she exposes the unsettling details of a clandestine deal between French and Chinese power companies. This revelation leads to a brutal assault that sets off a chain of events exposing the failures of the justice system and the pervasive corruption within government and corporate realms.

Since its debut at the Venice Film Festival, this rage-inducing political thriller crafted by writer/director Jean-Paul Salomé, has gripped audiences with an unrelenting tension, unveiling the shocking truths of Kearney's plight. The Sitting Duck is intensely compelling in the way it immerses audiences in the high-stakes world of political intrigue and personal peril.

Brace yourself for a fascinating and revealing real-life tale of courage and resilience that demands to be seen!

booking available soon



Thanks to our generous sponsors that made the Cairns French Film Festival 2024 possible.


                                                                




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