2015 Alliance Française French Film Festival

The Alliance Française French Film Festival is an annual Australia-wide event, showcasing the best films that French cinema has to offer from the previous year.

In Canberra, the festival commenced March 6th and is scheduled to conclude March 25th, though has been extended by popular demand until Sunday March 29. The festival held at the Palace Electric Cinema in the Nishi NewActon complex in Acton, just south of ANU.

It has been extremely popular, according to Palace employee Ashleigh. “There has unfortunately been circumstances where we have had people come in only to find out that the sitting has been sold out.” She said.

Though a representative of the Alliance Française was not present for an interview, the time-poor manager-on-duty, Peter, confirmed what Ashleigh said.

“It has always been very successful,” he said, “We have even extended it, and we do that every year.”

Having worked in the Nishi NewActon complex myself, I was surprised at how busy the usually quiet cinema actually was. Luckily, I was still able to view one of the films.

Some of the films scheduled that day included In The Courtyard, Eden and The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles. In the end, I decided on Eden, a coming of age story revolving around the French music industry.

Viewing a film will set you back at least $15, with adult tickets priced at $19.50. Oddly, concession tickets are $17.00, but if you are under 25, you only have to pay $15.50. So, poor university students leave your student IDs behind and just bring proof of your age instead.

The festival also provides three special event nights. Naturally including an opening (which featured Gemma Bovery), and closing (featuring Paris, Je T’aime), and also a held special event screening that varies from cinema to cinema. In Canberra this year, that film was Diplomacy. Each event is more expensive than usual, but complimentary drinks, cheese and entertainment provided at each.

The festival is recommended for film lovers, Francophiles and those who are learning the French language. If you could not catch it this year, there is always next year.