IF you love a dose of foreign cinema, pop open the bubbly! The Alliance Franaise French Film Festival is headed to a cinema near you.
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The 32nd annual festival will take place at Brisbane's Palace Barracks & Palace James Street cinemas from March 17-April 13.
New Artistic Director Karine Mauris has worked to establish a program that nurtures emerging talent and tells stories which cast a spotlight on the many facets of French life.
One highlight of this year's program will be Appearances, a thriller in which a couple's privileged Viennese existence threatens to implode due to a husband's infidelity.
Miss tells the story of a boy who dreams of entering the Miss France beauty pageant, while Final Set sees an aging tennis player taking a final shot at winning the French Open.
Other highlights include gentle comedy The Rose Maker, madcap adventure Bye Bye Morons and Aline, which is inspired by the life of singer Céline Dion.
The festival will see numerous filmmakers exploring "l'amour" or love, in all its complexities.
There will also be a strong focus on diversity with other films exploring a modern take on Faust, the devastation of civil war and a fish out of water comedy about adapting to a new culture.
Filmmakers include established talents such as Ruben Alves, Anne Fontaine and Emmanuel Mouret, alongside emerging talents such as Kaouther Ben Hania, Manele Labidi and Chloé Mazlo.
Stories will also be brought to life by some of Europe's finest actors, including Jean-Paul Belmondo, Monica Bellucci, Vincent Lacoste and Isabelle Nanty.
Strict COVID protocols will be in place in each state to ensure a safe cinema experience.
The festival is presented in association with the Embassy of France in Australia.
- Details: 3367-1356 (Palace Barracks), 3852-4488 (Palace James St), affrenchfilmfestival.org