Alliance Française French Film Festival 2026 Preview: 4 films to keep an eye out for
The 37th Alliance Française French Film Festival 2026, a celebration dedicated to French films and culture, has arrived in Perth. From 12 March till 15 April, over 30 films will screen at Palace Cinema Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Windsor Cinema, and Luna on SX.
This year's lineup spans six decades of French cinema, from a 1966 classic to brand-new releases, from animation to queer coming-of-age stories, there’s something for just about every kind of filmgoer.
Here are our four promising picks of the 2026 season you should check out:
A Man And A Woman / Un Homme Et Une Femme
This 1966 love story by Claude Lelouch portrays a timeless romance between two heartbroken adults, finding love and comfort from each other. Both being single parents and experiencing the indescribable sorrow from their ex-spouses’ deaths, Anne and Jean-Louis slowly discover their vulnerable selves attempting to love again.
The vintage film texture, breathtaking soundtrack, and simple yet poetic narratives are all elements that make up this Palme d’Or-winning masterpiece. Seeing it on the big screen is a rare opportunity, so don’t miss out!
2. Little Amélie or the Character of Rain / Amélie et la Métaphysique des Tubes
Before experiencing the life-changing miracle of chocolate, little Amélie thought the world was quite perplexing and mysterious. As she develops a beautiful connection with Nishio-san, her family’s housekeeper, the world slowly blooms through her curious eyes.
The film makes beautiful use of watercolour animation, weaving together a gentle story of childhood curiosity and deep family feeling that makes it a perfect weekend morning outing for the family.
Session Times:
Sun, 29 Mar / 11:00 AM / Luna Windsor
Sun, 5 Apr / 11:30 AM / Luna Windsor
Sat, 11 Apr / 11:00 AM / Luna on SX
Sun, 12 Apr / 11:15 AM / Palace Raine Square
3. Enzo
Not satisfied with a superficial world, Enzo is determined to find out what he truly desires. He rejects his wealthy parents’ expectations and pursues his independent idea of life, starting with working at a construction site. Other fragments of Enzo’s inner world are explored, including his intimate yet complex relationship with Vlad, a Ukrainian bricklayer who is also torn between whether or not to come home and fight for his country.
Sun-drenched and deeply felt, it's a coming-of-age film that captures the messy, universal experience of figuring out who you are, and one of the strongest reasons to make it out to the festival this year.
Session Times:
Enzo opens on Thu 19 Mar at Palace Raine Square, with further sessions running through March and April at Luna Leederville, Luna Windsor, Luna on SX, and Palace Raine Square — 19 sessions in total across the festival run.
4. The Little Sister/ La Petite Dernière
Fatima is the youngest daughter in an Algerian immigrant family, raised with strict expectations of what a woman's life should look like. When she moves away to pursue education, she finds herself in a whole new world, one that shifts further when she slowly develops feelings for another woman. Caught between her family's faith and her own emerging sense of self, she faces a choice that has no easy answer.
This film looks to be a raw, tender love letter to anyone caught between societal expectations and the desire to live for themselves.
Session Times:
Wed, 18 Mar / 3:40 PM / Luna Leederville
Wed, 25 Mar / 11:00 AM / Luna on SX
Tue, 31 Mar / 1:30 PM / Palace Raine Square
Tue, 31 Mar / 6:30 PM / Luna on SX
Sun, 5 Apr / 8:30 PM / Luna Leederville
Mon, 6 Apr / 1:10 PM / Palace Raine Square
Mon, 13 Apr / 1:30 PM / Luna Windsor
The Alliance French Film Festival will be screening from 12 March to 15 April across Palace Raine Square and Luna Cinemas. Click here for full Perth program.
