2024 and the Sydney Film season has kicked off with the first of the film festivals in Sydney Europa! Europa! now screening.
Also currently screening is Queer Screen’s 31st Mardi Gras Film Festival which will run until 29 February in Sydney, followed by an on-demand encore streaming nationwide from March 1 to 11. The festival director, Lisa Rose, encourages audiences to engage in post-screening discussions, with a program designed to spark lively debates.
Set for its 31st anniversary with an extraordinary lineup of 166 films spanning over 16 days, This year's Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival promises an eclectic mix of coming-of-age dramas, foreign romances, campy soap operas, and thought-provoking documentaries.
Organized by Queer Screen, the festival will run from February 15 to 29 in Sydney, followed by an on-demand encore streaming nationwide from March 1 to 11. The festival director, Lisa Rose, encourages audiences to engage in post-screening discussions, with a program designed to spark lively debates.
Following hot on its heels Alliance Française French Film Festival with the French Embassy, presents its complete 2024 programme of ground-breaking French cinema from 5 March. The 2024 edition spotlights contemporary creation, focusing on the emerging talents and innovative voices shaping the French cinematic landscape and is one of the largest celebration of French film outside of France.
The Ocean Film Festival World Tour includes a unique selection of films of varying lengths and styles covering topics such as ocean adventure and exploration, the oceanic environment, marine creatures, ocean related sports, coastal cultures and ocean lovers. Screenings in NSW are mainly in March at beachside suburbs from Avalon and Avoca Beaches, to Sydney Events Cinemas. Ritz Randwick and Cremorne Orpheum. Brunwick Heads is the first of the NSW regional cinemas on 29 February and 1 March with other cinemas including Coffs Harbour, Forster/Tuncurry, Newcastle and Wollongong.
The Palestinian Film Festival Australia has announced its highly anticipated 2024 program featuring a mix of Australian premieres, award-winning features and ground-breaking documentaries. This year’s Palestinian Film Festival Australia program features favourites from some of the world’s most prestigious festivals, including Winner of the International Federation of Film Critics Prize at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, A Gaza Weekend by Basil Khalil is a hilarious, action-packed parody that lampoons disaster movies. Renowned UK actor Stephen Mangan co-stars opposite Palestinian actress Mouna Hawa in this unforgettable film.
On its well-deserved way to Hollywood for the 2024 Oscars is Palestine’s entry for the Best International Feature Film is Bye Bye Tiberias by Palestinian-Algerian-French filmmaker Lina Soualem. Bye Bye Tiberias is a 2023 documentary film that follows Soualem’s (famous) mother, Hiam Abbass who leaves her Palestinian village to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, leaving behind her mother, grandmother and sisters.
Navigating universal themes of people, place and politics, this year’s Festival delivers yet another enthralling program of the finest and newest Palestinian films to Australian audiences in Sydney (7-10 March) and other major cities.
Cinema Reborn 2024 will open its forthcoming season with the World Premiere of the 4K restoration of one of the greatest screwball comedies of the 1930s, MIDNIGHT, made in 1939, directed by Mitchell Leisen, from a laceratingly funny script by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett and starring Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore, Francis Lederer and Mary Astor. Cinema Reborn is proud to have been entrusted with the very first screenings of the new restoration and gives special thanks to Universal Pictures.
MIDNIGHT will screen at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 1 May at the Randwick Ritz in Sydney and at 7.00 pm on Thursday 9 May at the Hawthorn Lido in Melbourne
Sydney Film Festival Wednesday 5 June to Sunday 16 June the 71st Sydney Film Festival (SFF) returns, offering 12 days and nights of the finest cinema from Australia and the world.
Films will screen alongside a series of public program talks and events that will enhance the Festival experience. Both local and international guests will attend the Festival and audiences will once again be able to share in all the magic of red carpet premieres, filmmaker conversations and more. The first titles in this year’s 71st SFF program will be announced in April, and audiences can expect the full Festival program to be revealed in May.
The Festival takes place across Greater Sydney: at State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Cinemas Newtown, Randwick Ritz, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, Palace Cinemas Central and Norton Street, Art Gallery of NSW, Casula Powerhouse, the Festival Hub at Sydney Town Hall and SFFTV in Martin Place.
The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) Australia bought to you by the Japan Foundation will stream 23 films online from 5 June to 19 June followed by two Japanese TV dramas 19 June to 3 July. The JFF started in 1997 with three free film screenings and is now one of the largest celebrations of Japanese films in the world.
JIFF, the Jewish International Film Festival is the home of the most comprehensive selection of Israeli and Jewish-themed films in Australia. The films premiere in cinemas at the annual three week film festival. JIFF is building on the long and proud 30-year history of Jewish film festivals in Australia. Returning in 2024, dates and program to be announced.
