The Alliance Française French Film Festival is gearing up for another major year, offering audiences an early taste of what’s to come in 2026 with the announcement of seven standout titles from its upcoming program.
After drawing a record-breaking crowd of nearly 199,000 attendees in 2025, the festival – now firmly established as Australia’s largest national film festival and the world’s biggest celebration of French cinema outside France – will return from 3rd March to the 26th April, 2026, screening across the country. Tickets go on sale Thursday, 5th February.
The first wave of films signals an ambitious and eclectic program, spanning literary adaptations, star-driven dramas, biting comedies and high-concept genre fare. Among the most anticipated titles is Jean Valjean, a powerful new interpretation of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, featuring an acclaimed cast including Grégory Gadebois, Bernard Campan, Alexandra Lamy and Isabelle Carré.
François Ozon turns his attention to Albert Camus’ existential classic with L’Étranger (The Stranger), reimagining the iconic story through a contemporary lens, with Benjamin Voisin taking on the role of one of literature’s most enigmatic protagonists. At the lighter end of the emotional spectrum, Fabien Gorgeart’s C’est Quoi L’amour ? (What Is Love?) promises warmth and wit, anchored by the irresistible pairing of Laure Calamy and Vincent Macaigne.
Also revealed is Couture, a tense and stylish drama from Alice Winocour set during Paris Fashion Week and led by Oscar winner Angelina Jolie; you can read our review from last year’s TIFF here. Cannes audiences will recognise Partir Un Jour (Leave One Day), which opened the festival and now arrives in Australia as part of the AF FFF program. Genre fans are catered for with Chien 51 (DOG 51), a fast-paced sci-fi thriller starring Gilles Lellouche and Adèle Exarchopoulos, while social satire Classe Moyenne (The Party’s Over!) rounds out the announcement with a sharp ensemble comedy featuring Laure Calamy, Laurent Lafitte, Élodie Bouchez and Ramzy Bedia.
Across its 37th edition, the festival will present more than 6,000 screenings in 17 cities, continuing its long-standing partnership with Palace Cinemas, with additional venues to be announced. The scale of the event reflects the sustained and growing appetite among Australian audiences for French storytelling and culture.
Festival CEO Frédéric Alliod said the early selection reflects the breadth and vitality of contemporary French cinema. “These films invite Australian audiences to travel through French cinema across eras, emotions and ideas,” he said. “From bold new voices to established masters, comedies to period dramas, the 2026 program celebrates the richness and diversity of French storytelling.”
Alliod also emphasised the festival’s ongoing commitment to equity and discovery. “Championing women on screen and behind the camera, supporting emerging talent, and creating space for intercultural dialogue remain central to what we do. More than ever, the festival aims to move, surprise and inspire.”
The full 2026 line-up will be unveiled on Wednesday, 28th January, ahead of ticket sales opening on Thursday, 5th February. For updates and programming announcements, visit affrenchfilmfestival.org or follow the festival on social media.
The Alliance Française French Film Festival will run nationally from 3 March to 26 April, 2026, with key dates including Brisbane (5 March – 8 April), Byron Bay (6 March – 2 April), Gold Coast (19 March – 8 April), Sydney (3 March – 8 April), Melbourne (4 March – 8 April), Canberra (5 March – 8 April), Perth (12 March – 15 April) and Adelaide (18 March – 22 April).
