The Alliance Française French Film Festival 2026 has officially revealed the first 7 of its films and its dates for the 6 capital cities. A few weeks ago, we published an article telling you about films coming to the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2026. We withdrew the article at the festival’s request as the official announcement had not yet been made. If you managed to see it before it was withdrawn, you will note that five of the films announced today were covered in our original article. Read on to discover the first 7 films and get the festival dates into your 2026 diary.
Alliance Française French Film Festival CEO Frédéric Alliod said: “As we look ahead to the 2026 edition of the Alliance Française French Film Festival, I am proud to unveil a selection of titles that invite Australian audiences to travel through French cinema, across time, continents and emotions. From powerful true stories and bold contemporary voices to comedies, period dramas and unforgettable romances, this year’s programme reflects the extraordinary vitality and diversity of French cinema.”
Jean Valjean
An adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables
Directed by Éric Besnard (Miss Violet, A Great Friend, Delicious), this film was released in France just last month. After nineteen years of hard labour and suffering, Jean Valjean (Grégory Gadebois) emerges from prison angry, mistrustful, and hardened by injustice, shunned by society wherever he goes. When a compassionate bishop forgives him for stealing and gifts him his silver, this unexpected mercy sparks Valjean’s profound transformation and the beginning of his redemption.
The film stars Grégory Gadebois, Bernard Campan, Alexandra Lamy, and Isabelle Carré.
The Stranger/ L’Étranger
A remake of the 1940 film based on Albert Camus’ existential masterpiece
In Algiers in 1938, Meursault (Benjamin Voisin), a quiet office worker, attends his mother’s funeral without emotion and soon drifts back into an unremarkable life, beginning a casual affair with his colleague Marie. But when his neighbour Raymond entangles him in dubious affairs, a scorching day on the beach leads to a shocking and irreversible act.
The film stars Benjamin Voisin, Rebecca Marder, and Pierre Lottin.
What is love? /C’est quoi l’amour ?
A dramedy about exes trying to annul their marriage
Fabien Gorgeart directs this film in which Fred as he prepares to marry his new partner Chloé, embarks on an investigation into his marriage with ex-wife Marguerite to prove to the church their union has no basis. In so doing, their stir up feelings they thought long dead.
The film stars Laure Calamy, Vincent Macaigne, Lyes Salemin, and Mélanie Thierry.
The film will be released in France on 25 March 2026 so in many cities the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2026 will screen it before France!
Couture/Coutures
A Paris Fashion Week set drama
Directed by Alice Winocour (Paris Memories, Proxima), the film sees three women cross paths as they grapple with the world’s tragedies and the questions of their lives. An American film director discovers she has cancer, a young South Sudanese model escapes a predetermined destiny and a French makeup artist lives in the shadows of the catwalks and dreams of escaping her life.
The film stars Angelina Jolie and Louis Garrel.
The film will be released in France on 18 February 2026 so just a few weeks before Alliance Française French Film Festival 2026 starts in Australia.
We have not been able to find an official trailer
Leave One Day/Partir un jour
Cannes-opening musical dramedy
Directed by Amélie Bonnin, the film follows Cécile (Juliette Armanet (Micmacs, Rosalie)) about to fulfil her dream of opening her own restaurant in Paris returns to the village where she was born when her father has a heart attack. She runs into her teenage crush (Bastien Bouillon (Connemara, Monsieur Aznavour)), memories flood back destabilising her certainties.
The film stars Juliette Armanet and Bastin Bouillon.
DOG 51/Chien 51
An adrenaline-fueled sci-fi thriller
In the near future, Paris is segregated into three zones which separate the social classes, and no one can escape ALMA, a powerful predictive AI which has revolutionised the police system. When ALMA’s creator is assassinated, Salia (Adèle Exarchopoulos), an elite agent from Zone 2, and Zem (Gilles Lellouche), a disillusioned cop who lives amongst the outcasts in Zone 3, are forced to team up to lead the investigation.
The film stars Adèle Exarchopoulos and Gilles Lellouche
Classe Moyenne (The Party’s Over!),
A darkly comic social satire
Mehdi had planned to spend a quiet summer in his in-laws’ sumptuous home. But as soon as he arrives, a conflict breaks out between his girlfriend’s family and the villa’s janitor couple. As Mehdi comes from a modest background, he thinks he can lead the negotiations between the two parties and bring everyone back to their senses. But things start to escalate…
The film stars Laure Calamy, Laurent Lafitte, Élodie Bouchez, and Ramzy Bedia.
The festival is putting female directors and actresses in the spotlight and showcasing both new and well-established talents. On this, Alliod says “We remain deeply committed to championing women on screen and behind the camera, celebrating new talents alongside cinema legends, and offering films that move, surprise and inspire. More than ever, the festival is a celebration of French storytelling in all its richness, openness and emotion, and a platform for intercultural exchange and dialogue with our loyal Australian audiences.”
So there you have it – the first 7 films above and capital city festival dates below. We look forward to seeing the rest of the program when it is released on 28 January 2026. As always, we will update you as soon as information is available.
KEY INFO FOR ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2026
WHAT: Alliance Française French Film Festival 2026
WHERE & WHEN:
Adelaide, SA: 18 March – 22 April
Venues: Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas
Brisbane, QLD: 5 March – 8 April
Venues: Palace Cinema James Street, Palace Cinema Barracks
Canberra, ACT: 5 March – 8 April
Venue: Palace Electric Cinemas
Melbourne, VIC: 4 March – 8 April
Venues: Palace Cinema Como, The Kino, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth,
Pentridge Cinema, The Astor Theatre, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Church St
Perth, WA: 12 March – 15 April
Venues: Palace Raine Square, Luna on SX, Luna Leedeerville, Windsor Cinema
Sydney, NSW: 3 March – 8 April
Venues: Palace Central, Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Hayden Orpheum Cremorne,
Roseville Cinemas, Warriewood
A full list of locations and dates will be available on the website once the full Alliance Française French Film Festival 2026 program is announced on Wednesday 28 January 2026. We will update you then.
