PREVIEW: 2025 HSBC SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL

The 2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival will be bringing the fiesta to cities around Australia this June with a curated selection of thirty films from Spain and Latin America.

Opening Night honours have gone to the hit comedy SAMANA SUNRISE (Amanece en Samaná; pictured, below), featuring Luis Zahera, María Luisa Mayol, Luis Tosar and Bárbara Santa-Cruz. The story follows two Spanish couples celebrating their 20-year friendship with a trip to a beachside resort in the Dominican Republic, where a confession about the past leads to a reality-shifting ‘Sliding Doors’ moment.

The Centrepiece of the Festival is Marcel Barrena’s highly acclaimed EL 47, winner of five Goya Awards including the coveted Best Film. This biographical drama starring Eduard Fernández follows a bus driver in an act of peaceful dissidence that transformed modern Barcelona during the 1970s.

UNDERCOVER (La infiltrada), co-winner of Best Film at the 2025 Goya Awards, is a gripping crime thriller based on the real-life story of Aranzazu Berradre Marín, the pseudonym for the only police officer in Spanish history to infiltrate the terrorist organisation.

From celebrated auteur Julio Medem comes OCHO (8), a romantic drama that spans a century of Spanish history, tracing Octavio and Adela’s tumultuous and passionate relationship, while mirroring pivotal moments in the country’s history. Based on Elia Barceló's critically acclaimed novel, THE GOLDSMITH’S SECRET (El secreto del orfebre) stars Mario Casas as a goldsmith who revisits his Spanish hometown, reconnecting with a great love affair from 25 years prior.   

Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and fully funded by NFTs is THE QUIET MAID (Calladita; pictured, right). This compelling class conflict drama follows a Colombian maid working in a luxurious mansion, until she realises how to find her own ways of enjoying the summer. Gripping thriller MARCO, THE INVENTED TRUTH (Marco) stars Eduard Fernández in a standout performance as a charismatic man who spent years harbouring an unimaginable lie.

Icíar Bollaín’s taut drama I AM NEVENKA (Soy Nevenka) explores consent and structures of power and is inspired by the true case of a young woman who courageously reported workplace harassment; Yolanda Centeno’s THE STEPMOTHER’S BOND (Tras el verano) draws on her own life and the fragility of relationships in blended families; and, LITTLE LOVES (Los pequeños amores) is an intense mother-daughter relationship drama from up-and-coming director Celia Rico Clavellino.

The ever-popular Spanish comedy selection includes the No. 1 box office hit WOLFGANG (Wolfgang Extraordinario), a heartwarming comedy that follows a nine-year-old boy forced to live with his newfound father in Barcelona; audience favourite Paco León stars as a carefree man suddenly thrust into fatherhood, in Spanish box office hit BABIES DON’T COME WITH INSTRUCTIONS (Sin instrucciones); and, Dani Rovira leads a stellar ensemble in THE BUS OF LIFE (El bus de la vida), a music-centred, life-affirming journey about a music teacher facing his fears. 

Based on incredible true events, MAY I SPEAK WITH THE ENEMY? (Es el enemigo? La película de Gila; pictured, right) is a sensitive tribute to comedian Miguel Gila, who pioneered stand-up comedy in Spain; in the bittersweet comedy SUMMER IN DECEMBER (Verano en diciembre; pictured, top) four generations of women gather in Madrid for a family reunion; and NO GUILT (Culpa Cero) is a tragicomedy about a successful self-help writer whose life is shaken up when she is accused of plagiarism.

This year’s Cine Latino selection features a strong representation of Argentinian cinema including crime thriller A SILENT DEATH (Una muerte silenciosa), a gripping tale of guilt, suspicion and truth set in 1980s Patagonia; WHAT WE WANTED TO BE (Lo que quisimos ser), heralds the long-awaited return to directing of Alejandro Agresti, along with veteran actors Luis Rubio and Eleonora Wexler who star in this tribute to cinema.

Drawing comparisons to the work of Wes Anderson, quirky thriller EL JOCKEY tells the story of a legendary jockey’s self-destructive behaviour; directed by and starring Adrián Suar, Argentinian box office hit MAZEL TOV is a family drama about forgiveness, sibling rivalry, and coming home. Also family-themed is Mexican/US co-production LAS TRES SISTERS, an adventure comedy about three Mexican-American sisters who embark on an adventure to follow in the footsteps of their grandmother while working to repair their relationships.

Two standout documentaries in this year’s line-up feature a focus on distinctive aspects of Spanish culture - food and music. Winner of the Culinary Zinema Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, MUGARITZ. NO BREAD, NO DESSERT (Mugaritz. Sin pan ni postre) invites the viewer behind the scenes of the Michelin starred restaurant Mugaritz. THE FLAMENCO GUITAR OF YERAI CORTÉS (La guitarra flamenca de Yerai Cortés; pictured, right) is unique musical experience, featuring some spectacular set pieces of flamenco.

 In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the brilliant and highly lauded crime thriller NINE QUEENS (Nueve reinas), the Festival will close with the 4K remastered classic starring festival favourite Ricardo Darín and Gaston Pauls.

The 2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival will take place nationally from 11 June to 9 July (dates vary by city) in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Melbourne, Ballarat, Sydney, Ballina and Byron Bay. Tickets are now on sale at the festival’s official website.

PREVIEW: 2025 SOUTH AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL

The South African Film Festival (SAFF) returns from May 4-31, with a packed program of compelling contemporary films, issue-based discussions, and an organisational support network that includes the learning initiative Education Without Borders. With both in-cinema and online screenings, SAFF brings South Africa's rich storytelling tradition to audiences across Australia and New Zealand.

This year, some of South Africa’s most acclaimed and talked-about films will attract discerning filmgoers, including South Africa’s official Oscar selection, Old Righteous Blues, and the Oscar-nominated short film, The Last Ranger. Films in the 2025 program each shed light on the nation’s cultural diversity, social complexity, and creative heartbeat.

Every film watched helps fund programs in literacy, mathematics, leadership, and mentorship for young South Africans through the South African charity, Education Without Borders. Established in 2002, the EwB program is delivered to over 300 learners across all school grades by 50 university-based tutors, many of whom are EwB graduates. It is based at five sites (schools and community centres) in three townships on the Cape Flats outside Cape Town.

Festival Director, Collins Rex said, “SAFF truly represents the soul of a nation. And in our 7th year we’re doing it with a larger lineup of films than ever before. We can’t wait to share the gems, and a selection of accompanying bonus content, with you.”

These sentiments were echoed by Festival Director, Ricky Human, who said, “Every year, we take great pride in celebrating the inspiring stories of some of the most prestigious South African filmmakers, as well as the fresh and exciting new voices that emerge. We also have some surprises in store, including visits by filmmakers and film subjects.”

SAFF this year includes a total of nine feature films, 11 documentaries, and 13 short films. Old Righteous Blues, directed by Muneera Sallies, is a soulful drama that follows a young man's efforts to reunite his town’s estranged Christmas Choir Band, confronting two decades of pain and division.

The Showerhead (pictured; above, right) examines the work of cartoonist Zapiro, from his period as an anti-apartheid struggle-artist to his enduring role as a progressive commentator and freedom-of-expression champion. Zapiro, aka Jonathan Shapiro, will be in Australia to support the film at select cinema screenings.

A hilarious coming-of-age story, Spud is based on the bestselling novel by John van de Ruit. Set in a boys’ boarding school in the early 1990s, and starring a young Troye Sivan and comedy legend John Cleese, the film has become a cult favourite, celebrated for its charm and poignant look at adolescence in a changing South Africa.

The heartwarming and insightful documentary, The Friendship Bench, tracks the implementation of a unique mental health program:  the deployment of gogos (grandmothers) to counsel those in need of support.  The Sydney in-cinema screening of this film will be followed by a Q & A organised by Corrective Services NSW, who are implementing the program.

For the first time, SAFF is this year supporting the work of a young South African-born Australian filmmaker, Kgomotso Sekhur. Shap Shap (pictured; above, right) tells the story of 13-year-old Mmusi who sets off to the township in search of his father. Along the way, unexpected friendships teach him resilience and hope. And in Kwiksilwers, four elderly friends head off on a road trip to experience a meteor shower in Sutherland, with hilarious consequences and no small measure of pathos.

For Tickets and Venue information, visit the festicial's official website

SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL & VIVID PARTNER TO PRESENT UNIQUE SCREEN EVENTS

The Sydney Film Festival in partnership with Vivid Sydney will present two film events that go beyond the screen, featuring live performances and unique artistry.

Planet City: Live is a speculative fiction experience from designer, director, and BAFTA-nominated producer Liam Young, which envisions a future where the entire global population resides in one hyper-dense metropolis, allowing the rest of the planet to rewild. This immersive event features live narration by Young himself and a live score performed by Forest Swords.

The second event will see the New South Wales premiere screening of Justin Kurzel’s (Snow Town) documentary debut Ellis Park, followed by a conversation and short musical performance with the film’s subject, celebrated musician Warren Ellis.

One of the world’s longest-running and most prestigious film festivals, the 72nd edition of the Sydney Film Festival will run 4 to 15 June 2025, showcasing the very best in contemporary cinema across several Sydney venues. Running 23 May-14 June, Vivid Sydney is the Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival, transforming Sydney into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation and community connection. Over 23 nights, light installations, music, ideas and food inspire global audiences and drive cultural exchange.

“Sydney Film Festival has always been a place for bold and innovative storytelling, and we are delighted to join forces with Vivid Sydney to present these two unique cinematic experiences,” said SFF Festival Director Nashen Moodley. “These events push the limits of film, sound, and imagination, offering audiences something truly unforgettable.”

Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Gill Minervini said, "The partnership between Vivid Sydney and Sydney Film Festival represents an artistic fusion that embodies the spirit of creative innovation we champion. These immersive film events perfectly amplify our 2025 theme of 'Dream' by inviting audiences to explore alternative realities through the intersection of cinema, music, and live performance."

PLANET CITY: LIVE is set to dazzle Sydney audiences on Tuesday 10 June from 7pm at the City Recital Hall. The NSW Premiere Screening of ELLIS PARK is scheduled for Sunday 8 June at 4pm at the iconic State Theatre, followed by the live component at the City Recital Hall from 7pm.

IFFR TO FETE THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF VHS HEYDAY

In the long history of the entertainment sector in its many forms - theatre, film, radio, the internet - few technological developments have flown so high and plummeted so uniquely as the VCR. 

                                                                                     (Credit: Alex Ross Perry / Instagram)

The legacy left behind from the boom years of VHS domination (and, early on, the fleeting companion format, Betamax) is only just now coming into a sharper focus; what has long been dismissed as an artefact of ‘80s ephemera is now being reconsidered as a vital and complex piece of film culture history.

The changing attitudes to the impact of the home video decades can be found in the announcement that the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) will be dedicating a strand in the 2025 program to the VHS heyday. As conversations evolve around streaming platforms and their impact on cinema going, IFFR presents HOLD VIDEO IN YOUR HANDS, a timely exploration of VHS culture, deeply rooted in community, creativity and unique viewing practices.

Central to the sidebar will be the World Premiere of Alex Ross Perry’s documentary Videoheaven (pictured, top), a three-hour voiceover meditation on the history of video stores in Hollywood cinema that has been a decade in the making. 

In a 2023 interview with website Cinema Scope, Perry (pictured, above), who worked at the iconic Kim’s Video Store in New York, said “Social relationships in video stores as depicted on-screen show that for about ten years, basically the entire ’90s, the video store was an inherently social space. Pre-internet, pre–message boards, like the record store or whatever, you had to go to learn and discuss, with employees, customers, friends.”

Rotterdam filmmaker Gyz La Rivière (pictured, left) returns to the IFFR with the World Premiere of his video store love letter, Videotheek Marco, a rose-coloured recollection into local video store history and connected audiovisual activities like community television. 

In a similar vein is Jagannathan Krishnan cinema-verite documentary Videokaaran (2011; pictured, right), which will have a retrospective screening at IFFR. The acclaimed feature is a handheld odyssey through the world of underground video parlours, where audiences would gather in makeshift cinemas to watch videos projected on whatever flat, upright wall was available. 

Confirmed for the sidebar is The Shrouds, the latest from celebrated Canadian auteur David Cronenberg. Starring Vincent Cassell, Diane Kruger and Guy Pearce, the narrative utilises home video technologies in its depiction of an industry that offers customers unique in-coffin coverage of their late loved ones. 

Also a vital element of the ‘Hold Video in Your Hands’ initiative, the IFFR will launch interactive projects inviting Rotterdam citizens to share their personal home video stories, creating a communal cinematic experience.

The 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam will run Thursday 30 January to Sunday 9 February. Program details and official announcements will be posted at the event's official website. 

PREVIEW: 2024 RUSSELL HOBBS BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL

The 2024 Russell Hobbs British Film Festival returns to Palace Cinemas nationwide this November with a line up that includes such notable names as Saoirse Ronan, Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law and Tim Roth.

The event opens with the Australian Premiere of BLITZ, Steve McQueen's period drama depicting pivotal moments of World War II in London and starring Saoirse Ronan (pictured, below), Paul Weller and highly-touted newcomer Elliot Heffernan. The Oscar-nominated Ronan also fronts THE OUTRUN, as a woman who returns to Scotland's Orkney Islands, seeking to reconcile with her troubled past.

Closing the festival is the premiere of WE LIVE IN TIME (pictured, top), starring Oscar nominees Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield in a romance that delves into the profound question of how to make the most of the time we have in this world.

The 2024 Festival Centrepiece is Mike Leigh’s HARD TRUTHS, a darkly humorous examination of a hypersensitive woman’s impact on her family, blending compassion with Leigh’s signature attention to detail. Family dynamics are also explored in Andrea Arnold’s BIRD, the story of 12-year-old Bailey (newcomer Nykiya Adams), who seeks solace in nature as her distracted father remarries.

Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche star in THE RETURN, an adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, a distinctly British spin on the classical work with an all-star cast. Another  British/French co-production is WIDOW CLICQUOT, the rousing true story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, the “Grande Dame of Champagne,” otherwise known as Veuve Clicquot.

Attending the festival is Aylin Tezel, whose directorial debut FALLING INTO PLACE follows Kira (played by Tezel) and Ian, each fleeing their own personal struggles, who cross paths during a winter weekend on the Isle of Skye. One of the U.K.'s rising talents, Tezel will be joining audiences in person in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for a series of Q&A events.

Alicia Vikander and Jude Law star in the historical drama FIREBRAND, set during the final months of King Henry VIII's reign who, alongside his sixth wife, Katherine Parr, faces the perilous challenges of the Tudor court. The adaptation of the best-selling novel CONCLAVE stars Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal entrusted with the secretive task of selecting a new Pope, but in the Vatican's sacred halls, uncovers secrets that could destabilize the Roman Catholic Church.

Pierce Brosnan and Helena Bonham Carter lead an ensemble cast in FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE, Polly Steele’s tender story of Nicholas and Isabel who seem destined for each other, but whose path to true love is anything but straightforward. And romantics will also enjoy THE SALT PATH starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs as a couple who embark on a 630-mile coastal walk after losing their home and facing a terminal diagnosis. 

Unconventional rom-coms abound, including AND MRS, the bittersweet tale of a bride-to-be (Aisling Bea) who, after losing her fiancé unexpectedly, is determined to proceed with the wedding; THE RADLEYS, which depicts an ordinary family hiding a dark secret - they’re vampires; and, CHUCK CHUCK BABY, a musical comedy set in a Welsh chicken processing plant.

In the music-themed sidebar ‘Brit Rock to Brit Pop’, documentarian Nick Broomfield uncovers the true story of the creative force behind what would become the world’s greatest rock band in THE STONES AND BRIAN JONES; iconic rock band Led Zeppelin’s electrifying 1973 Madison Square Garden performances are captured in THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME (pictured, right); and a feast for Blur fans, with the epic concert film BLUR: LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM, and the doco BLUR: TO THE END.

Retrospective screenings of some of the U.K.’s most adored films pepper the 2024 title roster. Marking its 25th anniversary and presented in restored 4K is Lynne Ramsay’s debut feature RATCATCHER, a haunting portrayal of a troubled childhood. In tribute to the late Dame Maggie Smith, James Ivory’s A ROOM WITH A VIEW will be screened, alongside the documentary MERCHANT IVORY, a celebration of the 44-film collaboration of Ismail Merchant and James Ivory.

And a strand entitled ‘History Restored’ features classic British dramas, many on the bigscreen for the first time in decades. In a new 4K restoration, winner of six Academy Awards A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS examines Sir Thomas More's moral stand against King Henry VIII's divorce; based on the novel by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, James Ivory’s epic melodrama HEAT AND DUST features parallel stories of love and cultural clash in 1920’s India; Kenneth Branagh's gritty, blood-soaked 1989 rendition of HENRY V; Peter O’Toole and Katherine Hepburn in THE LION IN WINTER, the grand tale of King Henry II's family power struggles; and Ken Russel’s THE MUSIC LOVERS, a biography of composer Tchaikovsky's tumultuous life, with career-best performances from Richard Chamberlain and Glenda Jackson.

The 2024 RUSSELL HOBBS BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL opens on Wednesday 6 November in Melbourne, Ballarat, Adelaide, Perth Byron Bay, Canberra and Brisbane and Thursday 7 November in Sydney, concluding on Sunday 8 December in all cities.