March for movie-lovers

Special events and screenings at Inner West cinemas

March 30 Land Of Mine opens

Two Best Foreign Film Oscar-nominated movies open today – Sweden’s A Man Called Ove and this one from Denmark. Both are excellent, though Land of Mine does have the dramatic edge. It tells a gripping, sometimes unbearable tense story of redemption and forgivenesss as it follows a group of captured German soldiers who have to clear live mines from Denmark’s beaches in the immediate aftermath of WWII. MA15+ Info and trailer

Palace Norton Street


From March 27 – April 5  Encore Screenings of Alliance Francaise French Film Festival hits

This year’s line-up was pretty impressive, but if you missed the one you wanted, don’t worry – chances are it will be amongst the nineteen films getting encore screenings. Ciao can recommend The Innocents, Things To Come, The Dancer (above) starring Johnny Depp’s daughter, Lilly-Rose, and for a sheer OTT old-fashioned melodrama, Marion Cottilard in From the Land of the Moon. More here

Palace Norton Street & Palace Verona


March 30  Alliance Francaise French Film Festival Closing Night

The Australian Premiere of A Bun In The Oven brings this popular festival to an end. Many of the movies screened during the month will turn up on general release, and we’ll keep you informed. Meanwhile, enjoy a glass of French wine and enjoy live entertainment with a light-hearted comedy of mid-life surprises. A Bun In The Oven stars The Bélier Family’s Karin Viard as a reluctant 49-year old mother-to-be. G. More here. General admission $33, Movie Club $27.  Norton St tickets

Palace Norton Street, Thursday 30 March. 6.30pm reception for 7.00pm screening


March 30  Q&A with the director of the incendiary and chilling doco, The Family

The Family is an incredible, heartbreaking investigation into one of Australia’s most notorious cults, and the scars its victims still bear today. Established in Melbourne in the late 60s, the children members were all dressed identically, beaten, starved, isolated and injected with LSD. They were not rescued until a police raid in the mid 80s. Director Rosie Jones and police detective Lex De Man will take your questions. Normal prices and club discounts. More

Dendy Cinemas Newtown, Thursday 30 March at 6.30pm


April 2  Bill Nighy introduces Their Finest

Anyone who has seen almost any British film will know Bill Nighy (Love Actually, About Time, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Pride). And he’s coming to Norton St for a special preview of his latest Their Finest. It’s directed by Lone Scherfig (An Education) and tells the story of untried screenwriter Catrin (Gemma Arterton), and a makeshift cast and crew, working under fire to make a film to lift the nation’s spirits – and inspire America to join the war. Set during the London Blitz, with the country’s morale at stake, Nighy shines as a chronically self-absorbed, pompous actor in his declining years. Nothing like the real-life charming, veteran actor himself – of course! Come and meet him and see for yourself. Their Finest will screen at The Young At Heart Film Festival (April 3-9) and gets a general release on April 20

Watch the trailer here. Bookings and info

Palace Norton Street , April 2 at 6.30pm


April 3-9 Young At Heart Film Festival

Australia’s only film festival programmed for film lovers aged 60 and up, Young at Heart, presents a fascinating and varied line-up this year, with must-sees like Neruda, Viceroy’s House, Whiteley, festival highlight Their Finest and lots more. Some of these are getting a later general release, but those festival prices (just $7.00 Gold Club members, or $7.50 for seniors without a members card) are unbeatable. Young at Heart is the only film festival specifically curated for seniors, Australia’s fastest growing demographic and the fastest growing segment of the film-going population. More.

Palace Norton Street , April 3 to April 9