Best of British – and more
Film fans are in for a treat in coming weeks, with three big foreign film festivals, and cinema screenings of great stage musicals.
Your chance to win
The British Film Festival is returning to Palace Cinemas around Australia in November, and we're giving you a chance to sample the stunning selection of films on offer.
National Seniors has 10 doubles passes to give away to members. To enter, follow the instructions here.
From the latest anime to Phantom of the Opera, via a blockbuster about London during World War II starring a 1980s pop star, it’s all happening on the big screen.
The 2024 British Film Festival, will play in November in cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, and Byron Bay.
It will open with the Australian premiere of director Steve McQueen’s Blitz, described as “a visually stunning period drama depicting pivotal moments of World War II in London”.
The film stars Saoirse Ronan and Paul Weller, better known as the frontman for 1980s bands The Jam and The Style Council and his subsequent long solo career as a singer-songwriter.
Another highlight is We Live in Time, with Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield addressing the big question: how do we make the most of the time we have in this world?
Also on the bill is the romance Four Letters of Love, starring Pierce Brosnan and Helena Bonham Carter.
The festival runs from 6 November to 8 December, with screening and venue details here.
Meanwhile, movie buffs may also be interested in the Japanese Film Festival, which plays in Canberra until 15 October, then hits Perth (14-22 October), Brisbane (until 22 October), Melbourne (21 October to 3 November), and Sydney (9 October to 10 November).
The program includes a mix of drama, comedy, period pieces, and anime and manga adaptations.
Details are here.
Audiences at more than 120 venues will be able to experience HD screenings of the very best in world theatre, featuring incredible casts.
The program will include celebrated theatre performances such as the 25th anniversary spectacular of the worldwide phenomenon The Phantom of the Opera from the Royal Albert Hallin London, and the Broadway production of Girl from The North Country, a raw, human story set to the music of Bob Dylan.
Next year, audience can experience Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, and the live arena production of Jesus Christ Superstar starring Tim Minchin and Mel C, and the 20th anniversary celebration of one of the most beloved musicals, Billy Elliot the Musical Live.
All screenings will be on a limited basis, with details here.
The Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) will run from 27 October to 22 December at venues around Australia.
It will feature 41 feature-length films, two television series, and a special short film showcase from 17 countries, including Australia, the United States, Israel, France, Germany, and Portugal.
Details are here.
It doesn’t have to be part of a festival to be worth seeing on the big screen. Here for your calendar are some of the upcoming releases that are expected to make an impact as the box office:
Gladiator II (21 November) is the sequel that was a long time coming.
There is no Russell Crowe, but it stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington.
Wicked: Part One, the adaptation of the musical, and Moana 2 premiere on 28 November, with Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim scheduled for 12 December.
It’s school holiday fare from then until the end of the year, with Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Marvel’s The Thunderbolts, and Mufasa: The Lion King screening all opening on 19 December.
