Be ready for action, romance, comedy, thrillers, and fairy tales. Come & see Juliette Binoche, Cécile de France, Catherine Deneuve, Romain Duris, Ludivine Sagnier, Daniel Auteuil... With more glamour and chic than ever, this Festival is sure to be a hit! Get your tickets quickly as they’re selling fast! France is at your doorstep!
Some of the NOT to be missed highlights!

"Paris” by Cedric Klapish with Romain Duris and Juliette Binoche This year's Opening Night selection is the hugely anticipated new film by one of French cinema's hottest directors, Cedric Klapisch (The Spanish Apartment, Russian Dolls). The story follows Pierre (Duris), a young man confronted with his own mortality. For 24 hours, his tour through the city will intertwine with those of his beloved sister, his neighbours, their friends, as their interconnected stories of love, familial bonds, loneliness and compassion come together in unexpected ways. An amazing cast makes this emotional and inspiring ode to Paris very special.

“Love Songs” by Christophe Honoré with Louis Garrel and Ludivine Sagnier A romance about love and loss in contemporary Paris - with, as the title suggests - music! Ismael and Julie find their 8 year old relationship a little flat. Bringing Alice into the relationship creates a comfortable ménage-à-trois, but highlights other issues. Then tragedy strikes... What sense will Louis make of the world - and with whom? Love Songs is a joyous “ode to l'amour” with its risks and rewards. 5 Cesar Nominations.

“The secret of the grain” by Abdellatif Kechiche with Sabine Quazani and Mohamed Benaddeslem 61-year-old Slimane is left demoralised after being laid off from his job of 35 years at the local shipyard. He decides to pursue his long-cherished dream of opening a couscous restaurant & begins the considerable task of persuading those around him that the venture has a future. Winner - Louis Delluc 2007 - Best French Film of the Year Winner - 2007 Venice Film Festival - Special Jury Prize How to purchase tickets:
- online via the festival website at www.frenchfilmfestival.org
- via telephone 1300 306 776 (weekdays 10am-6pm)
- or at the cinema box offices in person daily 11am-8.30pm (all major credit cards accepted)

Thanks to our sponsors and partners: Tefal, Peugeot, AirFrance, DHL, BNP Paribas, ABC, World Movies, MSF, Avantcard, Film Ink, So Frenchy So chic, TipTopWeb, Sofitel, Stoneleigh, Arthouse Hotel, Icon, La Brasserie, La Gerbe d’Or & Le Cordon Bleu. Special thanks to the French Embassy and the City of Sydney

Friday 14 and 28 March
Ateliers de la Francophonie
Les Ateliers de la Francophonie are designed for students of French in Year 9 to 12 help them discover the diverse cultures of the many francophone countries. Workshops are led by teaching experts from France, Switzerland, Lebanon, Cambodia and Vietnam among others. Highly interactive workshops based on Francophone music, cuisine and dance form a part of this exciting event.
Year 9 & 10: 10.00am – 12.00pm
Year 11 & 12: 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Enrolment by 7th March:
Tricia Coroneos triciac@afsydney.com.au or 9292 5712

Friday 28 March from 6.30pm
Soirée de la Francophonie
Francophones, francophiles and consulates of Sydney will come together at the Alliance Française de Sydney to celebrate La Journée Internationale de la Francophonie. We will enjoy a variety of musical performances and sample international delicacies from the “buffet francophone”. Guests are also encouraged to contribute to the buffet by bringing a specialty from a francophone country.
Members: $10 - non-members: $15
BYO, Entry free for those who bring a specialty from a francophone country.  
AF Gallery - Booking essential 02 9292 5700.

20 March - 17 August
Bateaux Jouets- from Paris 1850-1950
A remarkable exhibition coming to the National Maritime Museum in March presents 100 years of beautifullymade toy boats… a century of childhood for everyone to enjoy. Bateaux Jouets - toy boats from Paris 1850- 1950, from France's Musée national de la Marine, comprises some 200 colourful and imaginative craft. They range in style from simple paper boats to stunning mechanical marvels with the ability to propel themselves across a carpet, a pond or even an open bay. "Bateaux Jouets is an exhibition of extraordinary quality," says Australian National Maritime Museum Director Mary-Louise Williams. "It's all about toys… but it's also all about their industrial context in the 19th century. And they are charming! "
Australian National Maritime Museum.

Monday 17 March
Benoit Rosemont, renowned Parisian illusionist
. This visual spectacular combines interactive, humoristic and poetic illusions. The presentation can be adapted to students of all ages and levels of French and is based on written texts which constitute truly comedic scenes particularly for those who appreciate all the niceties of the French language. Audience participation is highly encouraged.
Do not miss out on this unique event!
School performance 4pm – 5pm
$15.00/student for AF member schools
$17.00/student for non-member schools
RSVP essential by 14th March:
triciac@ afsydney.com.au or 9292 5712
Public performance 6.30pm - 7.30pm
Members: $20.00 Non-members: $22.00
AF Gallery. Booking essential at reception.

Tuesday 25 March
"Walking Tour: Part 2" by Valentina Schulte
Valentina Schulte is an emerging artist born in Sydney. Throughout her degree, she has participated in several student shows and has also exhibited outside the university. In 2005, she won the Australian Centre for Photography (ACP) prize. In 2006, Valentina was part of the founding members of the artist run initiative International Noise, a group of emerging and established artists who attempt to bring art to people by exhibiting in unconventional ways. Her first international exhibition took place in 2007 in a commercial gallery at the Galleri Van Bau in Norway and was entitled SYD to OSL via Vestfossen.
AF Gallery - Opening 6.30pm. All welcome!