by FilmInk Staff
PRESENTING ITALY’S FINEST FILMMAKING AND ACTING TALENT IN CINEMAS THIS SPRING
Returning to cinema screens this September is the largest celebration of Italian culture and film outside Italy, the 2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival presented by Palace. Featuring unmissable gems from some of Italy’s finest filmic talents, the festival screens in Sydney, Melbourne, Ballarat, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Byron Bay and Ballina from 16 September.
Palace is delighted to announce the following highlights, with the full line up to be revealed in late August.
The 2026 Festival Special Presentation is bittersweet romantic drama THREE GOODBYES (Tre ciotole), based on the bestselling novel by Michela Murgia. When a couple (played by acclaimed actors Alba Rohrwacher and Elio Germano) split up after what seems like a trivial argument, their lives dramatically change in this emotional, ultimately life-affirming tale from director Isabel Coixet.
Directed by and starring Rocco Papaleo, THE GREATER GOOD (Il bene comune) is both a story of resilience and a heartfelt love letter to the southern Italian region of Basilicata. The story follows a hiking group whose search for an ancient pine tree in Pollino National Park becomes a transformative journey for each of them.
THE EYES OF OTHERS (Gli occhi degli altri) starring Jasmine Trinca and Filippo Timi, takes its inspiration from sensational real events amongst the elite in 1960s Italy. Set on the scenic Pontine Islands archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea, this provocative thriller is an intense tale of passion and crime amidst the wild beauty of an island owned by an immensely wealthy marquis.
The comedy TWIN STARS (Stella gemella) portrays a couple facing a relationship crisis who suddenly learn they are expecting twins. But not a regular set of twins, an extremely rare case in which each twin has a different father! Featuring stellar supporting performances from Margherita Buy and Laura Morante, this delightful new comedy from Luca Lucini is a story of family, modern love and self-discovery.
Intergenerational dramatic comedy CLASSMATES (Domani interrogo), based on Gaja Cenciarelli’s novel, stars Anna Ferzetti as a devoted English teacher assigned to the toughest class in a Rome high school. The film highlights the power of education, and the essential nature of respect and community in today’s classrooms. INCANTO is a fantasy family adventure about the importance of imagination and kindness, as a young girl escapes her controlling guardian and discovers a magical circus, where she begins to find her voice.
The full programme will be announced and tickets go on sale late August. Register for updates via the festival website to be the first to know when tickets are released.
The 2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival presented by Palace screens in the following locations:
Canberra 16 September – 14 October, Palace Electric Cinema
Adelaide 16 September – 13 October, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Sydney 17 September – 14 October, Palace Moore Park, Palace Norton St, Palace Central
Byron Bay and Ballina 17 September – 14 October, Palace Byron Bay, Ballina Fair Cinemas
Melbourne 18 September – 15 October, The Astor Theatre, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, Cinema Nova
Ballarat 18 September – 15 October, Palace Regent Cinemas
Brisbane 24 September – 18 October, Palace Barracks, Palace James Street
Perth 24 September – 18 October, Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema
For information and updates, please visit italianfilmfestival.com.au
