by FilmInk Staff
An annual event in St Tropez’s calendar, the Festival du Cinéma des Antipodes (St Tropez Antipodes Film Festival) returns this year to the French Riviera from October 16th to 19th with a selection of independent feature films, documentaries and short film premieres originating from Australia and New Zealand.
Overseen by festival patron, French actor and champion surfer Arnaud Binon (Emily in Paris, Cannes Confidential), and curated by Festival President Bernard Bories, the 27th edition opens with He Ain’t Heavy by David Vincent-Smith, a thriller starring Leila George, Sam Corlett and Greta Scacchi. Ms Scacchi will be in St Tropez to present the film.
Further Australian feature film premieres on the program include the comedy Audrey by Natalie Bailey, drama Coma presented by director Saara Lambert and romantic comedy With or Without You by Kelly Schilling, in the presence of producer Sue Armstrong and Executive Producer Brian Rosen. Receiving its first French public screening is also New Zealand film The People We Love by Mike Smith. All features are vying for the Audience Award.
Highlighted documentaries are This Jungo Life presented in person by director David Fedele, Future Council by Damon Gameau ahead of its French release in 2026; and closing night film Ellis Park by Justin Kurzel.
For the younger spectators an Antipodes Junior strand is on offer and includes 13 short films competing for the Nicolas Baudin Prize, judged by high school students from the local Var region.
With the main cinema La Renaissance undergoing a major renovation, all film screenings are held in St Tropez’s Star theatre this year.
As a popular side bar, accompanying this year’s festival is an exhibition called Dream Lands – a showcase of contemporary Australian First Nations paintings, sculptures and ceramics, curated by French-Australian art gallerist Céline Emery-Demion.
