The French Film Festival Aotearoa is Returning to Matakana Cinemas!

Another season of magnifique French cinema is en route to Matakana Village! Matakana Cinemas is thrilled to announce the return of the French Film Festival Aotearoa in 2024.

Mark your calendars: May 30 - June 12 at Matakana Cinemas.

Overwhelmed by the support of the local community during last year's festival, this year promises to be bigger and better with the majority of movie screenings taking place in the 74-seat Paradiso cinema (the one adorned with 32,000 paper flowers). Greater capacity means more chances to catch these limited sessions while the festival is in town.

As for the slice of French cinema to be served up this year, festival director Fergus Grady says "We have a record year for Festival de Cannes favourites in the lineup including Marguerite’s Theorem, The Animal Kingdom, Bonnard, Pierre & Marthe, Abbé Pierre: A Century of Devotion, & Jeanne du Barry." 

Patrons to the festival's opening night film on May 30th promise to be wildly entertained by the scope and spectacle of Martian Bourboulon's The Three Musketeers - Part I: D'Artagnan. France’s biggest box-office success of 2023, Bourboulon’s magnificent production is respectful of its source but enriched with contemporary touches; the film is chock-full of humour, romance, palace intrigue and pulse-pounding action. Tickets to this special screening include a complimentary glass of wine and an artisan chocolate bonbon from our local French chocolatier Nico, of Honest Chocolat.

"However you like your French cinema, whether that may be a ‘comédie’ or you ‘désirer drama’ we have you covered" Says Fergus. 

Visit the Matakana Cinemas website for a copy of the programme and to view the festival schedule. 

All tickets are on sale now - book in advance to avoid disappointment.