Maleny Festival of Australian Cinema
ON the weekend of March 21-23, the Maleny Community Centre comes alive, as the Maleny Film Society hosts a Festival of Australian Cinema. There’s a variety of contemporary Australian films to keep you entertained—and some special treats to add that extra splash of colour.
The festival opens with a launch party, for festival pass holders only, at 5:30 pm on Friday March 21. Guests will receive a complimentary drink to sip while they graze a variety of light bites and admire their fellow moviegoers’ impeccable taste in paisley and tie-dye. That’s right—at 7 pm the festival is screening Aquarius, a documentary about the 1973 Nimbin’s Aquarius Festival. So dust off your old hippie gear and go full retro for opening night!
On Saturday March 22 at 3 pm, is the showing of Memoir of a Snail, a dark and brooding stop-motion tragicomedy with adult themes and universal appeal. Memoir of a Snail has been nominated for the 2025 Academy Awards in the category of Best Animated Feature.
On Saturday evening, the festival screens Heart of the Man—a coming-of-age drama following the career of a rising Indigenous boxer.
In partnership with the Rangebow MicroFilm Festival, incredible filmmakers in our region—including some outstanding Sunny Coast Showdown winners—will be showcased. It’s an opportunity to introduce local creative talent to new audiences.
On Sunday morning, join in at 11 am for The Way, My Way. Chris Hayward plays a grumpy old man who decides to walk the Camino de Santiago.
The festival concludes with the 2 pm screening of Runt, a charming movie about a stray dog, based on Craig Silvey’s best-selling novel.
If that’s not enough to whet your appetite, there will also be a specially chosen short film before each feature.
Rangebow and the Maleny Film Society are proud to support the local film industry and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.
Members of the Maleny Film Society can buy a Festival Pass for $45. This includes the launch party and five fabulous Australian movies. Non-members pay $70. Festival passes are available now. Go to malenyfilmsociety.au or book at the Maleny Tourist Information Centre.
Individual session tickets go on sale from March 9, priced at $8 for members and $13 for non-members.
www.malenyfilmsociety.au