This Spring, Palace is thrilled to bring the 2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival to cinemas as the largest festival of Italian cinema in the world.
Showcasing an incredible selection of new Italian cinema celebrating the country’s language stories and culture, the festival includes works from contemporary Italian auteurs, documentaries, comedies, a retrospective focus on iconic Italian actor Anna Magnani, two very special guests and the premiere of a new Australian Italian co production.
Opening the 2026 festival is the Palermo-set box office hit romantic comedy from Pierfrancesco ‘Pif’ Diliberto HOLY CANNOLI (Che Dio perdona a tutti), a story of love, faith and delicious pastries. We follow Arturo, a successful real estate agent (played by Pif) with a passion for desserts who falls for a charming, devoutly Catholic pastry chef, Flora.
This year’s Festival Centrepiece is the highly awarded SWEETHEART (Gioia mia). Claiming Best Actress and Best New Director at the 2026 David di Donatello Awards amongst other accolades, this enchanting drama follows a a young boy, Nico, who is sent to spend a summer in Sicily with his elderly aunt, played by beloved Italian actor Aurora Quattrocchi.
A reluctant summer transforms into something much more intriguing when Nico discovers his aunt’s mysterious Sicilian house holds secrets and, perhaps, ancient spirits lurking within its walls.
Closing the Festival and direct from this year’s Venice International Film Festival is THE ECHO CHAMBER, directed by Andrea Pallaoro. Based on Bernardo Bertolucci’s final screenplay, this love story where the boundaries between presence and absence, care and dependence and desire and control blur until they dissolve stars Alicia Vikander, Luca Marinelli (The Eight Mountains) and Susan Sarandon.
The 2026 Festival Special Presentation is the bittersweet 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 award winning director Isabel Coixet.
These films and many more will screen nationally from 16 September. Check full Festival dates below.
The Scoop is giving away five, in-season double passes to the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival, thanks to Palace Cinemas!
Head to our Instagram page or our Facebook page to enter the competition. Simply give us a follow, like the post and comment ‘Scoop’ and ‘your city name‘ under the post.
The tickets are valid for all ST. ALi Italian Film Festival sessions, pending availability, except special event screenings.
The 2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is presented by Palace and screens from 16 September in the locations below.
Tickets are now on sale!
Website: https://italianfilmfestival.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/italianfilmfest/
Heron image: still from The Greater Good.
Watch the trailer below:
2026 Festival Dates and Venues by City:
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
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