Welcome to the Russell Hobbs British Film Festival, where British cinema's finest moments unfold across Australian screens in the most spectacular way possible.
Now in another stellar year, the Russell Hobbs British Film Festival has grown into something truly extraordinary. What started as a celebration of British cinema has become one of Australia’s most anticipated film events, drawing everything from sweeping period dramas to intimate documentaries, Hollywood stars to comedy legends, and audiences hungry for stories that span decades of British creativity. This year’s festival promises to be unmissable, with Daniel Day-Lewis making his long-awaited screen return alongside opening night star Ralph Fiennes.
Running from 5 November to 7 December, the Russell Hobbs British Film Festival will screen across Palace Cinemas, Palace Nova and Luna Palace Cinemas in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Ballarat and Byron Bay. From opening night premieres to rare Hitchcock retrospectives, Oscar-winning classics to contemporary thrillers, this festival transforms cities into showcases of British storytelling at its finest.
Russell Hobbs British Film Festival 2025
- When: 5 November to 7 December 2025
- Where: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Ballarat and Byron Bay
- Tickets: Available at britishfilmfestival.com.au
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Nine unmissable events
Opening night: The Choral
- When: 5 November
The festival launches with the Australian premiere of this sweeping wartime drama led by Ralph Fiennes. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, The Choral follows a group of choralists discovering the joys of singing while young male members face imminent conscription into the army. Exploring humour and humanity at the heart of a community facing uncertain futures, the film also stars Roger Allam, Mark Addy and Amara Okereke. Opening night receptions across cities offer British fare, sparkling wine or mocktails, sweet treats courtesy of Russell Hobbs and cinema snacks courtesy of Lexus, plus official festival gift bags.
Centrepiece: Anemone
Daniel Day-Lewis makes his highly anticipated return to screens after eight years in this father-son collaboration. Marking the directorial debut of son Ronan Day-Lewis, with whom Daniel co-wrote the script, Anemone explores the complex and profound ties between brothers, fathers and sons. The explosive drama features Day-Lewis as a former British soldier living in remote woods who must confront his past, alongside superb performances from Sean Bean and Samantha Morton. The film represents a significant moment for both Day-Lewis men, combining the veteran actor’s return with his son’s emergence as a filmmaker.
Special presentation: The History of Sound
Oliver Hermanus directs this decade-spanning romance centred around the power of music, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor in electric performances. This gorgeous period drama has been described as a film of lingering melancholic beauty, showcasing the chemistry between its two leads across years of storytelling. Mescal appears twice in the festival lineup, also starring in closing night film Hamnet alongside Jessie Buckley.
Closing night: Hamnet
- When: 7 December
Oscar winner Chloé Zhao brings her radiant touch to Maggie O’Farrell’s beloved novel. Paul Mescal stars as William Shakespeare opposite Jessie Buckley’s Agnes Shakespeare in this sensitively observed, magnificently crafted tale about the complexities of love and the healing power of art and creativity. The film sets the stage for the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece Hamlet, offering audiences an intimate look at the personal tragedy that inspired literary history.
John Cleese Packs It In
In what might be his final European tour, this wry behind-the-scenes documentary follows comedy legend John Cleese across five countries and 23 shows. The 85-year-old performer battles various ailments, chaotic travel and his own stubborn refusal to stop working, creating a portrait of artistic dedication and comedic genius that refuses to fade quietly. The documentary offers rare insight into one of Britain’s most beloved entertainers on the road.
Documentary triple: Twiggy, Borrowed Time and real-life stories
A standout selection of real-life stories profile iconic British identities. Twiggy explores the meteoric rise of the 1960s style icon during a culturally significant period of British history, complemented by a screening of Ken Russell’s The Boy Friend from 1971, Twiggy’s first film role bursting with glitz and glamour. Borrowed Time charts the final decade in John Lennon’s life, exploring his turbulent post-Beatles years of art, activism and reinvention that made him one of the most influential pop culture icons of all time.
Hitchcock retrospectives: Becoming Hitchcock and The Beginning
Documentary Becoming Hitchcock dives into the groundbreaking 1929 film Blackmail that launched the director’s signature style, screening alongside the thriller itself about a woman who kills a man in self-defence. The retrospective Hitchcock: The Beginning features 10 rarely screened early silent and talkie films from the 1920s to 1930s, including Number 17, Champagne, Murder!, The Skin Game and The Ring, offering essential context for understanding one of cinema’s greatest auteurs.
Star-studded new releases: Dead of Winter and Moss & Freud
British icon Emma Thompson stars in icy suspense thriller Dead of Winter as Barb, a woman travelling alone through snowbound northern Minnesota who interrupts a kidnapping and becomes a teenage girl’s only hope. Meanwhile, Moss & Freud explores the relationship between era-defining supermodel Kate Moss and British artist Lucian Freud, starring Ellie Bamber and Derek Jacobi. When Freud offered to paint Moss nude during her pregnancy in 2002, it prompted an intense journey of self-discovery.
British Brilliance: Oscar winners retrospective
Six iconic British films that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards return to the big screen, including Chariots of Fire, Gandhi, Shakespeare in Love, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The English Patient and The King’s Speech from 2010. This special retrospective showcases decades of British cinematic excellence, offering audiences the chance to experience these landmark films as they were meant to be seen.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Palace Cinemas.
