The 2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival returns to Melbourne with 33 films, two visiting Italian stars and enough on-screen pasta and pastry to make you book a flight to Sicily on the spot.
Opening the festival is Palermo-set rom-com Holy Cannoli, written by, directed by and starring Pierfrancesco “Pif” Diliberto as a real estate agent who falls for a devoutly Catholic pastry chef.
Pif himself will front the Melbourne opening night and introduce select screenings while he’s in town.
He’s joined by acclaimed actor Edoardo Leo, who’s bringing two films with him for their Australian premieres: box office hit Separate Beds, about a straitlaced school principal thrown by a free-spirited love interest, and the true-story drama For You, following a father and his young son navigating an unexpected diagnosis.
2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival
- Canberra: 16 September – 15 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 Church St, 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
- Tickets here
To celebrate, three Beat readers will win a double pass ticket to the festival.
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