Wonthaggi International Film Festival
- Bass Coast Shire Council
- 9 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A weekend of global stories at The Union Theatre
Bass Coast Cultural Venues is proud to present the 2026 Wonthaggi International Film Festival (WIFF), a thoughtfully curated weekend of international cinema at The Union Theatre.
This year’s program brings together powerful storytelling from across the globe, spotlighting stories shaped by family ties, responsibility and resilience. Across three days, audiences will hear stories from Korea to Morocco, Iran to France, Italy to New Zealand and beyond, all coming to the Union Theatre in Wonthaggi this April.
No Other Choice
Korean
From acclaimed director Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave, The Handmaiden, Oldboy) comes a stylish and biting satire of contemporary capitalism.
Starring Lee Byung-hun, No Other Choice follows Man-su, a devoted husband and father whose world unravels after losing his job of 25 years. As desperation grows, so too does his solution: eliminate the competition.
Sharp, darkly funny and unmistakably Park Chan-wook, this is international cinema at its boldest.
No Other Choice [M]
Friday, 17 April | 7:30pm
Calle Málaga
Spanish / Arabic
Winner of the Audience Award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival and Morocco’s submission for the 2026 Academy Awards, filmmaker Maryam Touzani delivers a warm, sun-drenched portrait of aging, memory and independence.
Legendary Spanish actor Carmen Maura plays María Ángeles, a 79-year-old determined to protect her Tangier home and in doing so, unexpectedly rediscover love.
Calle Málaga [M]
Saturday, 18 April | 10:30am
Familiar Touch
American
A moving “coming-of-old-age” story, Familiar Touch follows Ruth, a retired cook navigating the transition to assisted living. Tender, thoughtful and quietly humorous, it explores memory, identity and the enduring spark of self.
Familiar Touch [M]
Saturday, 18 April | 1.30pm
Pike River
New Zealand
Starring Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm, Pike River tells the true story of two women who lost loved ones in the 2010 Pike River Mine explosion and became leading voices in the fight for truth and accountability.
A powerful story of resilience, community and courage.
Pike River [MA15+]
Saturday, 18 April | 4.30pm
It Was Just An Accident
Persian / Azerbaijani
Master filmmaker Jafar Panahi crafts a tense moral thriller about persecution, revenge and doubt. When a former political prisoner believes he has encountered his former captor, he gathers fellow ex-prisoners to confirm the man’s identity, with devastating consequences.
It Was Just An Accident [M]
Saturday, 18 April | 7.30pm
Divertimento
French
Based on the true story of renowned conductor Zahia Ziouani, Divertimento follows two sisters determined to forge a place in the elite world of classical music in 1990s Paris.
A story of ambition, talent and breaking barriers.
Divertimento [PG]
Sunday, 19 April | 10.30am
Signorinella: Little Miss
Italian
A tribute to the unsung heroes of the Italian migrant experience, Signorinella: Little Miss shines a light on the resilience and creativity of women who shaped Australia’s cultural landscape.
Signorinella: Little Miss
Sunday, 19 April | 1.30pm
Father Mother Sister Brother
American / Irish / French
A triptych of stories set across the US, Ireland and France, this character-driven film explores estranged siblings, distant parents and the delicate threads that bind families together. Starring Tom Waits, Adam Driver and Cate Blanchett.
Father Mother Sister Brother [CTC]
Sunday, 19 April | 4.30pm
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