HSBC German Film Festival will return to cinemas in 2025

30 April - 28 May 2025This May, the 2025 HSBC German Film Festival presented by Palace, in association with German Films, will showcase the best contemporary German cinema direct from major festivals in Europe plus a selection from its German-speaking neighbours, Austria and Switzerland. Here’s a sneak peek into the programme which will screen nationally at Palace Cinemas, Palace Nova Cinemas and Luna Palace Cinemas.

General enquiries please email: germanfilmfestival@palacecinemas.com.au
Sponsorship enquiries please email: sponsorship@palacecinemas.com.au

School bookings are now open for the Kino for Kids programme, proudly presented by the Goethe-Institut! For school booking enquiries please contact your city:
MELBOURNE: events.vic@palacecinemas.com.au 
SYDNEY: events.nsw@palacecinemas.com.au 
BRISBANE: events.qld@palacecinemas.com.au 
ADELAIDE: events@palacenova.com 
CANBERRA, BYRON BAY/BALLINA, BALLARAT: events.regional@palacecinemas.com.au 
PERTH: Palace Cinemas - events.wa@palacecinemas.com.au | Luna Palace Cinemas -groupbookings@lunapalace.com.au 

Festival Dates

Canberra

30 Apr - 21 May

Sydney

1 May - 21 May

Ballarat

2 May - 21 May

Melbourne

2 May - 21 May

Adelaide

7 May - 28 May

Brisbane

7 May - 28 May

Byron Bay

8 May - 28 May

Perth

8 May - 28 May

Follow the Festival

First Highlights Announced

Centrepiece

Hysteria

Direct from the 2025 Berlinale, this clever behind-the-scenes conspiracy thriller featuring rising star Devrim Lingnau follows an assistant director drawn into a dangerous game of secrets, lies and paranoia when a burned Quran is found on a film set.

Australian Premiere

Special Presentation

Riefenstahl

This acclaimed documentary delivers a captivating insight into the private estate of Leni Riefenstahl, who became world-famous with her Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will but kept denying any closer ties to the regime.

Australian Premiere

Special Presentation

Two to One

Zwei zu eins

Starring Sandra Hüller, this German box office hit based on true events follows a group of East Germans who take advantage of the chaotic economic situation in East Germany in 1990 and pull off a highly entertaining heist of soon-to-be-worthless East German marks.

Australian Premiere

Dying

Sterben

Celebrated auteur Matthias Glasner’s compelling drama Dying assembles an outstanding all-star cast led by the incredible Lars Eidinger as a successful, middle-aged orchestra conductor negotiating the chaos of his volatile private life.

Kino for Kids

The Chaos Sisters and Penguin Paul

Die Chaosschwestern und Pinguin Paul

Adapted from the popular book series, this fun family adventure follows four sisters who must work together to save a dancing penguin who has been kidnapped from the local zoo.

Australian Premiere

Kino for Kids

The Door-to-Door Bookstore

Der Buchspazierer

Based on the best-selling novel by Carsten Henn, which was inspired by a real bookstore in Aachen, THE DOOR-TO-DOOR BOOKSTORE is a charming and heartfelt ode to books and readers.

Australian Premiere

Kino for Kids

Winners

Sieger Sein

Winner of the 2024 German Film Award for Best Children’s Film, in this uplifting coming-of-age story, eleven-year-old Mona, a Syrian refugee in Berlin, joins a competitive girls' football team where she learns the value of teamwork and belonging.

Kino for Kids

Circusboy

Zirkuskind

This enchanting documentary chronicles the lives of the Frank travelling circus family over one year, capturing eleven-year-old Santino’s experience growing up among an extended family and animals, in a world of storytelling.

Australian Premiere

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