New Caledonia Film Festival 2026

About the New Caledonia Film Festival

As part of the celebrations for "Citizenship Day" in New Caledonia (24 September), we are happy to invite you to the New Caledonia Film Festival.  Presented in partnership with the network of Alliances Françaises in Australia, the Pacific Centre for International Encounters and Exchanges (CREIPAC), the New Caledonian Association of Fiction producers (ACPF), and the Embassy of France in Canberra, this festival is funded by the Government of New Caledonia and will tour six Australian cities: Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Townsville, Hobart and Melbourne .

For this year's edition, we are proud to present six award-winning short films showcasing the creativity and diversity of New Caledonian cinema.

Join us for an evening of film, and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and light refreshments. At the end of the screening, you will also have the opportunity to vote for your favourite film.

Please note that all films are in French with English subtitles and are not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

About the short films

L’ARBRE À CANETTES (The Can Tree) 

Director: Odile DUFANT
Duration: 2 minutes 07 seconds
Year: 2018
Genre: Humour / Documentary

Synopsis:
A mysterious plant is growing in New Caledonia: the can tree. In a documentary style, we follow a passionate botanist who tries to explain how this specimen manages to grow everywhere…

LA TÊTE TOURNÉE (Head turned)

Director: Erwann BOURNET & Fabien DUBEDOUT
Duration: 14 minutes 40 seconds
Year: 2018
Genre: Police / Drama

Synopsis:
A young woman dies in a car accident. A typical case for two police officers, except that the victim's brother speaks of murder and mentions a mysterious element…

LE CADEAU (My Gift)

Director: Nicolas PARENT
Duration: 12 minutes 23 seconds
Year: 2025
Genre: Humour

Synopsis:
After accidentally sending the wrong package for a birthday, two drug-dealing buddies find themselves having to repay a large amount of money to one of the neighborhood bosses. They'll have very little time to do it, and a lot of trouble ahead...

NOTRE HISTOIRE (Our History)

Director: Vincent LÉPINE
Duration: 10 minutes 08 seconds
Year: 2012
Genre: Drama

Synopsis:
The embodied spirit of an old Kanak from New Caledonia will traverse space and time in search of peace and solutions, through chance encounters in the face of the suffering of his country and the indigenous Melanesian people.

PARAMNESIA

Director: Alex SIGURA
Duration: 17 minutes 39 seconds
Year: 2025
Genre: Drama

Synopsis:
A dancer haunted by the absence of her daughter must confront her memories in order not to sink into despair..

POUR MARIE (For Marie)

Director: Olivier GRESSE
Duration: 17 minutes 59 seconds
Year: 2010
Genre: Drama

Synopsis:
Eleven years after witnessing her mother's tragic death, Marie returns to the scene of the tragedy. Although she seems to have forgotten everything, the painful memories of the island will gradually catch up with her, bringing the past back to life...