Union Theatre hosts Wonthaggi International Film Festival

WONTHAGGI’s Union Theatre will again play host the 2026 Wonthaggi International Film Festival after a $1.1 million upgrade to the iconic theatre’s climate control system.

The 2026 Wonthaggi International Film Festival is a thoughtfully curated weekend of international cinema not to be missed. Now in its 14th year, WIFF has become a much-loved cultural event for the region, bringing powerful storytelling from across the globe.

This year’s program explores themes of family, responsibility and resilience, with stories spanning Korea, Morocco, Iran, France, Italy, New Zealand and beyond.

Bass Coast Mayor Cr Rochelle Halstead said she was delighted to have the WIFF again this year.

“It just keeps growing. We have really had a great spotlight on the community with Wonthaggi following the celebration of 100 years last year, and now a huge focus on community again this year,” said Cr Halstead.

“What a way to be welcomed back to the venue following the recent short closure due to essential maintenance and upgrades,” Cr Halstead said.

“School holiday cinema will be kicking off with some amazing new blockbusters as well as the WIFF. I’m told there may be some special surprises in place as well.”

Opening night will feature No Other Choice, a 2025 South Korean thriller directed by Park Chan-wook and starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin.

No Other Choice, from acclaimed director Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave, The Handmaiden, Oldboy), is a stylish and biting satire of contemporary capitalism.

The world of Man-su, a devoted husband and father played by Lee Byung-hun, unravels after he loses his job of 25 years. As his desperation grows, so too does his solution.

Winner of the Audience Award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival and Morocco’s submission for the 2026 Academy Awards, Familiar Touch from 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 woman determined to protect her Tangier home and, in doing so, unexpectedly rediscovers love.

WIFF is honoured to welcome acclaimed author, film critic and dementia-care educator Rose Capp, who will introduce Familiar Touch and lead a post-screening Q&A session.

Ms Capp brings a rare combination of expertise in cinema and dementia care. She is the author of Demystifying Dementia: Everything You Need to Know, a registered nurse, dementia-care educator and policy advisor with Dementia Australia.

Following the screening, the audience will have the opportunity to engage directly with Rose in a thought-provoking Q&A about the film’s themes, the representation of dementia on screen and the realities of residential aged care.

This special event promises to be a highlight of the festival, bringing together film lovers, carers, health professionals and community members for an evening of meaningful cinema and conversation.

New Zealand film Pike River starring Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm 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.

Pike River is a powerful story of resilience, community and courage.

It Was Just an Accident, from master filmmaker Jafar Panahi, is a carefully crafted moral thriller about persecution, revenge and doubt. A former political prisoner believes he has encountered his former captor and gathers fellow ex-prisoners to confirm the man’s identity with devastating consequences.

It Was Just an Accident screens at 7.30 pm on Saturday, April 18.

French film Divertimento is based on the true story of renowned conductor Zahia Ziouani and follows two sisters determined to forge a place in the elite world of classical music in 1990’s Paris. Divertimento is a story of ambition, talent and breaking barriers and will screen at 10.30 am on Sunday, April 19.

Signorinella: Little Miss is a tribute to the unsung heroes of the Italian migrant experience, shining a light on the resilience and creativity of women who helped shape Australia’s cultural landscape.

Father Mother Sister Brother, an American / Irish / French film, is told in three parts and is 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 is sure to be popular and screens at 4.30 pm on Sunday, April 19.

For tickets and further information on the Wonthaggi International Film Festival, go to basscoastculturalvenues.com/post/wonthaggi-international-film-festiva