Community
15 February, 2026
Film festival makes long-awaited return
Held in Charlton’s beautifully restored Art Deco Rex Theatre, the annual festival has been a fixture on the town’s cultural calendar since it was first hosted in 1992.
CHARLTON Arts will once again bring cinema to centre stage when the Charlton Film Festival returns later this month.
Held in Charlton’s beautifully restored Art Deco Rex Theatre, the annual festival has been a fixture on the town’s cultural calendar since it was first hosted in 1992.
Charlton Arts took over the running of the festival in 2000, and it continues to attract visitors from across Victoria and interstate.
The 2026 program features five carefully selected films screened across the two days, offering a mix of historical drama, documentary, international cinema and feel-good storytelling.
Festival Coordinator Carolyn Olive said the aim was to offer a diverse program that appealed to both locals and visitors.
“Selecting films is always a challenge, particularly with so many titles now appearing quickly on streaming services,” she said.
“We try to find films that people haven’t already seen and that really shine on the big screen. But for many people, the festival is just as much about the atmosphere of the Rex Theatre, catching up with friends, and enjoying great food, as it is about the films themselves.”
The festival will open on the night of February 28 with “Nuremberg”, a historical drama set against the backdrop of the post-war trials.
Starring Russell Crowe, Richard E. Grant, Michael Shannon and Rami Malek, the film explores a tense psychological confrontation between a US Army psychiatrist and Hermann Göring.
The Saturday morning session will begin with “Tin”, a New Zealand drama-comedy starring Anapela Polata’ivao as a Samoan teacher navigating grief and unexpected connection after the Christchurch earthquakes.
The afternoon will continue with the French-subtitled film “Holy Cow”, a warm and humorous story of a young man determined to win a prestigious cheese-making competition after tragedy strikes his family.
Later on Saturday, audiences will enjoy the documentary “Love of an Icon: The Legend of Crocodile Dundee”, which delves into the making of Australia’s most successful film and features newly discovered archival material from the late John Cornell.
The festival will conclude on Saturday night with “Song Sung Blue”, a music-driven drama starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as two struggling performers who form a Neil Diamond tribute band.
Tickets range from $12 for a single film to $100 for a full festival pass, which includes lunch and suppers across the weekend.
More information and ticket bookings are available via the Rex Theatre website or the Charlton Film Festival Facebook page.
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