Carmen & Bolude is a highly praised 2025 Australian comedy-drama, hailed as a “joyous” and “groundbreaking” film created by African and Latin Australian women. Critics and viewers describe it as an uplifting, funny, and deeply relatable story about friendship, cultural identity, and self-discovery, making it a must-watch for diverse audiences.Â
Carmen & Bolude
14 MARCH:Â 3 pm
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Australia (Captions Requested) – Drama 109 mins – 
VENUE: MALENY COMMUNITY CENTRE
23 MAPLE STREET MALENYÂ
After a whirlwind romance, African American Bolude accepts her Australian boyfriend’s marriage proposal. Bitterly disappointed, her Nigerian diplomat father demands that she follow tradition, giving her just ten days to gain 100 welcomes from 100 Australian villages. Otherwise, he will not bless their union. With her best friend Carmen in tow, Bolude flies from New York to Sydney. In a race against time they rush through Sydney, meeting people from a diverse range of backgrounds as they seek to fulfil her father’s wishes. Filmink reviewer Maree O’Neill writes, ‘Wild and wacky, with an endearing charm … a patchwork of stories, diverse and personal, moments of connection shared by an array of different Australians as they welcome Bolude to her new home.’
BONUS Short (Official Selection Rangebow Microfilm Festival 2026)
A Dog’s Tale: written, directed and produced by Martin Doyle. Two men meet up to make a deal. A clever dog has plans of his own.
MATINEE SCREENING
Doors Open at 2:30 pm for licensed bar, tea/coffee, slices
Movie Starts at 3:00 pm
This event will open for sale 1 Mar
Maleny Film Festival Line Up...
The Travellers
Australia-NC-Drama-97m –
A farewell visit spirals into emotional chaos as past loves, family tensions, and unfinished lives collide.
Carmen & Bolude
Australia-CR-Drama-109m-
Best mates race from New York to Sydney to satisfy tradition and secure love.
Kangaroo Island
Australia-CR-Comedy/Drama-113m
A Hollywood star returns home, unearthing sisterly rifts and secrets amid panoramic land and seascapes.
Journey Home David Gulpilil
Australia-CR-Bio/Doco-88m
David Gulpilil’s final gift: a sacred cinematic testament to culture, ceremony, and enduring story.
Kangaroo
Australia-CR-Drama-107m
A disgraced TV host and an Indigenous girl embark on a mission to save joeys and themselves.
Regular Program and Members Only Program ...
Downton Abbey The Grande Finale
123 Min | UK | Drama 
It’s 1930 and the Crawley family of Downton Abbey is grappling with two major problems.
The Correspondent
113 Min | Aust 2024| Bio/Thriller
Peter Greste, an Australian journalist is imprisoned in an Egyptian prison for his reporting.
Vermiglio (the Mountain Bride)
120 Min | Italian/Belgium | Drama
A sublime insight into family and community life. Winner - Grand Jury Prize, Venice Film Festival '24.
Flow
85 Min | Latvia 2024 | Animation
A solitary animal, cat finds refuge after its home is devastated by a great flood. Academy Award Winner 2025.Â
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
119 Min | USA | Music/Biopic
A musician grappling with profound mental health challenges, is poised on the cusp of global superstardom.
Hamnet
126 Min | UK | Drama
A film as wise and wonderful as it is beautiful about the death of Shakespeare’s young son Hamnet.Â
The French Job
94 Min | France 2025 | Cri/Dra/Com
A clever heist and captivating comedy punctuated by a playful score.
The Choral
113 Min | UK (Captions) | Comedy/Drama
In wartime Yorkshire, a struggling choir confronts tensions, while finding strength and solace through music
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
168 Min | Persian (Subtiles, 2024) | Drama
Promoted into a judicial role, a father faces growing family resistance. The film is bold, intimate and politically charged.
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About Members-Only Screenings
Members Only Screenings offer a stimulating evening in the cosy atmosphere of the Verandah Room at the back of the Maleny Community Centre. The films are diverse in subject, country of origin, genre and vintage. You will enjoy some recent releases and the possibility of catching up with films missed at the cinema or wish to see again. Like good books, good films can be worth revisiting. Screenings usually take place on the first Wednesday evening of the month however check this website for any variations.
You are invited to arrive at 6 pm, seat yourself cabaret-style, and have a friendly chat over a meal. A brief introduction to the film is presented before the 7 pm screening. Free tea and coffee, and a bar, are available. There is the opportunity to stay on afterwards for another cuppa and an informal discussion of the film.
A selection of pizzas will be available for purchase by the slice (including gluten free). You are also welcome to bring your own choice of food.
Coming Soon for Members-Only
Start Enjoying Benefits of Membership
Maleny Community Centre
Address: 23 Maple Street Maleny.
Parking: Parking is available at the rear of the centre and is accessed from Bicentennial Lane, or in the streets surrounding the hall.
Accessibility
Wheelchair Friendly: The venue is wheelchair friendly, and the companion card is welcome.
Main Hall: Hearing headsets are available for those hard of hearing - you can pick one up from the membership desk.
Main Hall
The latest in digital technology is used for the regular fortnightly Saturday screenings. In the evening, tables are available if you wish to bring a BYO dinner, takeaway or nibbles. The centre has a licenced bar, so please no BYO alcohol.
Verandah Room
Members-only nights: For our free screenings for members-only, a smaller cosy venue is used at the rear of the main hall. There is a licenced bar, so please no BYO alcohol.
Tickets / Passes
Where and when can I buy tickets?
Tickets can be purchased from the day after the previous screening
Purchasing Online: Ticket options appear when they are available to be purchased.
Purchasing from the Maleny Visitors & Information Centre: 23 Main Street Maleny, check online for opening hours
Purchasing at the Door: Check the session for door-opening times
Festival Passes
ON SALE 14 FEB 26
Includes entry to the Festival Launch Party and tickets to all 5 films.
Members $50
Non-Members $75
Session Tickets
Members $8
Gold Members $0
Non-Members $13
Students $8
Youth (15 and under) $5
(Festival Tickets to single screening sessions will be available for sale from 1 March 26)
 Members-Only Screenings
All Members $0 (no need. to pre-book)
About Maleny Film Society
Maleny Film Society was founded in November 1990 and began screening films from the National Film Archives to an enthusiastic group of 35 members. In 1993 the Society invested in a 35 mm projector (eventually there were 2), which opened up screenings to the public with a wider choice of films.
From the beginning, the organisation was run by willing volunteers and that continues. The Management Committee of eight members continues to meet on a monthly basis. Many more volunteers contribute to film nights and film selection.
The Society aims to bring the best of world cinema to the general public of the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Most of the films are chosen through a voting process by the members. The tradition continues of monthly free screenings of international classics and some new releases for members only.
After its humble origin, Maleny Film Society is now an integral part of the Maleny community with nearly 300 members, modern digital cinema technology and fortnightly screenings in the Maleny Community Centre with a capacity for over 200 patrons.
Volunteering for MFS
Volunteering is a fantastic way for you to meet fellow filmgoers and to help make the movie sessions enjoyable for all. Volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the Maleny Film Society and its community.
There are many ways in which you can be involved. In appreciation, you will attend the movie for free, enjoy a complimentary drink from the bar, and of course free tea and coffee. Once you volunteer, we will provide training and a roster for your chosen dates and movies.
Here is a brief list of volunteering opportunities:
House Set up: Help prepare the hall with chairs and tables and pack up after the movie.
Meet and Greet: Welcome filmgoers and collect their tickets at the door.
Ticket Sales: Sell tickets from the box office and track attendance.
Tea and Coffee Table: Serve tea and coffee with delicious homemade slices.
Membership Support: Assist filmgoers with membership renewal or joining.
Slice Maker: Enjoy cooking? Homemade slices are a big hit at the movies.
Film Selection: Like researching films? Serve on Film Selection sub-committee.
Would you like to become a valued volunteer or to find out more? Just make contact at the membership desk and have a chat with our Event Manager. Alternatively, email us using the form here.
(MFS carries Public Liability Insurance to the sum of $10,000,000 and has a Voluntary Workers Policy covering injury and travel to and from the event.)
VOLUNTEER ENQUIRY
 Subscribe to our Program Emails
Subscribe to our program reminder emails for our Saturday matinee and evening sessions as well as film festival information. We usually send out 2 emails per fortnightly film.
Contact Maleny Film Society
0418 708 244 during working hours M-F 9am-5pm
SMS 0418 708 244 on event days
Email: Please note email is not monitored on the weekend
