Big screen bonanza

Renault French Film Festival

Human Rights Watch International Film Festival

Attention, Hollywood: more isn't always merrier. As these three film festivals show, plenty of countries can compete comfortably in the movie game on quality if not quantity.

For proof of the thriving film industry Down Under, head to the Barbican's showcase of Australian wares, where rocker Nick Cave has turned screenwriter with The Proposition (tomorrow 7.15pm), an Outback Western starring Guy Pearce and Ray Winstone.

The thankless life of the movie extra gets its moment of big-screen glory in The Extra (Mar 8 6.30pm). And Cate Blanchett puts in an award-winning performance as a recovering heroin addict struggling to stop her past catching up with her in Rowan Wood's thriller Little Fish (Sat 8.45pm).

The Renault French Film Festival will be touring Britain this month with a rich selection of Gallic product, from starry cop thriller 36 Quai Des Orfevres (NFT, Fri 6.30pm), to Francois Ozon's study in mourning, Time To Leave (Cineworld Haymarket W1, tonight 8.30pm), which boasts two generations of great French actresses, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Jeanne Moreau.

Another highlight promises to come from Bertrand Tavernier, who looks at the longing for children and the urge to adopt in Holy Lola (Cine Lumiere SW7, Sat 8pm).

Finally, The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival kicks off with Ralph Fiennes in the terrorism satire Land Of The Blind (Curzon Mayfair W1, benefit gala Mar 15 6.45pm; Ritzy SW2, Mar 16 7pm).

The programme also includes the disconcertingly entertaining Viva Zapatero! (Ritzy SW2, Mar 18 6.15pm; ICA, Mar 19 3.45pm), in which Sabina Guzzanti avenges Silvio Berlusconi's banning of her previous doc with a satirical doc about... Berlusconi.

Various venues, dates, times and prices. www.barbican.org.uk/australianfilm www.frenchfilmfestival.org.uk www.hrw.org/iff