By Alayna Patterson
Ah, the cinema. What is it that keeps us going back?
Is it the scent of buttery popcorn, or a gargantuan fizzy? The satisfying crack of a choc top while you settle into your seat and wonder about the origin of the mysterious sticky substance that greeted you — or is it the nostalgia of our youth?
While streaming has its benefits (and Lord knows I will keep going back), not all films or TV are available at one time, and independently made cinema can be less accessible in Australia. Not to mention prices for streaming services are on the rise, and more of these streaming services continue to pop up.
For me, these are all a factor of my growing desire to go back to the cinema—and better yet, supporting independent cinemas. If you live in Sydney and don’t know where to start, or you simply just like a good watch, let me point you in some fun directions.
Streaming has its place, but there is nothing — nothing — that compares to sitting in a dark room, surrounded by strangers, experiencing a story unfold on the big screen. If we want independent voices to thrive, we need to show up for them. We need to buy the tickets, fill the seats, and keep theatres alive – Sean Baker, Best Director winner at the 2024 Oscars
1: The Twilight Saga – Full Moon Marathon
(Ritz Cinema, Randwick – 11 April, 8.30pm)
Do the days of Team Edward and Team Jacob shirts still haunt you? Embrace it. Spend all night at the Ritz Cinema, Randwick, for a screening of all five Twilight Saga movies in full, back to back, and nurture your inner teenager. With breakfast provided, what more could compel you?
2: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – all-day marathon
(Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, Cremorne – April 27, 10.30am)
Perhaps you weren’t a Twihard in your youth, but love the idea of a cinema hosting a back-to-back marathon?
Whether you never got to see it in the cinema, or you’ve made a yearly habit of bingeing the movies in full with a group of mates (or on your own, I won’t judge), maybe you can spice it up for this year’s viewing and take it to the big screen. All day, all extended, all in glorious 4K.
3: Sydney Short Film Festival
(Ritz Cinema, Randwick – March 13, 6pm)
Do you like watching shorts on YouTube, or do you simply like free things? The Ritz is hosting the seventh edition of The Sydney Short Film Festival. These are a selection of short films made by Australian and international filmmakers, spanning an array of genres and themes. There’s bound to be something for everyone. A fantastic opportunity to get a taste of independent cinema and support your fellow Aussies.
4: Newtown Nights
(Dendy Cinemas, Newtown – daily, 9pm)
Ever wanted to educate yourself on some cult classic cinema, or simply love late night movies? Dendy Cinemas has you covered. There’s a 9pm screening every night, with a new film showing every week to keep it fresh.
5: This is Celluloid: A Year of 35mm and 70mm screenings
(Ritz Cinema, Randwick – 2025 program)
Living in a digital climate can get overwhelming. Ritz Cinema has been dedicated to keeping the spirit of physical media and traditional film alive, though. The Ritz has a whole year’s worth of exclusive screenings in celluloid, accompanied by information about the plastic stuff that runs through the projector and the difference between 35mm and 70mm.
Hopefully you’ve found something here you can begin to sink your teeth into. However, these are only just a taste.
While I may not have compelled you to unsubscribe from a few of those streaming services, if you are at the very least curious about what independent cinemas are up to, make sure to check out their socials for more events that may tickle your interest.
All the best in your search, and godspeed to you, dear reader.
Featured image: Parramatta’s Roxy Theatre, which ran as a cinema from 1930-2003 before becoming an entertainment complex and hotel in 2004, pictured in 1993. Photo: CC/lindsaybridge/flickr