Film
Film reviews, festivals, special screenings and more
Movie lists you'll love
Film events in Sydney
Lavazza Italian Film Festival
Top international festival finds have already been announced for the 18th local feast of Italian cinema
The best cinemas in Sydney
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace
Without doubt the grandest cinema in Sydney, Cremorne’s Art Deco picture palace is a stunning step back in time. Built in 1935 by George Kenworthy, the top theatrical architect of the period, today’s version is even glitzier than the original thanks to a $2.5-million restoration some years back by owner and local TV celeb Mike Walsh. Each of the six auditoria has its own colour scheme and decor, but the 744-seat Orpheum is the true star of the show. It even has a genuine Wurlitzer cinema organ, which rises out of a stage pit on weekend evenings complete with flashing lights and a grinning organist. Expect a mix of mainstream US, British and Australian fare, with some art-house, special presentations and the occasional cabaret show.
Ritz Cinema Randwick
With a distinctive Art Deco design restored to its former 1930s glory and an impressive sound system, the six-screen Ritz cinema is both a local landmark and an excellent venue for catching the latest mainstream releases. Signs explain the regulations – no alcohol, bare feet, smoking or skateboards – which make sense if you hit the place in the afternoon after school’s out. In the evening the place attracts a different crowd, including film geeks who seek out the Ritz for its great acoustics and old-fashioned flair. Upstairs the inimitable Bar Ritz boasts a marble bar and balcony – perfect for pre- and post-film drinks. Bus 372, 373, 376, 377.
Golden Age Cinema
It was one of the most exciting new movie theatre openings in Sydney since, well, the golden age of cinema itself. Since 2013, the Golden Age Cinema and Bar has been the much-loved swank basement occupant inside the stunning Art Deco Paramount building on Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills. The building was constructed in 1940 as the offices of Paramount Pictures, with a basement theatrette for the previewing of movies to cinema owners. The space was utilised during World War II for the screening of news reels and informational films for the military. In its time, the building has been visited by such Hollywood stars as Bob Hope and Charlton Heston. The creators of Melbourne's Rooftop Cinema – Barry, Bob and Chris Barton – tried for many years to launch a similar rooftop project on top of the Paramount building. Frustrated by local residents' objections, they opted instead to convert the old screening room into a 60-seat cinema with an adjoining bar. Cinema seats from the 1940s were located in Switzerland and were installed in the space. Two vintage projectors remain on the premises, although the new cinema utilises a digital projector. As the boutique Golden Age Cinema, it screens both classic films and new releases as programmed by Kate Jinx, host of FBi's Picture Show. Alongside fine wines, high-quality cinema snacks are offered in the adjoining bar – expect the best sundaes ever – and chefs will pair menus with films. The building also houses Paramount Coffee Project, fr
Roseville Cinemas
This independent, family owned twin cinema of Roseville is quaint, lovely and local. Originally a town hall, it became a cinema in 1919 and underwent a renovation in 2011 They screen a wonderful mix match of art house, foreign and independent movies. There are crying rooms for parents with babies, and they have a bar!
Palace Norton Street Cinemas
Leichhardt's Palace Cinemas were fully refurbed in 2013 and now have eight auditoria, all licensed, and an impressive foyer with a lounge bar and café on site. Palace Norton Street plays host to some of the best annual film festivals such as the French, Spanish, Greek, German and Italian. It is also in close proximity to the eateries and vibrant culture of Norton Street.
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Win vouchers to try all five unique eats for free
For the Time Out Food Awards 2019, we partnered with Google to discover unique dishes in our neighbourhoods. We searched far and wide to find some delicious dishes and the local heroes who made them and locked in a shortlist of one-of-a-kind dining experiences worth searching for. Now, we want to inspire you to go out and eat these Signature Searches for yourselves with a little bit of extra incentive. All you have to do is get out there, try them, and collect 'em all with brag-worthy food pics. If you share your fave dish on Instagram you'll go in the draw to win the local equivalent of a golden ticket – vouchers to all try all five dishes (worth $350) for free! Here’s how: Step one: Read all about the delicious Signature Searches here. Step two: Try one or more dish (full suite is highly recommended) Step three: Post your favourite on Instagram and make sure you tag #foundongoogle Step four: Sit back and wait to win the golden loot. Competition ends Midnight 30th Sept
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IKEA launches an Australian Slow TV channel
IKEA caused a bit of a stir in marketing circles a couple of years ago with its series of deliberately boring YouTube commercials. These included a teenager doing the dishes for five minutes, a couple on a couch kissing in front of a TV for eight, and some young people arm wrestling for six. The ads played in front of YouTube content and many people skipped them, but they also garnered a cult following of joyfully disbelieving fans. The ads were inspired by the Scandinavian trend of ‘Slow TV’ in which almost nothing happens – designed as an antidote to our over-stimulated lives (some cool examples of Slow TV screened on SBS last summer). Now, IKEA is using the phenomenon as a way of promoting their new 2020 catalogue. They have launched an Australian Slow TV channel live streaming the 14-day (336-hour) journey of its products in shipping containers on board a ship to Australia. The channel, which in perfect Nordic understatement IKEA says “does not aim to excite”, is narrated by Kent and Sara Eriksson, narrators of the original IKEA Sleep Podcast. The Swedes are reading from the new IKEA catalogue with the sound of waves gently crashing against the ship’s stern in the background. Sounds a bit – well, dull, right? And that’s exactly the point. IKEA say they want to help Australians get a good night’s sleep, and watching this YouTube channel may indeed have that exact effect. And if you’re inspired to go buy a new IKEA bed to do it on, well that’s entirely up to you. The c
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Fever-Tree Gin & Tonic Festival
In the world of botanical booze, there isn’t a more beloved duo than the humble G&T. She’s fresh, sometimes fruity, bubbly and and always full of subtle flavour. If you know this beverage well from backyard parties gone by, or would like to get to know it better, head to Centennial Park this spring for three full days of summer-fresh drinking. The festival is being hosted by tonic brand Fever-Tree – they do those cute bottles of the quinine-based mixer with aromatic additions. From September 27-29, they will set up a gin village of more than 100 distilled juniper berry concoctions to taste alongside their many tonics at Rose Gardens in the park. They’re also promising live music, garden games, cocktail demos and gin and cheese matching (unusual), plus a contingent of food trucks and picnic hampers that’ll sort out afternoon snacks and dinner. Tickets include six mini-G&Ts to try. The festivities will start at 4pm on Friday and roll through the evening, and then kick-start earlier at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. Special offer: Time Out readers who buy ticket to the Sunday session (September 29) can get one of seven masterclasses for free (worth $25). Learn about Australian native botanicals with Brookies Gin, the top five G&T trends for summer, or explore a G&T and food pairing session with Tanqueray. Simply enter promo code MASTER4TOO when you book online.
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High Performance Packing Tape
You don’t need a lot of fancy props to put on a good show. One show coming to the Sydney Opera House’s UnWrapped festival is really leaning into that less is more ethos, creating a dynamic show with little more than office supplies. High Performance Packing Tape is a one-man show where performer Lee Wilson takes the most mundane everyday objects (think rubber bands, cardboard boxes, balloons and the titular packing tape) and uses them to transform the stage into an obstacle course. This is physical theatre at its most nail-biting, with Wilson’s performances testing the limits of human endurance and ability. Watch in wonder as High Performance Packing Tape has Wilson clamber up and down towers of cardboard boxes, dangle upside down using just ordinary packing tape and hope that regular party balloons will break your fall should you slip. Watching High Performance Packing Tape is an endurance exercise in itself, with audiences kept teetering on the edge of their seats for the full 70-minute show – look away at your own peril. High Performance Packing Tape was created by Lee Wilson and Mirabelle Wouters performance company, Branch Nebula. The show was originally commissioned by Performance Space for Liveworks 2018 and guests can expect the same level of high-energy antics that amazed audiences then. Sydney Opera House is hosting High Performance Packing Tape for five shows, starting Wednesday September 18. Tickets are available now.
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