Bellingen Film Lovers – elope with us to movie land

Published on 01 April 2024

The inaugural edition of Bellingen Film Lovers is a collection of magical movies for fans of the silver screen, running from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 May at Bellingen Memorial Hall.

Cinema belongs in this place. Acquired by the community with a view to building a war memorial, the site that was eventually to see the construction of the Memorial Hall in 1929, initially hosted a picture house in a temporary structure with no roof! So popular and profitable was this venture that after a few years, sufficient funds had been raised to construct the much-loved venue now situated on Hyde Street.

There are myriad reasons and ways we enjoy cinema. And that’s why Bellingen Film Lovers encompasses a broad selection of genres and styles – we have blockbusters, family fun, documentaries, nature themes, a dose of horror, an animation and a director focus in French film maker Luc Besson. It’s a lot to squeeze into just 12 choices and indeed, there is scope for so much more in future editions. Let’s make this first one a success to ensure film remains at Bellingen Memorial Hall for the long term.

Plus, we have two special events: a reception to mark the unveiling of Cherry Hood’s portrait of pianist David Helfgott, accompanied by a screening of The Musical Mind: A Portrait in Process; plus a 90s rave party at Studio BMH following a screening of Beats, a film set in Scotland in 1994 during the controversy brought about by the Criminal Justice Bill, when across Britain, young people and traveller communities found themselves caught in a clamp down on civil rights.

In launching this film festival in the Bellingen Shire, it is important to acknowledge the enormous influence of the Screenwave International Film Festival (SWIFF) on regional audience engagement with cinema. In its final 2023 edition, SWIFF sold over 11,000 tickets, a feat matched only by the likes of NRL games and Elton John on the Coffs Coast, while reaching the rank of second largest film festival in NSW. Slick, welcoming and expertly produced by Kate Howat and Dave Horsley, this annual event sparked excitement in audiences, platformed local talent and provoked countless discussions about film. All local film lovers owe SWIFF a debt of gratitude.

The atmosphere generated by watching films in a packed theatre is electric; it’s a buzz that intensifies the movie-watching experience and is not to be missed. The Memorial Hall cinema configuration has a limited capacity of 180 per screening, so jump on to our ticket platform early to avoid missing out.

See you at the cinema!