So here we are in the last leg of winter.

For some, the cosy charm of firewood-scented air, hot soup specials and turtlenecks has worn off and seasonal blues beckon for the warmth of spring to hurry up and arrive already. But don’t despair – to get you through those last few sniffles in these final frosty months Sydney has gotten creative with some spacey, saucy and significant film events.

 ———

GOLDEN AGE CINEMA: WINTER PROGRAM

Hitchcock Tribute: I can’t think of a better time and place to get to know Alfred if you haven’t already. Date Nights and Matinees from 1-29 August will bring some of Hitchcock’s best including Rear Window, Rope and Vertigo.

DON’T MISS: Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire and Michelangelo Antonioni’s Zabriskie Point, two timeless masterpieces being served up as part of Burgers vs. Movies Tuesdays with Nighthawk Diner.

As always, Golden Age has also sprinkled some nostalgic classics across the next couple of months (like E.T. the Extra Terrestrial) so please check out the full programme here.

FESTIVALS

Speed Sisters, showing at Arab Film Festival

 

The 12th Arab Film Festival: 13-30 August, Parramatta Riverside Theatres

This festival may be less mainstream than the popular French and Spanish film festivals that hit Sydney earlier this year, but that is precisely what makes this festival so worthy of your time. Step away from society’s curb on your attention and get to know a type of cinema that’s often ignored and a culture that’s often misrepresented. Featuring films from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and more, you can check out the program and buy tickets here.

Sydney Underground Film Festival: 17-20 September, Enmore

Previously, this festival has brought beautiful documentary films to Sydney that are otherwise incredibly hard to find, including the magical Harry Dean Stanton doco, Partly Fiction. So if you’re in need of some sparks of inspiration, come and see the underground. Skint? Save $50 on a full festival pass with early bird tickets available here!

Queer Screen Film Fest: 22-27 September, Sydney CBD

In twelve films over just two days, Queer Screen Film Festival celebrates queer identity on screen at George St Cinemas. Three out of the twelve films programmed have already been announced, including the recent Brisbane-set Aussie feature Cut Snake.
More here.

Other festivals to watch out for::

– Film Critic David Stratton’s Great Britain Retro Film Festival @ Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, Cremorne, Aug 6-19

– The 6th Korean Film Festival @ Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney, Aug 12-20

– The 10th AICE Israeli Film Festival @ Palace Verona, Paddington, August 17-20

– Lavazza Italian Film Festival @ Palace Cinemas Sydney, Sept 15 – 11 Oct

REGULARS: ONGOING FILM EVENTS

Fight Club showing at Cult Classics Mondays at Dendy Newtown

 

Kino Sydney: 3 August & 3 September
Showcasing short cinema monthly, submissions welcome.

$10 Cult Classic Mondays @ Dendy Newtown
All your old cult favourites come back for another round!

$7 Student Wednesday (any session) @ Dendy Cinemas

Movie Club @ Museum of Sydney
One Sunday morning each month, a film screening followed by a discussion featuring special guests.

Movie Mondays @ The Soda Factory, Darlinghurst
FREE every week until September 28.

WATCH OUT: FILM RELEASES

Straight Outta Compton

 

20 August: Woody Allen’s Irrational Man @ Dendy Cinemas

27 August: Director of Friday and Set It Off F. Gary Gray’s new NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton @ Dendy Cinemas

29 September: Roger Waters’ The Wall @ Dendy Newtown and Opera Quays

SFF Catch-ups: Missed some of the movies you scribbled down to see at SFF?
Ruben Guthrie, Last Cab to Darwin, Dope, Gayby Baby, Me, Earl and the Dying Girl and People, Places & Things @ Dendy.
All showtimes here.

5 & 9 August: The Tribe, Amy and Ruben Guthrie @ Golden Age Cinema

27 August: Holding the Man @ The Ritz Cinema, Randwick

SPECIAL SCREENING: DROWN

Released earlier this year for a short period as part of the Mardi Gras Film Festival, Aussie independent feature Drown has since travelled the globe and received critical acclaim for a powerful story that confronts the backward homophobic attitudes prevalent in Australian culture and society. The film follows Len, a surf lifesaving champion, as his winning streak plus life as he knows it is interrupted by a new (and gay) lifesaving recruit Phil. On 12 & 18 August, you can have the special of experience of catching drown at the JJ Splice Basement Cinema in Surry Hills. The session will also include an intimate Q & A with the film’s director Dean Francis.

Tickets are limited to 30 seats per screening and bookings are essential here. Check out the trailer.

If you like the sound of Drown and want to check out some classic Australian queer cinema, look at Stephen Cummins’ 1997 short film masterpiece Resonance here.

More special screenings:

JAWS 40th Anniversary Screening – September 14
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, Cremorne

The Godfather + The Godfather II back to back Screening – September 13
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, Cremorne

———

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Little Screen review: Carl Barron’s ‘Manny Lewis’

Little Screen review: ‘The Ever After’

Big Screen: Movie reviews with Sam Clark