The Strange Festival 2024 proudly resurrects Exhumed Cinema, this year presenting an eclectic mix of 63 classics and obscure delights screening on 35mm and 16mm film stock, taking you back to the authentic experience of the golden age of cinema.
Perth embraced “reel cinema” last year when the inaugural season of Exhumed revived the iconic Liberty Theatre in the CBD as part of Strange. Another Perth icon is coming back to life when Exhumed pops up in 2024 at a new home – Perth’s original “talkies” cinema, The Como Theatre from June 14 to July 3 (otherwise known as The Cygnet).
Presented in conjunction with Revival House Perth, Exhumed will screen nightly from Friday 14 June, with weekend daytime matinees of family friendly content.
“We are excited to bring the true magic of cinema back to Perth,” says Robbie Denman, of Revival House Perth. “Watching a classic movie with the sound of the projector, the moving light, in a setting as magnificent as this beautiful building, that’s something special.”
The Como Theatre was taken over by new owners Australian Property Collective in2018 who have invested over $2M into upgrading the venue with a new roof, acoustic panels, mechanical servicing and fresh paint – the statuesque building now standing proud in cream, ready for a new era.
The duo from Revival House know their cinema; Satria Leech has been familiar with a bio box since he was a toddler, with his projectionist father from the Liberty Cinema in Perth City passing down his skills and passion. Denman owned the renowned industry screening theatrette in East Perth, (now closed) – The Jaffa Room. Both have been preparing for this resurgence for traditional cinema building their collection of equipment and an incredible back catalogue on celluloid.
Leech explains the resurgence of traditional film and projectors on a global scale, noting that studios are again releasing select titles in both digital and 35mm formats, and often 35mm is still a filmmaker’s preference.
“Digital has its advantages, but it doesn’t have the same grain, depth, colour or resolution of film. Not to mention the nostalgic appeal that film has. There is a tangible quality to film that digital just can’t replicate – it takes us back to a time when cinema felt more ‘authentic’,” says Leech.
The nostalgia at Exhumed begins before the movie starts, with 35mm versions of old cinema advertisements from as far back as 1950 to run before the feature.
The program features classics like The Goonies, Night of the Creeps, Dr Strangelove, alongside some more popular features like The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Scream, Romeo and Juliet. There are nostalgic family titles George of the Jungle, Inspector Gadget, and cult favourites like the Japanese horror Ringu 1, or Daft Punk’s Anime Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5star 5ystem.
Tickets are on sale for $24.50 adult / $20.40 child, concession (includes booking fee) through OzTix: Click here
