Sunset Boulevard – Canterbury Film Society

The Canterbury Film Society begins its dazzling 35-film 2019 programme at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, with doors opening at 6.45pm for a 7.30pm screening.

This is not an public event but new members are most warmly welcome! A free glass of wine and nibbles will be provided.

The gala night begins our season with a bang: Billy Wilder's classic and not-to-be-missed 1950 "Sunset Boulevard" (115 mins | USA | PG). This will run in the fabulous Philip Carter Family Auditorium, a 178-seat theatre with a state-of-the-art sound system.

In "Sunset Boulevard", fledgling screenwriter William Holden stumbles into the mansion of faded silent-film superstar Gloria Swanson in Wilder's poison-pen letter to Hollywood. A "Time Out" reviewer comments, "The blackest of all Hollywood's scab-scratching accounts of itself." Visit the Society website for more information and to connect to a trailer.

For newcomers, please note the Canterbury Film Society offers weekly screenings of top-quality arthouse, international, local, rare and classic feature films, documentaries and more. Full membership provides access to all screenings during our February–November season for under $4 per film!

We welcome new members of all ages and provide a friendly, inclusive atmosphere with drinks and snacks for purchase and opportunities to socialise each Monday night. We run a carefully curated programme over nine months, each film introduced by a guest presenter.

We run DVD swap nights, coffee and chat sessions after some films, and regular Open Nights so you can come along and sample our wares, or bring other people along. We work hard to captivate, inform and inspire film buffs as well as those on the hunt for alternatives to mainstream cinema. We’re quite literally the best-kept film screening secret in town!

The 2019 season runs on Mondays, beginning at 7.30pm, from 18 February to 11 November (except public holidays and Mondays that coincide with the NZ International Film Festival). Three events are double features.

See our website or pick up a brochure from the Christchurch Art Gallery or a public library to read about the Society and the programme, including our Open Events at which non-members are welcome.

The Open Events are by donation/koha unless indicated otherwise.
- Sunday 24 February at 2pm, “Battle Scars: Personal Visions of War”
- Monday 25 February at 7.30pm, “The American War”
- Monday 18 March at 7.30pm, “Grave of The Fireflies”
- Monday 20 May at 7.30pm, “Western”
- Monday 24 June at 7.30pm, “A German Youth”
- Monday 14 October at 7.30pm, “The Flight of the Te Hookioi” and “Allan Baldwin In Frame”
- Monday 31 October at 7.30pm, “Suspiria” and “Re-animator” (Halloween Spook-Night Special double feature). Tickets $10; drinks $5; fangs optional!

Doors are always open at 7pm (6.45pm tonight) for socialising and $5 and $2 drinks. Home baking is sold for $2. Membership can be purchased online or at the venue on the night (be there by 7.15pm). Metered street parking is free after 6pm. The CAG underground carpark is currently free for the first hour, then $1 per half hour or part thereof.

Annual membership runs for 12 months from the date of joining and is $132 for a full new member, discounted membership is $122, tertiary student membership is $70 and youth membership (13–18 years of age) is only $50. This year we are also offering two half-year membership options from Feb–Jun and Jul–Nov for $70. Full membership entitles members to discounted IFF events and free entry to screenings at all 13 Societies nationwide.

Our three-film $30 Flexi-Pass membership is also very popular. This has no expiry date and can be used for entry to three events of your choice or shared amongst friends.

Visit the website to sign up for email updates, join the Canterbury Film Society online or for Membership Secretary contact details.

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