Wairarapa Cinémathèque 2026
Description
WAIRARAPA CINÉMATHÈQUE 2026
In 2026, we celebrate 100 years of film.
Wairarapa Cinémathèque is dedicated to celebrating film as part of our artistic and cultural heritage. We value the communal experience of cinema, bringing people together through curated screenings, discussions, and the sharing of films of significance. Your membership ensures access to this shared experience, while providing benefits such as exclusive screenings and partner discounts.
This year, our 11 films were chosen by the community, with a touch of curatorial magic to ensure an exceptional programme. From restored classics and silent films to epic dramas and contemporary documentaries, these works continue to inspire audiences today.
Screenings are at the historic Regent Theatre, Masterton (now Regent 3 Cinemas), on the first Sunday of each month at 7:30pm, starting with Billy Wilder’s 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot on Sunday, 1 February 2026.
Featured films include: Some Like It Hot, Metropolis, Ran, The Godfather, Dr. Strangelove, All About My Mother, Psycho, La Notte di Cabiria, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, The Third Man, and The General (100th Anniversary).
The Cinémathèque operates independently, with non-commercial screening rights and membership-based access, building a community of local cinephiles. Join us for immersive, curated cinema and a celebration of film as heritage, art, and community. Membership cards are available to purchase in person and online and are issued at our film screenings.
Membership Options
Full Membership – $100: Access to all 10 regular films + 1 special bonus screening of Buster Keaton's The General in December, celebrating its 100th Anniversary, plus discounts on partner events (e.g. Wairarapa Film Festival and Film Talks screenings).
Full Student Membership – $85: Access to all 10 regular films + bonus screening of The General, plus discounts on partner events.
Three-Film Sampler – $39: Choose any three films, with the option to upgrade to full membership. Try us. We think you'll like us!
Gift Memberships: Full, Student, or Three Film Sampler options.
Share the magic of cinema with someone special. Choose a Full Membership (all ten films + bonus), a Three-Film Sampler, or a Full Student Membership; and if gifted, we can allocate Student Memberships to a local secondary school in 2026, giving students the chance to experience great films on the big screen.
FAQs
- What is the Cinémathèque?
Wairarapa Cinémathèque is a membership-based film programme dedicated to showcasing films of artistic, cultural, and historical significance. We focus on local and international cinema, classic milestones, contemporary works, silent films, and restored films, bringing a curated, communal cinema experience to Masterton, New Zealand.
- When and where are screenings held?
Screenings take place at the historic Regent Theatre, Masterton (now Regent 3 Cinemas) on the first Sunday of each month at 7:30pm. Our first screening is Sunday, 1 February 2026.
- How were the films chosen?
The community voted for their favourite films, and our curatorial team applied a touch of curatorial magic to ensure an exceptional selection of international cinema.
- What films are included in 2026?
Featured films include: Some Like It Hot, Metropolis, Ran, The Godfather, Dr. Strangelove, All About My Mother, Psycho, La Notte di Cabiria, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, The Third Man, and The General (100th Anniversary). Check out out Lineup section for more information.
- How do memberships work?
* Full Membership – $100: Access to all 10 films + bonus screening of The General in December, plus partner discounts. * Full Student Membership – $85: Same as above, for local secondary students. * Three Film Sampler – $35: Attend any three screenings, with option to upgrade. * Gift Memberships are available in all formats.
- Why is the Cinémathèque membership-based?
We operate independently with non-commercial screening rights, so membership ensures access to these remarkable films while building a community of local cinephiles.
- What is the experience like?
Expect immersive, curated cinema with state-of-the-art digital projection and Dolby 7.1 surround sound. Films are presented with care, discussion, and an emphasis on the communal joy of cinema.
- Can I bring a friend along to a screening?
Yes! All our members are welcome to bring a friend or family member to any of our screenings. Each attendee needs their own membership, so your guest can sign up for a short-term or long-term membership before attending. This ensures your seats are guaranteed and everyone enjoys the full Cinematheque experience.
Film Programme
Some Like It Hot (1959) | Sunday 1 February 2026, 7:30pm
Some Like It Hot (1959) Dir. Billy Wilder | USA | 2h | Comedy, Romance, Crime After witnessing a Mafia hit, two Chicago musicians (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) flee the city disguised as women in an all-female jazz band bound for Florida. Complications arise when one falls for the band’s singer (Marilyn Monroe) and the other attracts the attention of a millionaire suitor. Hilarious, subversive, and endlessly quotable, Some Like It Hot remains one of cinema’s greatest comedies.
The Third Man (1949) | Sunday 1 March 2026, 7:30pm
The Third Man (1949) Dir. Carol Reed | UK/USA | 1h 44m | Mystery, Thriller, Crime Set amid the ruins of post-war Vienna, The Third Man follows pulp novelist Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten) as he investigates the suspicious death of his old friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles). With its iconic zither score, shadow-drenched cinematography, and unforgettable final act, this noir classic explores moral ambiguity in a fractured world.
Metropolis (1927) | Sunday 5 April 2026, 7:30pm
Metropolis (1927) Dir. Fritz Lang | Germany | 2h 30m | Silent, Sci-Fi, Drama Fritz Lang’s visionary silent masterpiece imagines a futuristic city divided between privileged elites and oppressed workers. When the ruler’s son joins forces with a prophetic worker named Maria, the film builds toward a powerful meditation on class, technology, and the need for empathy. A landmark of world cinema, presented here as film heritage.
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (2025) | Sunday 3 May 2026, 7:30pm
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (2025) Dir. Sepideh Farsi | France/Palestine/Iran | 1h 52m | Documentary This extraordinary contemporary documentary captures life in Gaza through video calls between filmmaker Sepideh Farsi and photojournalist Fatma Hassona. Filmed during siege and conflict, the work becomes both a record of daily resilience and a deeply moving memorial after Hassona’s death shortly following the film’s Cannes selection.
Ran (1985) | Sunday 7 June 2026, 7:30pm
Ran (1985) Dir. Akira Kurosawa | Japan | 2h 40m | Epic Drama, History, Action Inspired by King Lear, Akira Kurosawa’s late-career epic chronicles the catastrophic fallout when an aging warlord divides his kingdom among his sons. With breathtaking landscapes, symbolic colour design, and devastating emotional power, Ran is one of cinema’s great tragic achievements.
The Godfather (1972) | Sunday 5 July 2026, 7:30pm
The Godfather (1972) Dir. Francis Ford Coppola | USA | 2h 57m | Crime, Drama Francis Ford Coppola’s masterwork traces the rise and transformation of the Corleone family, balancing intimate family drama with the brutal realities of organised crime. Featuring iconic performances by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, The Godfather remains one of the most influential films in cinema history. This film screening is also a homage to the amazing American actress, Diane Keaton.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) | Sunday 2 August 2026, 7:30pm
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) Dir. Stanley Kubrick | UK/USA | 1h 33m | Satirical Comedy, War Stanley Kubrick’s razor-sharp satire turns Cold War anxiety into absurdist comedy as a rogue general triggers a nuclear crisis. Peter Sellers delivers multiple unforgettable performances in this chillingly funny examination of power, paranoia, and human folly.
All About My Mother (1999) | Sunday 6 September 2026, 7:30pm
All About My Mother (1999) Dir. Pedro Almodóvar | Spain | 1h 39m | Drama, Comedy After losing her teenage son, Manuela travels to Barcelona in search of his estranged father, forming a chosen family along the way. Deeply compassionate and emotionally rich, Almodóvar’s Oscar-winning film is a celebration of motherhood, identity, and resilience.
Le Notti di Cabiria (1957) | Sunday 4 October 2026, 7:30PM
Le Notti di Cabiria (1957) Dir. Federico Fellini | Italy | 1h 50m | Drama Giulietta Masina gives an unforgettable performance as Cabiria, a Roman sex worker whose optimism endures despite repeated heartbreak. Tender, funny, and profoundly humane, Fellini’s masterpiece is a luminous study of dignity and hope.
Psycho (1960) | Sunday 1 November 2026, 7:30pm
Psycho (1960) Dir. Alfred Hitchcock | USA | 1h 49m | Thriller, Horror, Mystery Alfred Hitchcock’s revolutionary thriller follows Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) to the isolated Bates Motel, where nothing, and no one, is quite what it seems, including the manager, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). With its shocking structure, iconic score, and enduring influence, Psycho forever changed the language of suspense cinema.
BONUS FILM: The General (1926) | Sunday 6 December 2026, 7:30pm
The General (1926) Dir. Buster Keaton | USA | 1h 23m | Silent, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Drama, War Presented as a 100th Anniversary screening, Buster Keaton’s epic silent comedy follows a railroad engineer who chases his beloved locomotive, and sweetheart, deep into enemy territory during the American Civil War. Renowned for its breathtaking stunts and precise physical comedy, The General is silent cinema at its most exhilarating.
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