Sydney cinephiles have a fresh reason to block out their calendars. This March, the Art Gallery of New South Wales launches Sydney Cinémathèque, a permanent home for curated cinema that marks 25 years of film programming at the Gallery.
Here’s what you need to know about the film lineup, ticketing and schedule.
What exactly is Sydney Cinémathèque?
Think of it as part repertory house, part cultural salon. Screenings will run every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, mixing free retrospectives with ticketed events, director talks, workshops, live-scored silent films and family sessions, all inside the Gallery’s state-of-the-art cinema capable of projecting everything from 16mm and 35mm to digital.
When is it?
Opening weekend is Saturday 7 March and Saturday 8 March 2026. There’ll be a weekend-long program of screenings and guest appearances to launch Sydney Cinémathèque, where you can enjoy snacks, exclusive merch, and Q&A sessions.
After that, screenings will run every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. For the full schedule, check the Art Gallery of NSW website.
Where can I buy tickets?
You can book tickets to upcoming films on the Sydney Cinémathèque schedule now via the Art Gallery of NSW website. Aside from adult tickets, concession and member-priced tickets are available, as well as free tickets for children under the age of two.
What films are on the lineup?
The debut weekend leans local, jumping from the post-punk fizz of Starstruck to the rhinestone swagger of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. From there, the first season Harbour City Cinema rolls out a free, city-spanning retrospective from Strictly Ballroom and Looking for Alibrandi to cult gem Heatwave, plus spotlights on emerging directors.
Is there anything for families and kids?
Absolutely. Cinémathèque Junior offers relaxed screenings every second Wednesday morning with crowd-pleasers like Babe, Finding Nemo and Fantastic Mr Fox, while parents get a chance to introduce little ones to the magic of the big screen.
What about Australian and First Nations cinema?
Blak Film Club becomes a regular fixture, launching with Pauline Clague’s The Colleano Heart and pairing screenings with guest talks and audience discussion to highlight Australia’s rich Blak filmmaking history.
Who’s behind the program?
Curator Ruby Arrowsmith-Todd is steering the year-round lineup, while actor Hugo Weaving steps in as ambassador for the opening weekend, joining director Gillian Armstrong for sessions celebrating Sydney stories on screen.
Looking for more quintessential Australia films to view at home? Check out our list of 25 films that will make you fall in love with Australian cinema, and our pick of 5 First Nations films you need to watch.
