Cinemaniacs

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Carlton, VIC
Cinemaniacs

Melbourne Film Collective - Founded by Lee Gambin
Screening retrospective films monthly at The Astor Theatre

Founded in 2012 by film historian Lee Gambin, Cinemaniacs was created with the intention of making cinema a truly unique experience. Screening retrospective films across all genres, Cinemaniacs allows audiences to see their most beloved films on the big screen again, or for the first time. Collaborating with acclaimed directors, writers, actors, producers, academics and composers, Cinemaniacs guarantee Melbourne film lovers cinema like never they have ever experienced before!

28/08/2026

While CINEMANIACS have been enjoying a short break during our 2026 programming hiatus, we’ve been re-introducing (or just introducing) ourselves to any longtime and new audience members…
Over the last couple weeks, you’ve been Meeting The Team and getting to know us through all of our personal Top 10 Favourite Films!
ROB POVEY is the newest board member and co-programmer at Cinemaniacs, a freelance makeup artist by day working on brand campaigns across fashion, beauty and lifestyle, and a lifelong cinephile by every other waking moment, with a specific interest in horror, q***r cinema and films starring actresses-of-a-certain-age. If it wasn’t already evident by his selections, he is a millennial.
ROB’S TOP 10 FAVOURITE FILMS
PARTY GIRL (1995)
PARIS IS BURNING (1990)
SHOWGIRLS (1995)
JURASSIC PARK (1993)
SCREAM (1996)
WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE (1995)
GHOST WORLD (2001)
CLOCKWATCHERS (1997)
DEATH BECOMES HER (1992)
WILD THINGS (1998)

22/08/2026

While CINEMANIACS enjoys a short break before our 2026 programming resumes, we’re re-introducing (or just introducing) ourselves to any longtime and new audience members…
For the next couple of weeks, Meet The Team and get to know us the best way we know how — by sharing our personal Top 10 Favourite Films!
PHIL JOHNSTON has been a Cinemaniacs board member since 2022. He is a cinephile, aspiring filmmaker and lead singer/songwriter in horror doom band, Zombie Hunger.
PHIL’S TOP 10 FAVOURITE FILMS
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC (1928)
FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
GODZILLA (1954)
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)
THE WICKER MAN (1973)
THE THING (1982)
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000)
THE WITCH (2015)

16/08/2026

COMPETITION TIME!
Our friends over at Soma Productions are screening Takashi Miike’s notorious, taboo pushing, cult classic VISITOR Q.

Soma are offering a double pass to Cinemaniacs punters to see this masterpiece on the big screen on SATURDAY AUGUST 29th at ECLIPSE CINEMA in Collingwood, 6.30pm.

For a chance to WIN, all you need to do is LIKE our Facebook or Instagram post and EMAIL [email protected] and tell us who your favourite Takashi Miike character is and why, along with your full name.

Entry details and conditions:
Closes 11.59pm AEST 26 August 2026
Open only to entrants residing in Australia
One entry per person
Winners will be notified via email

“Get more out of life, see a f**ked up movie” - John Waters

14/08/2026

While CINEMANIACS enjoys a short break before our 2026 programming resumes, we’re re-introducing (or just introducing) ourselves to any longtime and new audience members…
For the next couple of weeks, Meet The Team and get to know us the best way we know how — by sharing our personal Top 10 Favourite Films!
CAITLIN KOLLER has been a Cinemaniacs board member since 2022. She is an award-winning Australian filmmaker whose first feature film, 30 Miles From Nowhere, was filmed in Illinois, USA. She also plays bass in horror doom band, Zombie Hunger, as Coffin Queen.
CAITLIN’S TOP 10 FAVOURITE FILMS
FRANKENHOOKER (1990)
MOONSTRUCK (1987)
GINGER SNAPS (2000)
THE NEON DEMON (2016)
MANDY (2018)
BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)
CHILD’S PLAY (1988)
THE LOVE WITCH (2016)
GHOST WORLD (2001)
ROMY AND MICHELE’s HIGH SCHOOL REUNION (1997)

08/08/2026

While CINEMANIACS enjoys a short break before our 2026 programming resumes, we’re re-introducing (or just introducing) ourselves to any longtime and new audience members…
For the next couple of weeks, Meet The Team and get to know us the best way we know how — by sharing our personal Top 10 Favourite Films!
JOHN HARRISON has been a Cinemaniacs presenter since 2014, becoming a board member in 2022. He is a freelance writer whose obsessions include cult cinema, vintage pulp paperbacks, old comic books, true crime, KISS, and the long-gone Las Vegas and Hawaii of the 60s and 70s.
JOHN’S TOP 10 FAVOURITE FILMS
DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
HOMICIDAL (1961)
THE NAKED PREY (1965)
EASY RIDER (1969)
BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (1970)
BLESS THE BEASTS & CHILDREN (1971)
DIRTY HARRY (1971)
WHEN YOU COMIN’ BACK, RED RYDER (1979)
ALIEN (1979)
BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997)

31/07/2026

While CINEMANIACS enjoys a short break before our 2026 programming resumes, we’re re-introducing (or just introducing) ourselves to any longtime and new audience members…
For the next couple of weeks, Meet The Team and get to know us the best way we know how — by sharing our personal Top 10 Favourite Films!
SALLY CHRISTIE has been a Cinemaniacs board member since 2015. She is a film scholar with a particular love for cult, q***r and horror films. During her spare time she likes being quiet during trips and clapping with songs.
SALLY’S TOP 10 FAVOURITE FILMS
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975)
FEMALE TROUBLE (1974)
TRAINSPOTTING (1996)
ROSEMARY’S BABY (1968)
THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974)
THE DOOM GENERATION (1995)
JACKASS NUMBER TWO (2006)
INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (1994)
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953)
LA BELLE ET LA BÊTE (1946)
📸: RACHEL MIA MAIN ACCOUNT

28/07/2026

Looking for plans this weekend?
Our good friends at are putting on another of their annual weekenders this Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August at !
This time they’re taking the scenic route through some of the wildest, weirdest and most dangerous road movies ever made. Highway To Hell is a full-throttle journey through the dark side of the open road that proves that some roads should never be travelled. So sit down, strap in and keep your eyes on the road.
Catch you there… 🏁🏍️💀

25/07/2026

While CINEMANIACS enjoys a short break before our 2026 programming resumes, we’re re-introducing (or just introducing) ourselves to any longtime and new audience members…
For the next couple of weeks, Meet The Team and get to know us the best way we know how — by sharing our personal Top 10 Favourite Films!
HANDE NOYAN has been a Cinemaniacs board member since 2016. She is a cinephile, enjoying films of the action and horror variety. During her spare time she enjoys Turkish TV soap operas, writing and reading.
HANDE’S TOP 10 FAVOURITE FILMS
THE EXORCIST (1973)
SUPERMAN II (1980)
THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON’T THEY? (1969)
MYRA BRECKINRIDGE (1970)
GIRGIRIYE (1981)
THE CHILDREN’S HOUR (1961)
FEMALE TROUBLE (1974)
DESPERATE LIVING (1977)
GOODFELLAS (1990)
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)

17/07/2026

While CINEMANIACS has a brief break before our 2026 programming resumes, we thought we might take this moment to re-introduce (or just introduce) ourselves to any longtime and new audience members…
Over the next few weeks, Meet The Team and get to know us the best way we know how — by sharing our personal Top 10 Favourite Films!
Starting with our beloved and dearly missed founder, LEE GAMBIN (1979-2024), the incredibly accomplished, prolific and revered film critic, historian and author.
Understandably, Lee isn’t here to canonically list his definitive Top 10, but these are ten films he adored that you can celebrate his legacy by rewatching…
TEA AND SYMPATHY (1956)
THE BOYS IN THE BAND (1970)
THE EXORCIST (1973)
HALLOWEEN (1978)
GODSPELL (1973)
THE COMPANY OF WOLVES (1984)
THE HOWLING (1981)
THE DAY OF THE LOCUST (1975)
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)
THE FOX AND THE HOUND (1981)

12/07/2026

47 years ago today the world was gifted the brilliant Lee Gambin. Celebrate him today, watch one of his favourite films, read one of his books, listen to one of his audio commentaries. We will miss you forever Lee ❤️❤️❤️

Address

Carlton, VIC

Opening Hours

6pm - 9:30pm

Website

http://www.patreon.com/cinemaniacsoz, https://www.astortheatre.net.au/special-events/cinemaniacs2024

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