Palmerston North Film Society

Palmerston North Film Society A chance to see films from around the world and New Zealand. Every Wednesday at Event Cinemas. Membership at the door.

The Palmerston North Film Society provides an alternative to mainstream films screening movies from around the world, both old and new.

27/05/2026

Don’t Look Now

Directed by Nicholas Roeg
UK | 1973 | 110m | M
Screening Date: 03 June 2026

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI9bYR0SoMs

From Wikipedia
Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland portray Laura and John Baxter, a married couple who travel to Venice following the accidental death of their daughter, after John accepts a commission to restore a church. They encounter two sisters, one of whom claims to be clairvoyant and informs them that their daughter is trying to contact them and warn them of danger.

Did You Know?
Renato Scarpa, who plays Inspector Longhi, didn't speak any English: he just read the lines he'd been given without knowing what they meant. This added to the sinister quality of his character.

Star Ratings for Age Of Panic
0.5 1
2 5
2.5 1
3 9
3.5 4
4 9
5 11

Total 40/53

Film Society Article
The Evening Standard has published an introductory article about our society and the films we will be offering this year. Link to the article is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360958279/curtain-lifts-film-clubs-76th-season

Review of Age Of Panic
The Evening Standard is carrying reviews of our screenings, written by members of the society. The link to the most recent review is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/361010711/social-cinema-age-panic-unconventional-fusion-styles-and-genres

One screening on Wednesday at 6pm at Event Cinema 2, members only.

Palmerston North Film Society Membership is available at the door before each screening.

If you want to contact us our email is [email protected]

Our programme for the year and other details can be found at https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/palmerston-north.html

13/05/2026

Godland

Directed by Hlynur Pálmason
Denmark/Iceland/France/Sweden | 2022 | 143m | M
Screening Date: 20 May 2026

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hot2tpLLOc

From IMDb:
In the late 19th century, a young Danish priest travels to a remote part of Iceland to build a church and photograph its people. But the deeper he goes into the unforgiving landscape, the more he strays from his purpose, his mission and morality.

Did You Know?
The dog who plays Ratnar's hound was awarded a Grand Jury "Canine Cast" Palm Dog at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Star Ratings for True Stories
0 1
0.5 0
1 7
2 2
2.5 2
3 8
3.5 4
4 8
4.5 2
5 15

Total 49/53

Additional AGM Document
Here is a link to the Treasurer’s Report that was not included in the AGM mailout
PNFS 2026 Treasurer’s Report

Film Society Article
The Evening Standard has published an introductory article about our society and the films we will be offering this year. Link to the article is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360958279/curtain-lifts-film-clubs-76th-season

Review of True Stories
The Evening Standard is carrying reviews of our screenings, written by members of the society. The link to the most recent review is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/361002355/social-cinema-true-stories-meander-through-post-modern-america

One screening on Wednesday at 6pm at Event Cinema 2, members only.

Palmerston North Film Society Membership is available at the door before each screening.

If you want to contact us our email is [email protected]

Our programme for the year and other details can be found at https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/palmerston-north.html

29/04/2026

Due to circumstances beyond our control we have had to postpone our AGM. It will now happen on on the 13th of May, before the screening of True Stories.

Phantom Of The Paradise

Directed by Brian De Palma
USA | 1974 | 91m | M
Screening Date: 06 May 2026

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9MIJb0SUAM

From IMDb:
Evil record tycoon Swan sold his soul to the devil for eternal youth and success 20 years ago. Swan's current scheme is to steal a rock cantata from composer Winslow Leach to celebrate the opening of his rock palace, The Paradise. While trying to stop Swan, Leach was framed and convicted for drug dealing and becomes the victim of a freak accident that leaves him horribly disfigured. He takes refuge in the cavernous Paradise, hiding his mangled face beneath an eerie mask and planning gruesome vengeance upon Swan - and everyone else who has harmed him. However, Leach also signs a contract with Swan to complete his rock opera based on the legend of Faust for an aspiring singer - Phoenix.

Did You Know?
The "electronic room" in which Winslow Leach composes his cantata is an actual recording studio, The Record Plant. The walls covered with k***s are a huge, custom-built Moog electronic synthesizer. Dubbed TONTO, this instrument was featured on several albums by the pioneering electronica duo T.O.N.T.O.'s Expanding Head Band, and it still exists. TONTO is now on permanent exhibit at the National Music Center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is still available for use to any artist.

Star Ratings for Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person

1 1
2 2
3 4
3.5 2
4 9
4.5 1
5 24

Total 43/48

Film Society Article
The Evening Standard has published an introductory article about our society and the films we will be offering this year. Link to the article is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360958279/curtain-lifts-film-clubs-76th-season

Review of Lake Mungo
The Evening Standard is carrying reviews of our screenings, written by members of the society. The link to the most recent review is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/360993641/social-cinema-these-fangs-feel-closer-home

One screening on Wednesday at 6pm at Event Cinema 2, members only.

Palmerston North Film Society Membership is available at the door before each screening.

If you want to contact us our email is [email protected]

Our programme for the year and other details can be found at https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/palmerston-north.html

22/04/2026

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person

Directed by Ariane Louis-Seize
Canada | 2023 | 90m | M
Screening Date: 29 April 2026

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcff4qtAzf4

Sasha is a young vampire with a serious problem, she's too sensitive to kill. When her exasperated ‘parents’ cut off her blood supply, Sasha's unlife is in jeopardy. Luckily, she meets Paul, a lonely teenager with suicidal tendencies who is willing to give his life to save hers. But their friendly agreement soon becomes a nocturnal quest to fulfill Paul's last wishes before day breaks.

Did You Know?
Rico the Clown is a real clown that they hired, but they didn't tell him it was a vampire movie until after the fact.

Star Ratings for Lake Mungo

0.5 1
1 5
2 9
2.5 1
3 11
3.5 5
4 10
4.5 --
5 10

Total 52

Film Society Article
The Evening Standard has published an introductory article about our society and the films we will be offering this year. Link to the article is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360958279/curtain-lifts-film-clubs-76th-season

Review of The Cranes Are Flying
The Evening Standard is carrying reviews of our screenings, written by members of the society. The link to the most recent review is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/360979865/social-cinema-film-cult-following-navigates-supernatural-grief

One screening on Wednesday at 6pm at Event Cinema 2, members only.

Palmerston North Film Society Membership is available at the door before each screening.

If you want to contact us our email is [email protected]

Our programme for the year and other details can be found at https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/palmerston-north.html

15/04/2026

Lake Mungo

Directed by Joel Anderson
Australia | 2008 | 87m | M
Screening Date: 22 April 2026

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-KnomEI6NE

From IMDb:
Sixteen-year-old Alice Palmer drowns while swimming in the local dam. When her body is recovered and a verdict of accidental death returned, her grieving family buries her. The family then experiences a series of strange and inexplicable events centered in and around their home. Profoundly unsettled, the Palmers seek the help of psychic and parapsychologist, Ray Kemeny. Ray discovers that Alice led a secret, double life. A series of clues lead the family to Lake Mungo where Alice's secret past emerges.

Did You Know?
Although the film is fictional, Lake Mungo is a real place in New South Wales, Australia, and scenes in the film were shot there. Lake Mungo is a dry lake, and an important archaeological site. In 1968, the remains of a young Aboriginal woman were uncovered and she was nicknamed the "Mungo Lady". She was found to be ritually buried, and her bones were approximately 40,000 years old at the time of discovery. Mungo Lady is one of the earliest anatomically modern human remains discovered anywhere in the world. Five years later, another skeleton of around 40,000 years old was found at Lake Mungo, and named "Mungo Man".

Star Ratings for The Cranes Are Flying

1 0
2 1
3 1
3.5 1
4 20
4.5 2
5 23

Total: 48/53

Film Society Article
The Evening Standard has published an introductory article about our society and the films we will be offering this year. Link to the article is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360958279/curtain-lifts-film-clubs-76th-season

Review of The Cranes Are Flying
The Evening Standard is carrying reviews of our screenings, written by members of the society. The link to the most recent review is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/360979865/social-cinema-film-cult-following-navigates-supernatural-grief

One screening on Wednesday at 6pm at Event Cinema 2, members only.

Palmerston North Film Society Membership is available at the door before each screening.

If you want to contact us our email is [email protected]

Our programme for the year and other details can be found at https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/palmerston-north.html

25/03/2026

Due to the school holidays there will be no screenings on the 8th and 15th of April. We return on the 22nd with Lake Mungo.

The Cranes Are Flying

Directed by Mikail Kalatozov
USSR | 1957 | 95m | PG
Screening Date: 02 April 2026

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALIJsrGNNoU

From IMDb:
As the clouds of war spread over Russia during Germany's invasion in 1941, the fervent young lovers - sensitive Veronika and stalwart Boris - are parted after the patriotic lad volunteers for the war effort. During the following years, Veronika serves her country as a wartime nurse and loses communication with Boris. After a devastating air raid destroys her house and Boris' father takes her in to live with the family, things take a turn for the worse. Before long, the worried fiancée will find herself dealing not only with the dark thoughts of Boris' potential loss but also with the burden of an unwelcome decision. Once, the star-crossed lovers swore eternal devotion under a flock of flying cranes but still, war is always cruel and eternally disastrous.

Did You Know?
One of the most notable features of the film is cinematographer Sergey Urusevskiy's then ground-breaking use of hand-held cameras. He had learned how to film like this when he was a military cameraman during the war.

Star Ratings for Ratcatcher (25/03/2026)
1 1
2 1
3 9
3.5 7
4 13
4.5 2
5 22

Total 55

Film Society Article
The Evening Standard has published an introductory article about our society and the films we will be offering this year. Link to the article is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360958279/curtain-lifts-film-clubs-76th-season

Review of Run Lola Run
The Evening Standard is carrying reviews of our screenings, written by members of the society. The link to the most recent review is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/360971822/social-cinema-run-lola-run-urgent-scrambling-delight

One screening on Wednesday at 6pm at Event Cinema 2, members only.

Palmerston North Film Society Membership is available at the door before each screening.

If you want to contact us our email is [email protected]

Our programme for the year and other details can be found at https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/palmerston-north.html

04/03/2026

It was so good to have the Film Society back in business again. We would like to thank everyone for rejoining and it was great to see you all again. We look forward to another great year of movies.

City On Fire

Directed by Ringo Lam
Hong Kong | 1987 | 101m | R18
Screening Date: 11 March 2026

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF1wFE5GfFY

From IMDb:
Ko Chow is about to resign from the police force when he is asked to take on one more case. He is to go undercover in a gang that is robbing jewellery stores. He accepts the task and successfully infiltrates the gang. It is a very dangerous mission, not just because the gang might discover his true identity but because many of the police suspect he may well be a criminal.

Did You Know?
Karl Mak, the producer, gave four million HK dollars to Lam towards the film's budget, giving Lam absolute freedom to make any genre of film he wanted.

Star Ratings for Evil Does Not Exist (04 March 2026)
0.5 1
1 1
2 2
2.5 3
3 8
3.5 4
4 14
4.5 2
5 18

Film Society Article
The Evening Standard has published an introductory article about our society and the films we will be offering this year. Link to the article is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360958279/curtain-lifts-film-clubs-76th-season

One screening on Wednesday at 6pm at Event Cinema 2, members only.

Palmerston North Film Society Membership is available at the door before each screening.

If you want to contact us our email is [email protected]

Our programme for the year and other details can be found at https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/palmerston-north.html

26/11/2025

This screening is our final screening for 2025 and is open to family, friends and the general public.

There are still a few spaces if you would like to join us for our end of year dinner at Namaste Bharat on Wed 10 December at 6:00 pm. Email [email protected] to RSVP. A link to the menu is here https://namastebharat.co.nz/dinner-menu.

We hope that our 75th Birthday tea towels will be available before we close for 2025. They will make a great Christmas gift to yourself or for family and friends. $15 each.

All The Beauty And The Bloodshed

Directed by Laura Poitras
USA | 2022 | 122m | M
Screening Date: 03 December 2025

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD5pYQiT1D4

From IMDb:
This documentary follows the life of photographic artist Nan Goldin and the downfall of the Sackler family, the pharmaceutical dynasty responsible for the opioid epidemic's unfathomable death toll.

Did You Know?
The title of the film is a reference to Nan Goldin's older sister, Barbara Holly Goldin. It is a direct quote from a mental health evaluation of Barbara during her time at an institution. She died by su***de in 1965, at the age of 18. This film and Nan Goldin's 1986 work "The Ballad of Sexual Dependency" are dedicated to her.

Star Ratings for All That Jazz (26 November 2025)
5 stars = 25
4.5 stars = 2
4 stars = 11
3.5 stars = 3
3 stars = 12
2.5 stars = 2
2 stars = 4
TOTAL VOTES = 59
TOTAL ATTENDANCE = 62

Film Society Article
The Evening Standard published an introductory article about our society and the films we will be offering this year. Link to the article is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360589864/worldly-slate-palmerston-north-film-societys-75th

Review of Brewster McCloud
The Evening Standard is carrying reviews of our screenings, written by members of the society. The link to the most recent review is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360896926/social-cinema-brewster-mccloud-oddball-inversion-american-dream

One screening on Wednesday at 6pm at Event Cinema 2, members only.

Palmerston North Film Society Membership is available at the door before each screening.

If you want to contact us our email is [email protected]

Our programme for the year and other details can be found at https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/palmerston-north.html

19/11/2025

This screening would normally be the end of our programme for 2025. However we were unable to screen All The Beauty And The Bloodshed earlier in the year so we have arranged for it to screen on the 3rd of December, so two more films to go!

All That Jazz

Directed by Bob Fosse
USA | 1979 | 123m | M
Screening Date: 26 November 2025

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C74Pae3PpMo

From IMDb:
Joe Gideon is a Broadway director, choreographer and filmmaker in the process of casting the chorus and staging the dance numbers for his latest Broadway show. It stars his ex-wife Audrey Paris in what is largely a vanity project and is also editing a film he directed on the life of stand-up comic Davis Newman. Joe's professional and personal lives are intertwined, he a chronic philanderer, having slept with and had relationships with a series of dancers in his shows. Joe also lives a hard and fast life, chain-smoking, drinking heavily, listening to hard-driving classical music and popping uppers to keep going. In addition to pressures from investors and meeting film deadlines above and beyond his own self-induced hard life, he is teetering on the brink physically and emotionally.

Did You Know?
Ann Reinking, who played a role based on herself, had to audition several times before she was cast.

Star Ratings for Brewster McCloud (19 November 2025)
5 stars = 15
4.5 stars = 1
4 stars = 13
3.5 stars = 4
3 stars = 17
2.5 stars = 4
2 stars = 3
1 star = 1
0.5 stars = 2
TOTAL VOTES = 60
TOTAL ATTENDANCE = 62

Film Society Article
The Evening Standard published an introductory article about our society and the films we will be offering this year. Link to the article is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360589864/worldly-slate-palmerston-north-film-societys-75th

Review of Totem
The Evening Standard is carrying reviews of our screenings, written by members of the society. The link to the most recent review is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/360886789/social-cinema-beauty-and-sadness-seen-through-childs-eyes

One screening on Wednesday at 6pm at Event Cinema 2, members only.

Palmerston North Film Society Membership is available at the door before each screening.

If you want to contact us our email is [email protected]

Our programme for the year and other details can be found at https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/palmerston-north.html

12/11/2025

Following our well-attended Vietnamese meal at Pho Nem we have made a booking on the 10th of December for an end of year get-together. The venue will be Namaste Bharat on the square, time 6.00pm.
Please RSVP (to our email) by the 19th November if you intend to come as we need to give the venue an idea of numbers to cater for.

Brewster McCloud

Directed by Robert Altman
USA | 1970 | 105m | R16
Screening Date: 19 November 2025

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0kp4QfNlF8

From IMDb:
Brewster is an owlish, intellectual boy who lives in a fallout shelter of the Houston Astrodome. He has a dream: to take flight within the confines of the stadium. Brewster tells those he trusts of his dream, but displays a unique way of treating others who do not fit within his plans. When the fateful day arrives, and he enters the dome with his fanciful construction of bird wings, Brewster is surrounded by the police. Will he be caught before he attempts to fly?

Did You Know?
Robert Altman hated the script so much, he tossed it out and actors were coached on lines as they shot scenes.

Star Ratings for Totem (12 November 2025)
5 stars = 19
4.5 stars = 1
4 stars = 10
3.5 stars = 4
3 stars = 5
2.5 stars = 4
2 stars = 2
1 star = 1
TOTAL VOTES = 46
TOTAL ATTENDANCE = 49

Film Society Article
The Evening Standard published an introductory article about our society and the films we will be offering this year. Link to the article is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360589864/worldly-slate-palmerston-north-film-societys-75th

Review of Pulse
The Evening Standard is carrying reviews of our screenings, written by members of the society. The link to the most recent review is below.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/360879725/social-cinema-ghosts-machine-go-deep

One screening on Wednesday at 6pm at Event Cinema 2, members only.

Palmerston North Film Society Membership is available at the door before each screening.

If you want to contact us our email is [email protected]

Our programme for the year and other details can be found at https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/palmerston-north.html

Address

Event Cinemas
Palmerston North
4410

Telephone

+6463541493

Website

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