Yes, you read the time right.  The cinema is kicking off with a late night screening of the biggest movie event of the year:  Star Wars: The Force Awakens. 

This first public screening will be preceded by a red carpet, gala opening on Wednesday 16 and Majestic Cinemas CEO, Kieren Dell, guarantees there is plenty of movie excitement planned for the weeks ahead. 

“The line up is fantastic,” he said.

“We’ll have blockbusters like Star Wars, combined with less mainstream films like Freeheld plus a couple for the kids.”

A group of local patrons purchased the cinema in January 2015 with plans to revitalize and reopen the much-loved movie house, which had closed its doors two years prior.

The project has received astonishing support from the local community with a crowd funding campaign raising over $145,000, enough to pay for both the cinema seats and screens.

“This place really belongs to the people,” chair of the Sawtell Cinema patrons group,   said Jill Nash,

“We are just so excited to be opening the doors for everyone to see and experience the cinema.”

When those doors open expect to find two cinemas instead of one, a larger cinema with 139 seats and a smaller one with 49 seats.  Those who remember traipsing through the rain for a pit stop will be thrilled by the new art deco, inside toilets.

Cinema-goers can now enjoy a chardonnay or a beer while engrossed in a movie, which is good news for adults. And Majestic’s hand made choc tops will be welcomed by all ages.

Despite the changes, much of Sawtell Cinema’s heritage has been retained, with new elements staying true to the art deco heritage, and historic items incorporated into the design.

One unexpectedly large part of the new cinema décor will be an honour board recognising the many supporters who have made it possible for the doors to reopen.  “We were surprised to discover that the honour board is over 2m wide x 1m high and weighs 25kgs,” said Jill Nash. 

“The unexpected size of that board reflects the love this community has for our cinema.”

Regional cinema specialists Majestic Cinemas take the reigns at Sawtell Cinema from here on in, and, they understand the special place it has in the community’s heart.

Movies will be chosen to suit a Sawtell Cinema crowd, with a mix of mainstream and arthouse to please a discerning audience.

To find out more about what’s on go to Majestic’s website:  www.majesticcinemas.com.au.