Wairarapa Film Festival and Lily Branscombe events

Sunset Cinema is proud to support these film events by Jane Ross:

The 2025 Autumn programme of the Wairarapa Film Festival

Lily Branscombe: A Star of the Silent Screen Returns

Discover New Zealand's Silent Film Heritage

Embark on a cinematic journey to the early 20th century as we present three rare silent films featuring Lily Branscombe, one of New Zealand's pioneering actresses in early American cinema. Born Lillian Mabel Rodman in Carterton, New Zealand, Branscombe transitioned from Australasian theatre to the burgeoning American silent film industry. Between 1911 and 1913, she featured in over 50 short films with the Essanay Film Company, sharing the screen with notable actors such as Francis X. Bushman.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Dr. Ian St George, who collaborated with the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., three of Branscombe's films have been digitized and are now available for screening. While one of the films shows signs of nitrate deterioration, this presentation offers a rare glimpse into the early days of cinema. It honors the legacy of one of New Zealand's pioneering actresses.​

New Location in the Events Centre

We are still in the Carterton Events Centre, but now screenings are in the Rangatahi Hub, which is accessed around the back via the lane between Carters and the Town Clock.

There will still be music and refreshments from 7 pm.

We’ll have tiered seating and lush curtains as a backdrop so it will feel like you are at the cinema. And there will always be the plumptious cushions for your derrieres. 

New Full Membership Benefits

We have a new full membership policy: Friends with Benefits!

You can bring a friend once this year for free if you have Full Membership. Your membership card will be stamped for admin purposes.

This means you can bring along someone who is potentially keen to be your movie buddy and is apprehensive about forking out for a full or sampler ticket, or perhaps an out-of-town weekend guest.

Our first screening is Feb 12th so you might want to bring your Valentine's date! We will be telling you more about other membership benefits in next month's newsletter. 

New Sunset President

We have a new President- our election process was soooo much simpler than America!

Pipi Reisch, Programme Producer for the Kokomai Creative Festival, is stepping in to be President to make Sunset Cinema Great Again!

We thank Andrea for all her amazing work over the last 3 and a half years. She is happily resigning to become a movie-goer again, so you can still see her! We have a few new ticket folks that will be helping out as needed too. You will be introduced to them in our next newsletter.