The Palace Electric Cinema under the Nishi building has had to defer its opening from Boxing Day to the end of January, but RiotACT got invited in today for a look around the still under construction site.
(Let it be noted we were signed in, inducted, and clad in both hi vis and helmets)
The Nishi building’s timber facade is certainly something new in Canberra that’s going to be fascinating photographers for some time to come.
Being an underground cinema the “electric” part of the cinema’s name is a clear nod to the much lamented Electric Shadows of yesteryear. We’re told the sign reverses at night to white lettering on a dark sign.
So to re-iterate, it won’t be open on Boxing day, but we’ll let you know when it opens in January.
Onto details:
- — Australia’s first purpose built digital cinema, no film projection.
— Fully allocated seating. So reservations pay off.
— Fully licenced, you can take alcohol into all 8 screens (if you buy it from the bar).
— Food catering to grown ups, not just choc tops and popcorn.
— Half price parking in the Nishi building for movie ticket buyers
— Big wide seats with serious leg room and and wine bucket
The screens we saw were seriously wide and with the clever use of space it’s certainly something to look forward to.
It’s certainly going to be worth checking out when it opens with a strong program of foreign film festivals.
