Decked Out
To absolutely no-one’s surprise, Deckchair Cinema has yet again had a bumper year, delivering a year full of film, food, fun and good vibes. This month is your last chance to get your outdoor flick fix before the beloved cinema enters hibernation mode ‘til next year.
By Tierney White
A NIGHT AT the iconic Deckchair Cinema is a night well spent, with everything you need on hand to make your experience a ripper. Manager James Parker says there have been some real highlights.
“I mean, definitely DIFF is a huge highlight for us … every year, we have to elevate what we’re doing for 11 days and really pull a rabbit out of the hat to do something special for our members,” he says.
“We had some great special guests and screenings – including Like My Brother, which has gone on to have a fantastic release. It’s also going to be our closing night screening. Under Streetlights, which is another Territory film, had the whole cast and crew here, with a special performance from The Wanted Gems that really set the night off.”
Another feather in the cap of the Deckie/DIFF crown in 2024 is expanding the festival beyond the Berrimah Line to Katherine, and also Mparntwe/Alice Springs.
“We partnered with Red Hot Arts in Central Australia to have another arm of the festival down there – Mparntwe/Alice Springs International Film Festival – which we have three-year funding for. So, it’ll be around for three years, and hopefully, it gets legs and becomes its own thing.”
Back on Larrakia Country in Darwin, the Deckchair Cinema has gone gangbusters throughout 2024 with well over 50,000 people occupying the deckchairs at the Deckie, record membership numbers, and more than $70,000 raised for local not-for-profit organisations through fundraising screenings.
“Every Sunday, we give the cinema to a lovely local not-for-profit, and they can make some money on ticket sales plus they also sell food and run raffles,” Parker says.
“Our fundraiser ballot opens this month and stays open until the end of January. Everybody’s connected to local NFPs in Darwin, so tell your friends to get their names in the ballot!”
A smorgasbord of delish fare from local food vendors has also been dished out on the daily, regulars including Christine’s Exotic Eats, Three Mums Kitchen, DeeBee Catering, Spice Garden, Yogi’s Way, and Sumatra Café.
“We have had a fantastic roster of caterers at the cinema. Every year, we have an expression-of-interest process – which is also now open and worthwhile. It’s lovely that you can come along any night of the week and try different kinds of food from around the world,” Parker says.
For the film lovers in your life, sneak a membership under the Christmas tree so they can milk the movie screenings under the Milky Way throughout 2025. Head along and soak up the final Deckie days before you’ll have to wait ‘til next year.
COST $19 | $15 CONC/CHILD $10 MEMB | $44 FAM
INFO deckchaircinema.com
Hundreds of Beavers
A modern slapstick masterpiece, that takes the best of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin and crosses it with Loony Tunes to amazing effect. A drunken applejack salesman must go from zero to hero, to become North America's greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers. An instant cult classic.
WHEN TUE 5 & WED 13 NOV | 7PM
He Ain't Heavy
Jade has never been able to travel overseas. She’s too worried about her meth-addicted brother Max, always on call to take him to hospital or provide first aid after he’s self-harmed. In desperation, she finally confines Max in a room inside the rural house left by their grandmother. But when Jade’s mother arrives, she’s appalled that her son is caged like an animal, and things between the family members get tense.
WHEN MON 11 NOV | 7PM
Like My Brother - Closing Night
Four talented Tiwi Island girls dream of AFLW stardom, and with the support of their community, face the social and physical obstacles standing in their way. This is an inspirational story of human endurance, ancient resilience and the power of sport to act as a force for change. Filmed over six years, the documentary explores the different worlds that the girls must traverse from the remote Tiwi Islands to mainland Australia.
WHEN SUN 17 NOV | 7PM
Header, thumbnail & inset: Nicholas Gouldhurst
