About

Widescreen Weekend is a unique celebration of the past, present and future of large-screen formats and cinema technologies.

Enjoy a long weekend of big, bold and wide cinema experiences as we showcase the museum’s fantastic projection facilities. Glorious 70mm screenings, new Cinerama restorations and great guests will remind you why going to the movies is so magical.

Celebrate VistaVision, the result of Paramount’s efforts was a sample of fantastic films from wonderful filmmakers in high-definition and exceptional colour including the legendary Alfred Hitchcock, who used the process on several of his films. This September, we will be celebrating both the cinematic process as well as how Hitchcock utilised the format to magnificent effect.

Experience Widescreen All'Italiana, a rare chance to savour masterful examples of Italian widescreen film from across the decades, including a very special screening of Federico Fellini’s classic La Dolce Vita (1960) to mark the centenary of its star, the great Marcello Mastroianni.

Follow the History of Romance, this strand will explore both classic and contemporary examples of romance and celebrate the timeless appeal of romantic stories set in the past, where every glance, touch, and word carry the weight of history and the promise of eternal love.

Plus special screenings and events.

Widescreen Weekend is a festival which focuses on screening a blend of classic and contemporary film, all of which showcase the widescreen aspect ratio using Pictureville Cinema’s world-class projection facilities and highly skilled projectionists. The festival honours the legacy of widescreen films developed during the ratio race of the 1950s and 1960s which strived to offer cinemagoers a new and immersive way to watch film.

At Pictureville Cinema, you can experience Cinerama, the invention that sparked the ‘Widescreen War’ in 1952. This pioneering technology utilizes three synchronized projectors to project images onto a deeply curved and wide screen, accompanied by 7-track surround sound. Pictureville is currently the only remaining operating Cinerama venue in the world.