A group of local filmmakers have taken on management of the iconic Pig House Cinema, and are relaunching the much-loved venue this Friday with an exclusive director Q&A with Jocelyn Moorhouse and PJ Hogan and screenings of The Dressmaker and Muriel’s Wedding.
Co-owner Blake Northfield says they are ‘committed to showcasing the best of local talent whether it be film, music, comedy… basically we want to do anything and everything to rejuvenate this awesome space.’
Fellow co-owner Peter Flannery told The Echo, ‘We are hoping to keep the cinema somewhere where locals and tourist alike can enjoy films. We work as a part of Bronte Pictures, a film-production company currently based in Bangalow.
‘We all went to school in Byron, Lennox and Lismore and created a film-production company with the goal to create films here in the northern rivers.
‘We have completed two local features and are now looking to shoot a potential TV series.
‘We saw an opportunity to purchase the Pig House and jumped at the chance, knowing with the eventual opening of the larger cinemas in the mall, this local icon might be lost forever.
‘We have very fond memories of this venue growing up here as children and it’s surreal to now be at the helm of one of Byron Bay’s most iconic venues.
‘Over the years people have stopped going to the cinemas as they have become quite expensive, especially for families.
‘We are changing that. We want everybody to be able to afford to go to the cinema.’
As part of the launch on Friday December 14, there is the exclusive director Q&A with Jocelyn Moorhouse and PJ Hogan and a screening of The Dressmaker and Muriel’s Wedding.
The Pig House Cinema is located at 1 Skinners Shoot Road, Byron.
