See cinema the way it ought to be seen: at cult-and-classic film festival ‘Exhumed’

At the movies these days just about everything we see is either rehashed or influenced to some degree by cinema of the past, so it’s nice to know we have the originals to turn to when we really want to watch some quality movies.

We welcome with open arms, then, the boundary-pushing Strange Festival and its inaugural season, Exhumed: a program of cult and classic films played on actual 35mm and 16mm tape, and ditching the digital medium for the time being.

Hosted at Perth’s original 1950s arthouse cinema, the Liberty Theatre, from June 20 to July 2, this pop-up revival picture house will see its film projectors operating for the first time since 1997.

The Liberty on Barrack Street will be firing up for a 13-day ticketed film festival, screening nightly with matinees on Wednesdays. Many of the film prints are rare – some marking the final screening of the film to make history at Exhumed.

‘A Clockwork Orange’ provides a Molotov cocktail of political incorrectness that sits far from today’s woke sensibilities.

Featuring an eclectic mix of genres, this nostalgic trip down memory lane includes screenings of A Clockwork Orange, Pink Flamingos, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Gremlins, The Goonies, Metropolis (the 2001 animation film) and a whole lot more.

Drag diva Divine shoots to kill in the John Waters cult classic, Pink Flamingos.

On the Australian cinema front, highlights include A Night of Ozploitation on Saturday 24 June, featuring special guests such as award-winning filmmaker Mark Hartley who’ll chat about the Oz film documentary Not Quite Hollywood.

Other Australian highlights include Bad Boy Bubby, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, and Mad Max 2.

‘The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith’ follows the story of an exploited Aboriginal Australian who commits murder then goes into hiding.

The Exhumed film program will sit alongside activations and installations in the adjacent basement, building and laneways surrounding the Liberty Theatre.

So celebrate the art of vintage cinema at Exhumed and see cinema the way it ought to be seen.

Antonino Tati

The ‘Exhumed’ pop-up film festival will run from June 20 to July 2, 2023.

Liberty Theatre is located at 81 Barrack Street, Perth.

Stay updated @exhumedcinema on socials and for program and tickets visit strangefestival.com.au.