Luna Leederville is celebrating 30-plus years of presenting great indie and arthouse cinema – and you’re invited to the party!
In 1994, I fled from Perth to Sydney to search for work in a larger media landscape than that in Perth. There were far more opportunities for this then budding writer. While settling into Sydneyside, something big was happening on the cinematic front back in Perth.
Luna Cinemas opened in Leederville, and was immediately dubbed the heart of independent cinema in Perth. Things were fairly humble for the venue then, since it opened as a twin-screen cinema on the corner of Oxford and Vincent Streets (where it still stands). The cinema was founded by local businesswoman Ingrid van den Bergh, with business partner Barry Peak. Ingrid (not to be confused with the German actress Ingrid van Bergen, sans the den) was (and still is) so passionate about film that she insisted all films screened at Luna must be of the independent/alternative variety. No space for cheesy blockbusters on these screens.
Not long after, van den Bergh and Peak went on to open Luna SX in Fremantle, Camelot Outdoor Cinemas in Mosman Park, and took over the lease of Windsor Cinema in Nedlands. The pair must have been onto something good from the outset, having expanded so quickly. Indeed the time was ripe as independent cinema boomed mid-’90s.
Thirty years on from its opening and Luna Leederville is going stronger than ever while its sister cinemas are also doing rather well. The Leederville venue has since expanded to house around eight cinemas and also hosts the annual Luna Outdoor Cinema during summer, all managed by the very capable Tony Bective, who has been with Luna* since the beginning and knows arthouse cinema better than just about anyone in the state.
So, how are the good peeps at Luna celebrating 30-plus years? By giving you all the gifts! Luna Cinema Club members can see films at 1994 ticket prices, that being only $11 per screening. Simply book a ticket for any regular film session at any of their cinemas between Thursday, July 10 and Wednesday, August 7and enter your Member ID at checkout. If you’re not a Cinema Club member yet, it’s quick to sign up online.
Luna is also inviting its regular patrons to a free night of film, food and festivities at 6pm on Friday, August 8. Guests will enjoy pre-film pizza and drinks, and there’ll be a few speeches from special guests. The soiree will be followed by the screening of a short film about Luna’s story thus far, which will be followed by a screening of the feature film Shallow Grave, the very first film screened at the cinema!
Shallow Grave was the very first film screened at Luna Leederville in 1994. The film was directed by Danny Boyle, the genius behind Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire. The film will be screened again at Luna’s 30th birthday celebrations.
Also, to mark their 30th year while looking ahead to the next three decades, Luna are burying a time capsule filled with their community’s favourite memories and cinematic moments under pavement on Oxford Street, in partnership with the City of Vincent. The spot will be marked by a plaque; a tribute to the stories that shaped the cinemas and the promise to keep championing bold, independent cinema in Western Australia for generations to come.
Expect to see a lot more WA-made cinema on their screens soon, too, since Perth can now boast its own grand film studios, aptly called Perth Film Studios.
Since I moved back from Sydney to Perth in 2011, I don’t think a fortnight has gone by that I’ve either seen a film at Luna Leederville, or simply driven by and smiled at all the great cinematic memories and launches hosted there.
Here’s to 30 more, Luna, and I hope I’m here for all of them.
For more information visit lunapalace.com.au.
Since publishing this article we have learnt that Tony Bective was actually running Lumiere Cinema at the time Luna opened. Lumiere closed in 1996 and Tony joined Luna sometime after that. You can see where we got confused with the two ‘Lu’s!
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One Response to “Luna Leederville is celebrating 30-plus years of presenting great indie and arthouse cinema – and you’re invited to the party!”
Luna opened with three screens: two in the cinema (the main one and a tiny, closet-size space upstairs) plus an outdoor cinema across the street. The outdoor cinema ran every night with deck chairs on the lawn of the school across Oxford St. (original space no longer there). Tony Bective hasn’t been with Luna since the start; he was running Lumiere Cinema at the time Luna opened. Lumiere closed in 1996 and Tony joined Luna sometime after that.
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