Overview
When New Farm Cinemas, The Elizabeth Picture Theatre, Red Hill Cinemas, Dendy Coorparoo, Reading Newmarket and Reading Jindalee all opened their doors in Brisbane within a few of years, it was a movie buff's dream. If you love heading to the flicks, you can never have too many places to get your big-screen fix. Those sites, and the River City's other places to catch a film, are about to get company, however — and an Australian-premiere experience.
Whether Angelika Film Centre will host any Australian premieres is yet to be revealed, but opening in Brisbane in mid-2023 marks the first Aussie site — and the first outside of the US — for the brand. If you're not familiar with the name, it started in Soho in New York City in September 1989, and has grown to nine American locations since. Next stop for its projectors: the Sunshine State's film-loving capital.
Reading Cinemas Group is behind the fresh addition to Brisbane's cinema scene, which has been in the works since 2017, but now sports the Angelika ties. It will make its home across two storeys at Woolloongabba's South/City/SQ. Filmgoers can look forward to an eight-screen, 400-seat cinema complex, which will span 2500 square metres.
For those pre-movie drinks — or post-picture chats — Angelika Film Centre will also feature an elevated alfresco bar area, as inspired by the chain's OG Big Apple site, with views over the precinct.
Film-wise, the venue will screen arthouse, independent and international films, plus releases from major Hollywood studios — but more specialised movies rather than big guaranteed blockbusters. Think: newly minted Oscar-winner Everything Everywhere All At Once if the cinema had been open in 2022, for instance.
Snacks-wise, as well as cocktails from the bar, the Angelika will serve up popcorn and boast a lolly station. Fancy something a bit more substantial during your movie? There'll also be a luxe in-theatre service that'll include light food and drink options brought to you as whatever you're watching plays.
"We are very excited to launch our first International Angelika Film Centre location in the heart of the amazing South/City/SQ precinct," said Mark Douglas, Managing Director of the Reading Cinemas Group for Australia and New Zealand.
"The Angelika at South/City/SQ will deliver a diverse slate of films, in a world-class cinema environment. With plush recliner seats in every screen, the very latest in digital projection and sound, along with our fantastic Highline Terrace Bar and Soho Lounge auditoriums, Woolloongabba is set to be the place to see a movie in Brisbane."
South/City/SQ — or South City Square, if you prefer — just keeps expanding, filling over 12,000 square metres of retail, lifestyle, wellness and hospitality space (which sits alongside 5000 square metres of green space, too). Already, the precinct includes Italian bar and eatery Sasso, Chinese Peruvian joint Casa Chow, Palm Springs-inspired gin-pouring garden bar Purple Palm, and European-influenced wine bar and wine shop South City Wine.
And, it's set to welcome two-level brewpub The Wright House , which also features a with a Mad Men-inspired chophouse, in September.
Markus Ravik
Angelika Film Centre will open at South/City/SQ, 148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba, sometime in mid-2023 — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced.