What we’re about
Calling all Auckland film lovers! Are you someone who enjoys discussing films and would rather not watch movies alone? Join us at the Auckland International Film Meetup, where we bring together enthusiasts to enjoy and explore the art of cinema.
We meet almost every week at the Ellen Melville Centre, offering free screenings of diverse films from around the world. Occasionally, we also attend cinema screenings of the latest films, especially during international film festivals. Our discussions after each film are lively and thought-provoking, ensuring everyone leaves with a deeper understanding and new perspectives.
Film is more than just entertainment—it's a medium that sparks conversation, challenges ideas, and fosters a sense of community. Through our gatherings, we aim to build friendships and promote mutual understanding.
If you have a film suggestion or would like to get involved, feel free to reach out. All our events are free, but donations are welcome to help us cover costs.
See you at the movies!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Fallen Angels (Hong Kong, 1995)Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland
We’ve launched our official website, aklfilmclub.com! Explore what we’ve created and stay updated. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be part of our growing community!
This event is co-hosted with Auckland Chinese Language and Culture Exchange Meetup.
Enter the mesmerizing, neon-lit world of Wong Kar-wai’s Fallen Angels, a film that blurs the line between love, loneliness, and fate.
Set in the atmospheric streets of Hong Kong, this visually stunning masterpiece weaves together the lives of eccentric characters, each searching for connection in a city that never sleeps. With its striking cinematography, unconventional storytelling, and haunting soundtrack, Fallen Angels explores themes of identity, alienation, and fleeting romance in a way that only Wong Kar-wai can. It’s a poetic, melancholic journey filled with longing, chance encounters, and raw emotion.
Don’t miss the chance to experience this cult classic on the big screen. After the screening, join us for a discussion to explore the film's themes, stylistic choices, and its enduring influence on cinema.
Location: Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1000
Date and Time: Saturday, November 30th, 2024, at 6:30 PM
Fee: Free entry!Note: We’re hosting the event on the ground floor of the Ellen Melville Centre, and you’ll easily spot us through the glass walls. The main doors are usually locked, so if they’re closed when you arrive, just tap on the glass, and we’ll open the door for you from inside.
Please try to arrive on time, and if you have any trouble getting in, feel free to call me at 0274306328 – Rick.
- Trainspotting (UK, 1996)Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland
We’ve launched our official website, aklfilmclub.com! Explore what we’ve created and stay updated. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be part of our growing community!
Step into the gritty, adrenaline-fueled chaos of Trainspotting, a groundbreaking film that captures the raw energy and dark humor of a generation.
Set against the backdrop of 1990s Edinburgh, Danny Boyle’s cult classic follows a group of friends navigating the highs and devastating lows of addiction, friendship, and rebellion. With its razor-sharp dialogue, electrifying soundtrack, and unforgettable characters, Trainspotting dives headfirst into themes of self-destruction, escapism, and the search for meaning in a turbulent world.
Prepare to be captivated by the film’s unflinching honesty, innovative storytelling, and cultural impact that still resonates today. After the screening, stick around to delve into a lively discussion about the film's iconic scenes, its portrayal of youth culture, and the legacy it left on independent cinema.
Location: Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1000
Date and Time: Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, at 6:30 PM
Fee: Free entry! - The Last Picture Show (USA, 1971)Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland
We’ve launched our official website, aklfilmclub.com! Explore what we’ve created and stay updated. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be part of our growing community!
This is a true classic coming-of-age film. It also sheds light on the United States - what has changed and what remains the same. As we prepare for a new president of the USA, this film may help us to understand the deeper dynamics of the country.
This film struck a nerve in the US and somehow caught the US in a particular moment of time and history (it is set in Texas in 1951, during the Korean War, and was released in 1971 after the Vietnam War and the turbulence of the 1960s.) It showed how much had changed in those 20 years.
The Newsweek reviewer wrote "The Last Picture Show is a masterpiece. It is not merely the best American movie of a rather dreary year; it is the most impressive work by a young American director since Citizen Kane."
Non-American reviewers saw it differently.The Times (UK) reviewer wrote: "I suppose it is very good, actually, but I suspect that it will work with full force only for an American spectator. For it is above all an essay in nostalgia: not only nostalgia for a period, the early 50s, but also nostalgia for a place, a way of life."
The London Evening Standard reviewer commented; "It's to the great credit of Peter Bogdanovich that he has sketched a piece of folk history without folksiness. That he has found a precise point in time at which the confidence of America missed a beat and never again recovered its rhythm."
A must-see film.
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower (USA, 2012)Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland
We’ve launched our official website, aklfilmclub.com! Explore what we’ve created and stay updated. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be part of our growing community!
Last week's film, The Last Picture Show, was a really thought provoking, somewhat demanding classic coming-of-age film.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is much lighter and is just huge summer fun, so it is a great way to end this year.
The Mercury (Australia) reviewer said: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower is funny, nostalgic, heartfelt and sweet, and so vivid it will practically make you feel the warm summer wind in your hair."
Socially awkward Charlie is a wallflower watching from the sidelines, until a pair of charismatic seniors take him under their wing. And of course he discovers girls.
Enough said, pure fun, not bubble headed, and you will get a buzz watching it.
