17 Dec 2011
Revelation's beginnings lie in the non-cinema "microcinema" environment. For almost all its life we've had screenings in bars and clubs around Perth and Fremantle exhibiting all manner of new and archival material shown digitaly and on beautiful 16mm film. Often integrating live music, talks and other slices of unusual activity they've always been popular and actively demonstrate the strength of DIY approaches.
Fans that have been us since the beginning and earlier may remember Bombora Theatre and Cinema Tabu - two regular screening outlets at Mojo's bar and the Greenwich Club where Rev founder Richard Sowada would stand at the back of the venue with his trusty Bell and Howell 16mm projector and in a haze of cigarette smoke, blaze away all night with rare works from private collections and independent filmmakers from around the world. They were wonderfully atmospheric and strange nights.
We can't help but notice the growing microcinema movement in Australia and it's pleasing to see Perth as a major stronghold of this new wave of film exhibition. Here's just a few:
OneUpMicrocinema
Cinema In A Cave
Centaur of Moving Images
Various locations
If you've got something going on in the microcinema world anywhere in Australia, let us know - we'd love to help you get the word out!