Arts Centre cinema ‘dream come true’
Christchurch cinephile Nick Paris will run a new arthouse cinema in the Arts Centre set to open by Easter.
Paris, who has worked on the Christchurch movie scene for 40 years, will co-own and manage the new two-screen Lumiere cinema in the restored Arts Centre. The cinema will feature a 45 to
50-seat screen, a 70 to 75-seat screen and a new bar overlooking the Botanic Gardens. Former screenwriter Max Hoffman will co-own the cinema with Paris.
Paris started work as a cinema projectionist in Christchurch in
1979 at the age of 16. Since then he has worked for cinemas across the city, including about six or seven years at the former Academy arthouse cinema in the Arts Centre during the 1980s, where he branched out into programming films. He also worked behind the counter at DVD rental store Alice in Videoland from 1999 to 2017, has been involved in the New Zealand International
Film Festival for more than 20 years, and helped ensure the restored Isaac Theatre Royal was equipped to show movies.
Paris said the new cinema was a dream come true. ‘‘I have been waiting for a long time for this opportunity,’’ he said. ‘‘The whole cinema industry is under assault, but the secret ingredient is the power of the collective. It is about bringing an audience together.’’ He also wanted to bring new films to Christchurch audiences.
‘‘I feel the number of foreign films seems to be falling off the radar a little bit. I want to concentrate hard on bringing that back.’’
Arts Centre chief executive Philip Aldridge said Paris had grand ambitions for the new cinema. ‘‘Nick is synonymous with film in Christchurch and wants the cinema to be a 365-day film festival, which is a brilliant ambition,’’ he said.
‘‘We’re excited to have him and Max – who are both very experienced and passionate – bring cinema back home to the Arts Centre.’’