Every Tuesday and Friday a group of film lovers gather in the West End of Adelaide at the much beloved Mercury Cinema. Patrons are attracted by the long and rich tradition of Silver Screen.

Silver Screen is a specially curated screening program for older South Australians. It aims to build an accessible and welcoming community for people to gather, socialise and connect over a common love of films.

Silver Screen’s biggest ambassador is The Mercury’s Programmer Ryder Grindle. Known by name by all the Silver Screen patrons, Ryder introduces each film and stays around after the screening for a chat, while patrons linger longer in the lounge foyer and socialise over morning or afternoon tea.

“We screen the best Australian and international cinema available, usually from the past 18 months. The program is selected from well-reviewed films from the international trade papers, film festival circuits and award ceremonies, including the Oscars,” says Ryder.

Consistently the feedback from patrons is that the films on show are of outstanding quality. The variety of programming and the addition of less familiar languages and voices have provided unique opportunities for cultural groups to experience the familiarity of childhood languages while piquing the interest of adventurous audiences.

Regular patron Malgorzata puts it perfectly when she says, “The benefits remain hidden behind the facade of the unique and exuberant cultural program, professionally curated for decades with an intellectually premeditated and artistically fulfilling sophistication.”

Silver Screen goes beyond watching films. Peter and Peter are two mates who met at The Mercury and now enjoy weekly excursions to the cinema together. Forming new friendships is a common theme.

Patron Kay regularly attends with her girlfriends. “For mature movie goers The Mercury enriches our lives with plenty of mental and social stimulation as we age well.”

Another regular, Ted, notes the program has several benefits “We enjoy the films, there’s a great variety – and also the camaraderie of coming along and meeting friends and new people here is really great. It’s a good day out for us.”

Everyone is welcome!

Silver Screen offers affordable cinema tickets with complimentary morning tea through support from Office for Ageing Well and Retire Australia.

Screenings are at 10:30am and 2:00pm every Tuesday and Friday at 13 Morphett Street in the Adelaide CBD.

Tickets available at the door, and on the Mercury CX website.