General News
16 October, 2025
Students bring Shrek to big screen
Hopetoun’s iconic outdoor movie tradition is back, as the Mallee Sunset Cinema gears up for its next showing on Friday, October 31, featuring the family-favourite Shrek.
Organised by six Year 10 students from Hopetoun P-12 College, the community event will be held at the corner of Austin and Evelyn streets, near the town’s tennis courts and bowls club.
One of the event organisers and Year 10 student, Harry Allan, said the idea for the Mallee Sunset Cinema originally began in 2021.
“It was first formed by the Year 12 students that year as part of their Community Learning Project when they were at leadership school near Warrnambool,” he said.
“They set up the base foundations, and when they finished school, they passed it on to us Year 10s.”
Harry explained that this will be the group’s second movie night, following the success of their Finding Dory screening in February.
“We had roughly 40 to 50 people last time, mostly school students and families,” he said.
“This time we’re hoping for more - hopefully over 50.”
The event is partly funded by community grants, with profits reinvested to keep the student-run cinema sustainable.
“We had some grants that bought all the main equipment, and now we fund it with small donations and profits from each movie night,” he said.
“All our profit just goes back into the cinema.”
Harry said that while organising the event can be a little stressful, it’s always rewarding to see the community come together.
“After the movie’s done and seeing how much people enjoy it, it’s a really good feeling,” he said. “
We just want to produce something fun for locals to enjoy.”
The screening will feature beanbag hire for $5, along with fairy floss, popcorn, soft drinks, and water for sale.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children (14 and under), or $30 for families.
Doors open at 7.45pm, with the movie starting at 8.15pm.
Guests are encouraged to bring a rug or low chair, and note that no alcohol or glass is allowed.