We hope you were able to catch the 98th Academy Awards show this past Sunday. The Norwegian film, Sentimental Value, that we showed at cinéSARNIA on January 25 and 26, won for International Feature film.

Here is a list of all the winners:

Best Picture - One Battle After Another
Actor in a Leading Role - Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Actress in a Leading Role - Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Actress in a Supporting Role - Amy Madigan, Weapons
Actor in a Supporting Role - Sean Penn, One Battle After Another  
Best Casting - One Battle After Another
Animated Feature Film - KPop Demon Hunters
Documentary Feature Film - Mr. Nobody Against Putin (I saw this at WIFF)
International Feature Film - Sentimental Value
Directing - Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Cinematography - Sinners
Writing (Original Screenplay) - Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Film Editing - Andy Jurgensen, One Battle After Another
Music (Original Song) - “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters
Music (Original Score) - Sinners -  Ludwig Göransson
Sound - F1
Production Design - Tamara Deverell, Frankenstein
Visual Effects - Avatar: Fire and Ash
Costume Design - Frankenstein
Makeup and Hairstyling - Frankenstein
Best Animated Short - The Girl Who Cried Pearls (made in Montreal)
Best Documentary Short - All the Empty Rooms
Best Live-Action Short – A TIE!  The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva

 We also wanted to highlight the nominees for International Feature Film
The Secret Agent
It Was Just an Accident
Sentimental Value
Sirât
The Voice of Hind Rajab (This film may be coming to Sarnia by Sarnians4Palestine)

Seek these out on your own.

And also we’d like to remind you of the 9 nominees from “Sentimental Value” received, that we showed in January:

Best Picture
Actress in a Leading Role – Renate Reinsve
Actress in a Supporting Role – Elle Fanning
Actress in a Supporting Role – Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas
Actor in a Supporting Role – Stellan Skarsgård
International Feature Film (WINNER)
Directing - Joachim Trier
Writing (Original Screenplay) - Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt
Film Editing - Olivier Bugge Coutté

Congratulations to all these films and artists.

cinéSARNIA is celebrating their 30th Anniversary April 10 and 11.

Tickets for the reception are only available to purchase at our desk at our March 22/23 film, “Once Upon My Mother”.

The Book Keeper will also sell reception tickets for us at their Northgate Plaza store, up until March 31, if you can’t get it at our showings. Tickets for the reception are $30. Bring cash only. This will include the Celebration get-together at Tang’s China House, appetizers, and a movie trivia contest. A cash bar will be available. Our winning cocktail/mocktail will be featured.

We also have two great films:
“Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” - on the Friday evening the night before, and
“Nuremberg” - after the reception on the Saturday evening.

Here is an outline of the events:

Tickets for these films are available at a special price of $10 each in advance online by credit card, or in cash only at the door that night. One a zany comedy and the other an important moment in history.

We are featuring a smart, funny, time-travelling satire, “Nirvanna: The Band - The Show - The Movie”. (By the way, it’s not THAT Seattle band.)

Follow these wannabe musicians who just want to headline at their favourite club. How far “back to the future” will they go? It’s a love letter to Toronto, that blends nostalgia, self-mockery, and absurdity into an unexpectedly reflective portrait of friendship and unrealized dreams. 96% audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

You are lucky that this film is coming to Sarnia from us as it’s not available at the local Cineplex. It’s not the kind of film we usually bring, but we know many people will enjoy it. It’s hilarious, heartfelt, and accessible — although not for everyone, it’s perfect for anyone who loves a good adventure story and a good laugh. Just come along for the rollercoaster ride. Have fun with it and you will be rewarded with joy. You’re going to come out wondering “How did they get away with all that?”.

At 6:30 pm, we are presenting “Nuremberg”, starring Russell Crowe and Rami Malek. It’s a gripping moral showdown—where justice itself is put on trial. As the Nuremberg trials are set to begin, a U.S. Army psychiatrist gets locked in a dramatic psychological duel with accused Nazi war criminal Hermann Göring.

Audiences have given it 95% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Here is one review, for example:

Are you still developing that perfect cocktail concoction?

Recipes for our 30th Anniversary Signature Cocktail Contest will be accepted up to Monday, March 23, at the showing of “Once Upon My Mother”, when our panel will review the entries and select the winning creation. Cheers to 30 years!

To honour all of our films over the past 30 years, we have compiled a list of each film that we have ever presented, in an easy to use reference app called “Letterboxd”. The poster for each film is shown and you can click each one for more details. There are many options for listing the films by year and decade.

Go to our website, under Films and click ”cinéSARNIA Film Archives”. Here you will find a treasure trove of cinema memories. Please check it out to get prepared for our 30th Anniversary Gala. (hint 😉)

Here are two media promotions done for cinéSARNIA:

📰Sarnia Observer - “cineSarnia marking 30th anniversary” - March 6

📺YourTV Cogeco “Sarnia Lambton Today” - “Winter 2026 Film Lineup” excerpt
- January 12

Click the links below to view these:

Many of our subscribers are enjoying the opportunity to chat about the films they’ve seen at cinéSARNIA while savouring a coffee and pastry at Coffee Culture. With your pass or ticket, you will also receive a 15% discount (Front/Lochiel Street location ONLY), two hours before and after each film.