MURWILLUMBAH Regent Cinema is moving into the brave new world of digital projection.

The Flannery family, who recently bought the cinema, have mixed emotions at the end of the 35mm film era.

The 35mm film has been used since the building in 1947 but has been forced into retirement by film production companies who will stop distributing in film and move almost exclusively to digital from 2013.

Sandra Flannery said the cinema had little say in the matter.

"There's really no choice," she said.

"The distributors won't be sending film from 2013.

"It is sad because they're extraordinary machines and soon, the projectionist job simply won't exist.

"That whole era, since the end of the second world war, is disappearing.

"But if Murwillumbah wants a theatre this is the only way to show the films."

Ms Flannery said she hoped the community wouldn't be too upset at the loss of nostalgia, and would instead embrace the better film quality.

"I hope that the people who have known the cinema through the years will come and look at how it is now," she said.

"Murwillumbah is growing, I hope people will feel comfortable coming to their local cinema and enjoy the better sound and projection.

"In its heyday this cinema, and another downstairs would hold 1000 people, people would even come twice a week.

"We're hoping the community will support us, we support local filmmakers and fundraise for community groups."

Check out the Murwillumbah Regent Cinema this school holidays.

The new digital projection begins on Boxing Day, coinciding with the release a variety of new movies for kids.