The Newcastle Film Society acknowledges the Awabakal and Worimi people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live, and pay our deepest respects to Elders past, present and future.

Newcastle
Film Society

📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot
📽️ NFS will return in 2024 📆
🗳️ Make a suggestion
🍿 UPCOMING FILM: Some Like it Hot

About Us

The Newcastle Film Society (NFS) has been operating for over 40 years and is one of the longest running Film Societies in Australia.

The Film Society screens 35 films a season consisting of art house, indie films, documentaries and various foreign films.

Films are screened on a Sunday night at Event Cinemas located at Westfield Kotara in the Vmax Theatre at 7 pm. The Newcastle Film Society has had a long-standing association and support from Event Cinemas for over 35 years.

The Committee

Paul Harrison
Paul Harrison
President
Jane Dougherty
Jane Dougherty
Secretary
Ian West
Ian West
Treasurer
Krystyan Nowak
Krystyan Nowak
Communications
Lisa Havas
Lisa Havas
Film Procurement
Di Peers
Di Peers
Membership
Kim Blunt
Kim Blunt
Membership

Life Members

The following people have been granted 'Life Membership’ for their contribution to the Film Society and making it a success:

Frank Murri
Margaret Stewart
Dennis Biggins

FAQs

Membership

Select the Members’ Tab and complete the Newcastle Film Society membership request form. You will be put on a waiting list for the following season, or if there is availability, you will be offered an invitation to join the current season.

Yes. Existing members will automatically get an opportunity to re-join ahead of new members on the waiting list. Existing members are given three weeks to renew their membership then our membership books are open to people wanting to join from the waiting list. Membership renewals generally commence in February each year.

No. Originals only. This ensures that members from the previous year can continue their membership before those on the waiting list are contacted.
The Membership Officer has to monitor acceptable levels of subscription. We also check existing members on our current membership list and ensure those members get an opportunity to join first.

If you want to cancel or cease your membership please email the Film Society and you will be taken off the membership list. Members are contacted at the beginning of each film season asking to contact us if they no longer intend to re-join. This gives us an indication of how many vacancies are available to offer to people on the waiting list.

Refunds during the year are generally not available, however, each request for a membership refund will be considered on its merit.

Your membership entitles you to attend, at no further cost, 35 films selected by the committee and film members for the program. It also includes Wine, Music and Food nights at the beginning and end of the season to bring the members together to celebrate the opening and close of a season together. The committee often takes advantage of opportunities to have film directors or actor/s attend prior to screening with a Q & A discussion about the film.

You will also receive discounts for the Newcastle Italian Film Festival and The Alliance Française de Newcastle, French Film Festival and French Friday program. Please visit our website or the French Film website afnewcastle.com.au

You will also receive discounts on Choc Tops and wine from Events Cinema. Just show your membership card.

The Newcastle Film Society is oversubscribed. Event Cinema’s Kotara Vmax seating capacity is 473 and we currently have a membership of 630 to 650 financial members. This allows for more paying members which reduces the annual membership fee.


Over many years we have been monitoring the attendance rate on screening nights and although we have never exceeded our seating capacity, a seat cannot be guaranteed at a film should every member turn up.

No. We have people on the waiting list who are waiting to join, so if a membership becomes available it will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.

No. During COVID we needed to know exactly who entered the cinema so its members only attending. We have a current list of all financial members should we need to contact them. This is a security/safety issue.

Cards are not replaced. We only print a certain number of membership cards each year.

If you have lost your card you will need to advise a committee member on the door each time you attend. Your name will be confirmed from a membership list. You may be asked for identification.

The Film Society communicates formally via email which includes the minutes from the Annual General Meeting and informally though our social media platforms such as:
Facebook - facebook.com/groups/newcastlefilmsociety
Instagram - @newcastle_film_society

If you haven’t received a newsletter it could be because you opted out or we don’t have a correct current email address for you.

Members can join our mailing list or let us know of a change of email at newcastlefilmsociety@gmail.com

Payment

No. Membership is at a very moderate price and represents exceptional value.

The administration of memberships requires:


1. One online application form per person.

2. Payment via direct deposit with a reference of First Initial and Surname.
3. Each year the application form will tell you the membership payment process.

No. For ease of reconciling memberships and payments direct transfer into the Film Society bank account is required.

Yes. Follow these steps:
1. Complete a separate online application form for each person, you can use the same email address or different email addresses.

2. Ensure payment total for the number of persons is correct and pay by direct deposit for the total amount.

3. Please use an identifiable reference for payment. Eg if the same surname that will suffice or otherwise multiple surnames. We need to match your payment to the applications.
4. You can make comments in the Additional Information section of the online form if you want to explain further.

We need one name per membership. You can have the same email address, phone number and mailing address. You simply need to click on the link a second time to submit the second membership application.

The films

NFS members and committee members make suggestions. The committee considers the films recommended and decides the final program. The program includes classics, indie, art house, and documentary, Australian content, foreign films across various genres.

Film criteria include:

  • current films which have not had wide or any commercial viewing
  • foreign language films portraying diverse cultures
  • films which raise important issues
  • classic films and revivals of outstanding films of the past
  • a balance of films from different genres and different countries, including a mix of heavy and light viewing
  • award winning films
  • films appearing in film festivals.

Go to the website and select the Suggestions tab. There is some information about available catalogues and distributors. It helps if you can name the distributor, film and country.

The committee

Generally we have seven committee members.

You can email the Secretary and ask if there are any vacancies available and if not register your interest should a role become available.
The Film Society will send an email to all current members if a position arises on the committee so you can register your interest or ask for a nomination form and present this to the AGM. If there are more people nominated than there are positions vacant, there will be a ballot.

The committee volunteers do all the planning, administration, securing of films, liaison with the cinema and distributors, manage the funds, website and communication, organise printing, track membership and manage mail outs.

Committee members indicate preferences according to their talents or desire in a particular role.