Our main order of business is to show interesting films - on the big screen - that wouldn't otherwise be shown in Christchurch cinemas. So we screen a huge range of stuff, from old silent films, to the classic Hollywood era, to whole seasons of films by world-renowned directors, to rare documentaries, animated films, and much much more. Have a look at the schedule on the right to see what we've got programmed for 2008. Click on any title for more info. All screenings are on Monday nights at Rialto Cinemas (Moorhouse Ave), usually at 6:30pm.
Our second order of business is to keep things inexpensive. Rather than pay exorbitant commercial screening rates and charge you $10 or more per ticket, we typically pay much cheaper private screening rates. This means that our films are generally open to members only - but it works out to less than $4 per film if you join. Check out the Membership Info page for all the details. You can even join online.
Our third order of business is to support and enhance local film culture. The main way we've been doing this is by screening local short films before many of our features. If you or someone you know has a film you'd like us to screen, visit our Shorts page for info on how to submit it. And we're always open to new ideas, so if you think of any ways we can enhance film culture in Canterbury, let us know!
July 2008 Newsletter now Online (posted 4 July)
Chaplin, Satyajit Ray, Antonioni, and more... View the PDF here.
Replacement screening scheduled for IVAN THE TERRIBLE (posted 4 June)
Since the 16mm projector spat the dummy at our screening of Ivan the Terrible, we've rescheduled that screening for SUNDAY 22
JUNE at 8:00PM. Anyone who clicked their 3-film pass to come to IVAN the first time around is entitled to a freebie, so just
let us know next time you come along...
The April Newsletter is Online (posted 24 April)
The April Newsletter is now available in PDF format. There's a lot of interesting
info about Charles Burnett, whose work we'll be screening in June/July, as well as some hilarious stories on the early history
of the film society.
The national AGM is nigh (posted 15 February)
Canterbury Film Society is part of a national organisation - the NZ Federation of Film Societies. Canterbury is sending
a delegate to the national AGM to hear how other film societies around the country are doing, share ideas, and strengthen
the film society movement. We'll hear a report from our delegate at the Canterbury AGM in March.
The November society newsletter is out (posted 6 November)
The November Newsletter (PDF, 300kb) summarises the season just passed, explains the
process of planning next year's programme (and reveals some titles), and reviews such treasures as Can Dialectics Break Bricks?.
It might not keep you busy all summer, but it can help fill that Monday night void...
Season extended. Screening added on November 5th. (posted 16 October)
THEY CAME BACK, the French arthouse zombie film that couldn't be
screened earlier in the year because Fastway Courier is unreliable, will now screen at 6:30pm on Monday 5 November.
Canterbury Film Society is a non-profit incorporated society that aims to screen interesting films that would not otherwise be seen in Christchurch. The Society is operated by a core committee of dedicated volunteers and whatever outside help we can muster.