What we’re about
Harrogate Film Society (HFS for short) has been bringing the best in world cinema to Harrogate since 1955. We screen our films at Harrogate Odeon, giving audiences comfort and a full cinematic sound and vision experience.
HFS is run entirely by volunteers and has a strong committed core membership, but we are keen for new members to join us. You will find a warm welcome and a real mix of film fans and enthusiasts - we are not a stuffy bunch of clever clogs!
Seeing a film on your own with HFS is better than missing out! Don't be shy, just turn up on the night and say hello to any of the friendly committee members (we should be wearing name badges) - we will be happy to have a chat and welcome you to the gang.
We have expanded our social media presence, via facebook, with our own page and a group too, threads, bluesky, instagram and we are still on X too as well as meetup. Joining our meetup group is free and you can join this meetup group regardless of whether you have paid our annual HFS membership fee / mini-membership fee or not (see website for current prices).
You are welcome to attend any of our events - tickets for these can usually be purchased online in advance via our website or at the event from our desk in the lobby at the Odeon. Please note that a yes RSVP on Meetup does not obligate you to attend any event, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE YOU A PLACE AT THE EVENT IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID FOR A TICKET VIA THE HFS WEBSITE.
You do not need to purchase tickets in advance for our standard film nights (though it does just save you queueing in the Odeon lobby to pay) but it is RECOMMENDED that you book and pay for tickets in advance via the HFS website for any of our special events, art season, or classic cinema, particularly where these may sell out.
The majority of our films are screened in Screen 2 (upstairs with 200+ capacity) and occasional events are screened downstairs in Screens 3 or 5. The downstairs screens have different capacity levels but also have some wheelchair access for a limited number of guests. Please get in touch via the HFS website to reserve a space if required. ALL seating at ALL events is unreserved, so rock up and sit wherever you like.
If you want to join our mailing lists and get more regular updates, please get in touch via contact.harrogatefilmsociety@gmail.com
Perhaps this meetup group could be the first step on your journey to becoming a full member and supporting our society?
Follow the link below for more information or to buy tickets from the Film Society website.
Home | Harrogate Film Society
Upcoming events
2
The Holdovers & Our Pre Christmas Social
ODEON Harrogate, East Parade, Harrogate, GBhttps://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/the-holdovers
The Holdovers | 2023 | R | Dir. Alexander Payne | US | IMDb 7.9 | 133 mins
December 15th 7.30 - 9.40pm @ Harrogate Odeon Screen 2
This multi award-winning comedy drama atmospherically set in a school in New England over the Christmas period (1970) is a return to form of the director Alexander Payne as he re-teams with the actor Paul Giamatti (Sideways).
The ‘Holdovers’ are the pupils and staff held over at a private school (the fictional Barton College) over the Christmas holidays as they have nowhere else to go. They are presided over by the ever-soulful Paul Giamatti playing an embittered teacher whom life has passed by. He is entrenched in a limiting existence as an isolated bachelor taking out his anger and unhappiness on the privileged students in his care but ultimately also on himself by withdrawing from the world. Da’Vine Joy Randal plays the rooted school cook, and mother figure, who is grieving the recent loss of her son in the Vietnam war. And Daniel Sessa gives a strong performance as a troubled teen in his acting debut and is one to watch.
Unlikely bonds are forged as these outsiders are forced together at a time of year that is all about family and relationships. As the story unfolds, the lead characters slowly let their armour down and start to reveal life’s deeper hurts to each other, and ultimately to us the audience. This bonding leads to quiet transformations and propels them all forward in life.
This is a character piece with the three main leads all capable of reflecting the many shades of this film from despair, depth and poignancy to lighter touches. The carefully observed period setting, with soundtrack to match, and the seasonal framing of a traditional snowy New England enhance the absorbing nature of the film.
The Holdovers received 5 Oscar nominations including best picture, best actor (Paul Giamatti) and best supporting actress (Da’Vine Joy Randal) which she won. A finely acted and evocative period piece this is a thoroughly engaging, sensitive and intelligent film about finding an alternative ‘family’ at Christmas. The Holdovers is set to become a non-mainstream seasonal classic.
· Screen 2 upstairs - Unreserved seating
· Doors open 6.45pm
· Preceded by our pre Christmas season social so wine or soft drink included
· Welcome from our chair Paula Stott @ 7.30pm
· Free parking available at the Odeon
· We invite every viewer to score the film afterwards using a token system in the lobby
Entry is free for HFS members who have paid an annual subscription via our website. Membership costs just £52.50 for all 15 films and just £30 if you are lucky enough to be under 25! Join on the Harrogate Film Society website.
Tickets for non-members are not available in advance for this film but may be offered after 7pm in person on the night. This is to ensure that our members are given priority.2 attendees
Hundreds of Beavers
ODEON Harrogate, East Parade, Harrogate, GBhttps://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/hundreds-of-beavers
Hundreds of Beavers | 2022 | 12A | Dir. Mike Cheslik | US | IMDb 7.6 | 108 mins
January 12th 7.30 - 9.40pm @ Harrogate Odeon Screen 5
Mike Cheslik’s anarchic, low-budget comedy gem is an absolute riot!
When Applejack producer Jean Kayak’s business and home are destroyed by the local beaver population he must fend for himself in the harsh winter forest wilderness. In order to survive he becomes a fur-trapper and falls in love with the local storekeeper’s daughter – the price of her hand in marriage? “Hundreds of Beavers”.
Take your cinematic experience to the next level with Mike Cheslik’s extraordinary and hilarious debut feature. Combining elements of Buster Keaton’s silent movies and a Super Mario video game, it puts the looney back in to Looney Tunes, and is an absolute must for all comedy fans.
Your challenge is to try and keep count of the laugh-out-loud moments over the course of the funniest 108 minutes you are likely to encounter on the big screen this century.
This is a Dam fine film!
· Screen 5 downstairs - Unreserved seating - some wheelchair spaces
· Doors open 6.45pm
· Preceded by our New Year season social so wine or soft drink included
· Welcome from our chair Paula Stott @ 7.30pm
· Free parking available at the Odeon
· We invite every viewer to score the film afterwards using a token system in the lobby
Entry is free for HFS members who have paid an annual subscription via our website. Membership costs just £52.50 for all 15 films and just £30 if you are lucky enough to be under 25! Join on the Harrogate Film Society website.
Tickets for non-members are now available in advance for this film.1 attendee
Past events
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