HISTORY OF HFS

The Birks Cinema (now closed but watch this space...)

The original cinema in Aberfeldy (The Birks) closed in the early 1980s (but campaign is now running to bring it back! - Visit the Birks Cinema Friends website for more information). The nearest cinema is in Perth (nearly an hour’s drive away) and only shows mainstream films. The nearest alternative cinemas are in Dundee and Stirling (both about an hour and a half away from the HFS catchment area). Here was an opportunity to provide films for the Aberfeldy community.

The Society was established in 2001 to:

• bring cinema experience closer to Aberfeldy and surrounding areas;
• promote Scottish film-making (writers, directors, actors and locations);
• provide a range of films that people would not be able to see at the nearest cinema;
• support local community events and interests through film media.

Aberfeldy Locus Centre

With the help of Dave Skelsey (then secretary of the British Federation of Film Societies in Scotland), the first steps were taken towards setting up a film society. We started with a free showing of ‘As Good As It Gets’ which was extremely successful.

We decided then to try a short three month season in early 2002 showing three adult films and one children’s matinee. Since then there have been six 6-month seasons (April to September and October to March) and in 2005 it was decided to move to a ten film season with a summer break in July and August.

We have had an average membership for each season of 95 and the mailing list is now over 200. Most of our members live within or near Aberfeldy but our catchment area extends 25 miles in all directions.

In 2004, we won the British Federation of Film Societies’ Best New Film Society award. The judges made special mention of the novel and unique method that HFS uses to evaluate the success of each film shown (the Bean-O-Meter). Not only that but we received commendation for the programme notes issued for each screening.

The main venue we use (The Locus Centre in Aberfeldy town square) opened in early 2001. It has an auditorium of 55 seats with built in digital media centre. In Autumn 2001, the nascent HFS committee became aware that the centre would be an excellent venue for showing films.

HFS is run as a self-funding venture - membership fees cover only the cost of putting on films and the hire of the venues. Why not join us and become a member. You don't have to join in advance - just come along to any of the performances.