A new community group is providing an opportunity for people to share their love of cinematography.
Hope Film Club is a non-profit organization that hosts monthly film nights at the Hope Cinema. The goal is to show a wide range of Hollywood classics, independent films, foreign films, and short films from local filmmakers.
“Part of this is establishing a different audience that the theatre hasn’t been able tap into,” said club member Miles Bissky.
The upgrade to digital projection at Hope Cinema provided the impetus for local film enthusiasts to start the club. The quality of blu-ray movies on screen is essentially the same as what the studio sends the cinema in digital format.
“Not only can [Kevin Larson] play new movies but he can also play old movies now,” said Jon Polishak, one of the club founders. “We win by organizing and bringing these films to town, and perhaps he wins through more exposure for the cinema and more people coming to events.”
Feedback from moviegoers over the past few months has helped influence the upcoming film lineup. The club has tried to balance well-known classics with lesser-known films.
“What we’ve tried to do with this next three-month film lineup is give a fair representative sample of the feedback as well as spread out the taste in genres,” said Polishak.
Up first is Amelie on July 25, which is a foreign 2001 romantic comedy set in Paris. The film has received numerous international awards and was nominated for five Academy Awards. On Aug. 29, the club is showing Casablanca. This 1942 classic stands as one of the great romances of all time, exploring the tension between love and virtue. The Shining takes over Hope Cinema on Oct. 24. Released in 1980, this landmark horror film continues to terrify audiences.
Showtime for film nights is 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10, or $8 for Hope Film Club members.
For more information, call 604-869-0385, email hopecinepals@gmail.com, or visit the Hope Film Club page on Facebook.