A SOCIETY of Swindonian movie lovers are celebrating screening five-star films from around the globe for three-quarters of a century.

The Swindon Film Society was formed in February 1947 with the goal of showing a wide-ranging programme of international films which would not otherwise be seen locally.

This seemed an unlikely move, given there were already at least six commercial cinemas in the town at the time and people were finding life in post-war Britain financially punishing.

But against all odds, the society was a success and has since gone on to win a number of national awards from the British Federation of Film Societies in 2011, the coveted Film Society of the Year.

Its 2022/23 season of 14 screenings at the Arts Centre on Devizes Road begins next month and runs until March.

Swindon Film Society’s chair Robert Elrick said this year’s programme includes a wide range of subjects and genres to showcase some of the very best international films.

He said: “The opening film, After Love, is set in Dover, and follows newly widowed Mary Hussain, who one day after her husband’s burial discovers he has a secret family just 21 miles across the English Channel in Calais.

“While in The Perfect Candidate, a young Saudi doctor stands for office in the local elections, causing consternation in her family and community as they struggle to accept their town's first female candidate.

"The pre-Christmas film is more than a nod to the Swindon Film Society’s origins.

"The original 1947 triple Oscar-winning version of Miracle on 34th Street, which co-starred nine-year-old Natalie Wood, has inspired several remakes, including a version released in 1994 that starred Richard Attenborough in the Kris Kringle role, but many film buffs assert that the original film retains the title of true Christmas classic."

Other films lined up for the coming months include Martin Eden, Parallel Mothers, Compartment No. 6, The County, Minari, Another Round, Lamb, Playground, I Never Cry, Ali and Ava, and Quo Vadis Aida?

The society is a voluntary organisation, and membership is open to anyone aged 16 or over.

Membership for the entire season is £70, which works out at £5 per film.

Alternately, you can join as a pay-as-you-go member for £5 and then pay £8 for any film watched (£7 for concessions).

Visitors attending with members are charged £10 per ticket. For full details, visit www.swindonfilm.org.uk