It has been an exciting start to the 2024 Illawarra Film Society (IFS) season, with three screenings already captivating hundreds of newcomers and familiar faces in the non-profit’s 12th year.
Established as a passion project in 2012 to bring acclaimed arthouse releases, classics and documentaries to audiences on the South Coast, the IFS is now one of Australia’s largest film societies.
Membership has always been a great deal for movie lovers, but in the cost-of-living crisis there is no comparable offer. And it’s still not too late to join – signing up now will get you in to 28 features throughout 2024, plus the occasional bonus short film, for just $99. That’s less than $4 per film!
Films are screened on Sunday nights at the Gala Cinema, Warrawong, at 7pm, with a few gaps in the year for school holidays. It’s a great way to spend your night at the end of a long week and a chance to meet new people.
On opening night, we welcomed members with nibbles and champagne, and had the pleasure of hosting Wollongong Citizen of the Year Dr Aunty Barbara Nicholson and award-winning screenwriter and director David Roach to welcome our 2024 community. The night’s film was New Zealand drama-comedy Uproar, set in the 1980s amid the controversial Springbok rugby tour. There wasn’t a dry eye in sight thanks to the hilarious yet powerful performance from Hunt for the Wilderpeople favourite Julian Dennison.
Media lecturer and documentary maker Jeannine Baker joined the society in 2012 and last year stepped up to become the organisation’s film curator. Jeannine aims to strike the right balance between genres, new releases and classics, and says that this year audiences can expect to see more comedies and upbeat films.
“Our members love the opportunity to see a hand-picked, quality selection of films they wouldn’t see anywhere else. They also appreciate supporting the Illawarra’s only remaining independent cinema,” she said.
The 2024 programme features All of Us Strangers, the BIFA Best Film Award winner featuring Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott; Golden Globe recipient The Boy and the Heron, the latest animated fantasy from renowned Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki; and Young Plato, a documentary following a school headmaster’s attempt to revitalise a Belfast community plagued by social issues and urban decay.
Further, several classics, including the brilliant Gene Kelly musical Singin’ in the Rain, promise to surprise and delight audiences decades later on the big screen.
Visit our website at www.ifs.org.au to view the full programme and secure a great-value membership for 2024 before registrations close in a few weeks’ time. Gift certificates are also offered.
See you at the movies!
About the writer
Marcus Stevanoski is a second-year Communication & Media student at the University of Wollongong. He has a passion for film production and editing.
