Author Archives: jamessandry

Welcome

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Welcome to the Australian Film Society Federation Website. It aims to tell you everything you need to know about running a film society and to tell the world about you.

Every film society in the Federation has been given an entry on this site, none of them are perfect. Due to privacy concerns I didn’t include personal contact details that weren’t already on the internet.

But if you don’t like your entry I will change it.  Send your changes to me, either through the Tell us your program page  or (if you want to include photos) by emailing me directly on: president afsf @ gmail. com

I would like to thank Jonathan Sykes of the Deerubbin Dangar Island film society for his help with setting up this website. I though that it was great that two film societies can work together and swap information over a distance of 340 km, I hope this website will continue in the same way.

Please explore the site, You can subscribe for updates if you want to, and we would appreciate it if you could post links to us but most importantly, please leave comments. We want to hear from you. To start with give me your comment now. Just click on the “leave a reply” in the top left corner.  What do you want from this website? How do you want to use it?

A response to the misinformation spread by ACOFS

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 We have received advice that a spam email from ACOFS and a new ‘NSW Federation’ is circulating among members.

A seperate email has gone out on this subject but the main points are worth repeating here:

1. Madman titles

You have always been able to access Madman titles through Amalgamated Movies, and you can still book them with Amalgamated (Google: www.amalgamatedmovies.com, or refer to recent issues of our IN FILM newsletter). Late last year we commenced discussions with Madman about booking their titles for our members, but with ACOFS and Amalgamated already in the field, we felt it was a bit overcrowded. Now that ACOFS have withdrawn the facility (without letting us know), we’ll be getting back to Madman. Watch this space.

2. DVD Rights

Because you are a legitimate film society, you are entitled to any concession that is made available by any participating distributor.  

The 1 January 2013 arrangement between ACOFS and Roadshow is not exclusive. We have exactly the same arrangement in place with Roadshow.

Amalgamated, Madman and other distributors have not changed their DVD/BluRay concessional rate, which is still $50 + GST ($5) = $55, regardless of membership.

If a film society can demonstrate to a distributor that it is not-for-profit, subscription based and doesn’t charge for admission, it is eligible to access that distributor’s DVD concessional rate, regardless of whether the society is a member of a federation or not. We have always been upfront on this point but societies benefit from the Federation doing the work on their behalf.

Newcastle German Kino Society (NGKS)

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 “The Royal Exchange Theatre”, Newcastle, 4th Monday each month (Feb-Nov)

All NGKS screenings are held at The Royal Exchange Theatre 32-34 Bolton St Newcastle. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 pm film start. For membership/entry details & up-to date program please seehttp://royalexchangenewcastle.com.au/deutscher-filmklub-stammtisch/.

If no classifications are outlined films are restricted to persons of 18+ years. This may not relate to the film contents but is but due to legal requirements set by the Classification Board.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the monthly NGKS Movie nights.

With warm regards,

The NGKS Committee

 

Insurance for Federation members

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The federation’s film insurance scheme is now in place. This is an extraordinary benefit to members who would otherwise have to pay enormous premiums, or stop screening film altogether. It is very simple and works as follows:

1. Eligibility: If you screen film, your membership of the Federation will entitle you to cover for any claim for film damage or loss incurred while a film you have booked or screened is in your custody or in transit.

2. We will pay: The federation will pay costs:

  • to a maximum of $5,000 for 35mm
  • to a maximum of  $2,500 for 16mm
  • to a maximum of $5000 for DVD, Bluray, E-Cinema, 2K, 4K and DCP

3. subject to the following conditions:

(a) When joining the federation or renewing its membership, a society will be required to warrant that it will observe ‘best practice’ concerning maintenance of its projection equipment and the handling of film. In this instance, ‘best practice’ for 16mm means (a) applying relevant sections of the 16mm Projectionist’s Manual, and (b) seeking expert advice from technicians, accredited projectionists and others who have worked with film for many years. If you screen 35mm, you are likely to already have a maintenance program in place with a specialist technician. If not, the principles in the manual apply equally to 35mm film and equipment.

(b) Each claim will be subject to a $100 excess that will be deducted from the claim payment.

Perhaps the best thing to come out of this exercise was that it made us reflect on how film screeners can best protect themselves against anything happening to film. We concluded that the 16mm Projectionist’s Manual is probably the most comprehensive reference readily available to film societies. It was given a big tick by the experts at the National Film and Sound Archive when it was first published, and the latest edition has again passed their scrutiny with flying colours.

Big changes at special general meeting

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The special general meeting held in Canberra on 15 December was something of a milestone. Several major decisions were made put the Federation in a strong position to meet the challenges of the future.

Major decisions made at the meeting were:

1. Changes to the constitution. If you would like a copy of the new constitution, just contact us (contact details at the end of this issue). The constitution also makes great bedtime reading. If you have trouble getting to sleep, start reading and you’ll be snoring by page 3.

2. Our name (as you will have already noticed at the top of the page) is now Australian Film Societies Federation Inc. After an exhaustive debate and voting process, this name emerged as the people’s choice. It might sound a bit strange at first, but by this time next year it will be part of the furniture.

3. Election of the Executive. The Executive comprises seven members, and the following were elected:

President: James Sandry; Vice president: Richard Keys; Secretary: Michael Lines-Kelly: Treasurer: Megan Finlayson; Other officers: Brian Dunne, Bryan Putt and Hilton Prideaux.

But the best thing about the meeting was that everyone there was more interested in talking about film than constitutions and legal rigmarole. Before and after the business sessions, little groups gathered to discuss what they were programming; who distributes what; comparisons of different digital formats, and so on.

News from the NFSA

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Following the recent special general meeting, the National Film and Sound Archive’s John Brady spoke at length about the Archive’s structure, operations and services. Borrowers from the Non-Theatrical Lending Collection will have since received an e-letter from the team at the collection, and much of what John said is included. If you didn’t receive a copy, let us know and we’ll send you one.

Film Insurance

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The new film insurance scheme is taking shape and should be ready by the time the projectors start rolling early in the New Year. The big problem is how we strike a balance between being a mutual support group, and making sure our funds are properly protected. We have prepared a draft product disclosure statement, and all members who screen films are invited to participate in the process. So if you are screening 35mm or 16mm film, please let us know and we’ll send you a copy of the draft.

New DVD/BluRay arrangement

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The new arrangement with Roadshow concerning DVD/BluRay non-theatrical screening rights starts on 1 January. Here’s how it works.

If your organisation has 32 or fewer members you will pay $40 + GST (total $44) per screening, a reduction of $11 on the present rate.

Societies with membership between 33 and 82 will pay $50 + GST (total $55), per screening (no change).

Larger societies will pay more, but still a lot less than theatrical rates. Those with memberships between 83 and 166 will pay $75 + GST per screening, while those between 167 and 332 will pay $100 + GST. Above 332 members the cost is subject to negotiation. The arrangement will run from 1 January until 31 December 2013, when it may be looked at again.

The above rates will apply to all film societies, provided they can prove they are not-for-profit, operate by subscription and don’t charge admission fees to non-theatrical screenings. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to phone or email (contact details at bottom of page 2). We still don’t know if other distributors are going to adopt these rates. When we find out, you’ll be the first to know.

The National Film and Sound Archive has a different scale of fees that was put in place only recently. So that won’t change for a while.