The Drill Hall Film Society’s aim is to screen classic cinema at low cost to members in the convivial atmosphere of the historic Drill Hall Theatre Mullumbimby with its tiered seating and air-conditioning. Refreshments will be available and critical discussion after the film is encouraged, occasionally with featured artists involved with the presented film.

For further information please go to the website of the Drill Hall Film Society or contact them by email on drillhallfilms@gmail.com

Everyone will have received this month’s InFilm Bulletin – June 2014 reminding them that film societies need to renew their membership this month. Payment is due by 30 June. Payments will be completely digital this year so please use the electronic membership form 

Making the payment online seriously reduces the work load of the volunteers who have to process and record the payments.  Contact us If you have any problems.

The Bulletin also reminds everyone that our AGM is coming up on Saturday 30 August in Canberra.

A number of decisions concerning the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) have been made in advance of the 2014-2015 Federal Budget. Nearly every film society in Australia will be affected.

THE KEY DECISIONS

1. SUPPORT FOR THE SCREEN LENDING COLLECTION IS TO BE WITHDRAWN.

2. THE NFSA HAS ALREADY STOPPED ADDING NEW ITEMS TO THE SCREEN LENDING COLLECTION. IT HAS ALSO STOPPED RENEWING FILM AND DVD LICENCES.

3. THE SCREENING LOANS SECTION WITHIN NFSA WILL BE DISBANDED IN COMING MONTHS. WHETHER THE SERVICE CONTINUES BEYOND THIS FINANCIAL YEAR IS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY NFSA SENIOR MANAGEMENT.

MAJOR CONSEQUENCES FLOWING FROM THE DECISIONS ·

All borrowing from the collection will cease from a given date; all items now held in the Screen Lending Collection will be absorbed into the general collection and become inaccessible to erstwhile borrowers, other than commercial clients and possibly accredited researchers and educational institutions. ·

It’s a no-brainer that once the NFSA stops providing cost-effective screening rights, higher fees charged by other license holders will make life extremely difficult for film societies. Some will find it impossible to continue. ·

PLEASE ACT NOW!

email a short message indicating your support for the Screen Lending Collection and the Screening Loans Section to Michael Loebenstein, CEO of the NFSA, at michael.loebenstein@nfsa.gov.au, and cc it to the following senior NFSA executives: Steve Vogt, Organisational Development and Corporate: steve.vogt@nfsa.gov.au; Jane Cruickshank, A/g General Manager, Access and Outreach: jane.cruickshank@nfsa.gov.au; Sonia Gherdevich A/g General Manager, Collection Development: sonia.gherdevich@nfsa.gov.au

Dear Mr Loebenstein, I am writing to you on behalf of/as a member of (your film society) concerning the future of the Screen Lending Collection and the Screening Loans Section of the NFSA. We appreciate the pressure you are under, but we are extremely concerned that closing down these facilities will have many serious consequences, especially for film societies which rely on them very heavily. More importantly, I/we feel obliged to point out that if the collection closes, the NFSA would not be meeting its obligation to carry out the core functions of collecting, preserving and sharing Australia’s audiovisual heritage, as enshrined in legislation and enunciated in the NFSA charter and current NFSA promotional material. The only way we and other film societies across Australia can share the NFSA collection is by using the Screen Lending Collection. Closing it would be denying us this opportunity. Accordingly, I/we hope you are able to ensure the Screen Lending Collection continues to flourish and the Screening Loans Section continues to provide its excellent service. I/We look forward to your early reply. Yours etc, (Your name)