Curtain goes up on Timaru Film Society premiere

An opportunity to roll out the red carpet to international films on the big screen in Timaru has had an ‘‘overwhelming’’ response, organisers say.

The Timaru Film Society’s opening soiree on Tuesday night was almost sold out, with 90 people lining up to see Crossing Rachmaninoff - a documentary on the life of Italian-born Auckland pianist Flavio Villani.

Society member Jayne Blakemore said the group had been ‘‘ecstatic’’ with the response.

‘‘We have about 130 members,’’ Blakemore said.

Film society organisers had set the group up in the hope of broadening people’s film going options and introduce them to a range of movies, not just films with ‘‘arty clouds with nothing happening’’.

Tuesday night’s premiere screened the first of three films to be shown by the society before the end of the year.

Blakemore said she was not surprised by the support for the group.

‘‘I had anticipated it would be well supported but have been blown away by the response,’’ she said.

‘‘I think there are a lot more people keen to join. I think we’ve just touched the tip of the iceberg.’’

She said the group hoped to expand next year.

Fellow member Ross Stevenson said the evening had opened with drinks and nibbles before the film’s showing.

‘‘We’ve had a very positive response from people welcoming the introduction of the film society,’’ Stevenson said.

He said members who had belonged to other film societies, throughout New Zealand and the rest of the world, were excited to see a group formed in Timaru.

‘‘It’s looking positive for a healthy start to the society,’’ he said.

Stevenson was vice-president of the New Zealand Film Society when he moved to Timaru, from Palmerston North, and was the president of the Palmerston North Film Society for 10 years.

Blakemore had belonged to a film society in Australia for several years.

The society will show international films and interesting documentaries and classics, with most screenings open to members only.

The society will screen About Elly on October 31 and A Flickering Truth on November 14.

Film Society membership entitles Timaru members to free admission to all Film Society screenings throughout the year, anywhere in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Federation of Film Societies (NZFSS) is the country’s only alternative nonprofit network of film exhibition.

Anyone wanting to know more about the Timaru society is welcome to visit its website.

PHOTO: DOUG FIELD/ STUFF Timaru Film Society members (from left) Nils Macfarlane, Kate Elsen, Robert Jeromson and Jayne Blakemore were thrilled with how opening night went on Tuesday.