Forest Row Film Society

The Brambletye Hotel adds screening facilities as part of its refurbishment.

We often get asked about screening films in and around Forest Row, and we are always keen to work with other people and organisations to further extend the film exhibition opportunities in this part of East Sussex.

A couple of years ago we received funding for our new digital equipment, which has greatly extended the number and range of films we can show. Furthermore, if other community groups want to organise screenings, we are keen to support such activities.

We’ve done a few one-off events for other groups, and have a regular programme that we develop with Transition Forest Row. Our funding also enabled us to purchase some portable screening equipment, and we have used that for other events in Forest Row and West Hoathly over the last year or two. If you are interested in organising other film events and want to know more about the terms for using our equipment, please let us know.

Still, sometimes people approach us with an interest in screening films for which the village hall may be too large a venue. In such cases it would be nice if there was an alternative space. Well, now there is.

As part of its major refurbishment work, the Brambletye Hotel is adding in a number of smaller scale screening facilities. I’ve just been shown around, and the first, in the function room downstairs by the reception, is almost finished.

There are a couple of documentaries that have been suggested to me recently, for which this would be an ideal venue, and it is possible that we could also use it for some smaller events during the Forest Row Festival (30 September-3 October), or for our comedy film festival that are planning.

Are there any films that you fancy screening in Forest Row? Let us know. The venues are multiplying.

When we bought our digital equipment 18 months ago it was important that we acquired a portable screen, some lightweight speakers and a little amp so that we would have the option of doing screenings in other locations. This afternoon we had a great time screening Son of Man, the marvellous South African film that we put on last season. It was a charity screening at West Hoathly church, to raise money for the South African charity Uthando.

It was very exciting to be able to screen such a fantastic and powerful film in such a beautiful old building. The screen was right in front of the altar, and it sounded great too.

We had a reasonable crowd turn out, and afterwards everyone I spoke with was very positive about the film. Thanks to everyone at West Hoathly for organising it, and for asking us along.

Forest Row Village Hall has been shortlisted for the East Grinstead Courier and Observer Heart of the Community awards. Now we need your support to help the hall be the recipient of £2000 towards a new boiler. It will make the hall a much more comfortable place to watch films.
To help us do this, you need to get as many copies of the newspaper as you can this week and the next two weeks and vote for project L07 Forest Row Village Hall. You can collect as many of the voting coupons as you like; it isn’t democratic. Please pass this information on to your friends as well and we can all do our bit to improve the village hall.

Forest Row Village Hall was built in 1892 and is a registered charity run by trustees. It does not receive any local authority funding, and relies on hiring revenue and fundraising by volunteers for income. Located in the heart of the village, it hosts a wide range of community events throughout the year. The existing boiler was installed in the 1970s, and is unreliable and very inefficient. As part of the ongoing plan to enhance and improve the hall facilities, the management committee want to replace the boiler with a new and more energy-efficient system.

We had a mail yesterday from the BFFS asking for pictures of our venue. So, since we had a film today it was an ideal opportunity to take some photos before it got too busy. First off is the village hall itself; this was actually taken over two years ago. You can just see the posters for I don’t want to talk about it:

Now, here is inside the hall. This afternoon’s screening was of Into the West. This also illustrates that, if we are going to make matinees a more frequent occurrence we are going to need to get blackout blinds.

And finally, now that we have our new equipment, we have a portable screen and sound system, which are illustrated in an earlier post when we had a screening at Kidbrooke mansion.

This week we have begun to see the results of our new, extended activities. A good discussion ensued after Our Seeds, which we screened with Transition Forest Row. Then, dressing up and dancing was in evidence during The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is not normally the case when we show films:

On Friday it was the first outing of our new portable screen, and we transformed the Long Room at Michael Hall into a cinema to watch Francois Ozon’s 8 Women. It is a lovely cosy space for film:

Finally, the screen and projector moved over to the theatre where it was used to support the Jupiter Chamber Orchestra concert by displaying artwork inspired by Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote.

The more we use the new equipment, the more we are getting new ideas for other projects and screenings. Do let us know if you have any thoughts.

There will be something for everyone in the rest of this season’s much-expanded programme of Forest Row Film Society. With the acquisition of the new digital projector, surround sound and large screen, the film society is living up to its promise to deliver a wider selection of films.

By including films chosen by young people, documentaries, and screening in other locations, Forest Row Film Society is extending its commitment to make more film available to the whole community.

More popular films

Working with a group of young people in the village, we will be screening a selection of films chosen by Dan Fournier, Michael Schumacher, Francesca Shoenamaan, Lahra Von Wedel, and Kat Davies. Kicking off with the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Thursday 5th February, there will be three other films before the end of March, including The Horse Whisperer, Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There and Sean Penn’s Into the Wild. With screenings on Saturdays and a Sunday matinee, we expect there will be interest from everyone, not just the under 18s.

Dan Fournier commented: “We hope that by doing this we will fill a gap and create an opportunity for the young people in Forest Row and the surrounding areas to meet and to enjoy some great films.” If anyone is interested to get involved, whether in the film selection, marketing or general helping out, please let us know.

We’ll also add in another matinee, the charming Into the West starring Gabriel Byrne on 28th March.

Documentaries and portable screenings

We are also keen to work with other groups in the village, whether in the village hall or in other spaces. To that end, we have screenings in collaboration with Transition Forest Row, and also one at Michael Hall School.

Transition Forest Row have been screening films for the last year or so, but since our new equipment offers much improved viewing possibilities, and increases the range of films that can be shown, it has been an easy extension to our activities to work together.

The first joint screening is the documentary Our Seeds, on Tuesday 3rd February. Illustrating the importance of seeds to biodiversity and sustainability, the film is being shown in advance of the seed swap taking place at the community market on Saturday 7th February.

Black Gold, a British-made documentary about the global coffee business, will be screened during Fair Trade fortnight, and we will also show The 11th Hour, and The Real Dirt on Farmer John, about community-supported agriculture.

Our grant funding also enabled us to buy a portable screen and sound system. It will be used for the first time as part of the French weekend at Michael Hall school when we show the marvellous 8 Women. With a roll-call of famous French actresses, it is a murder mystery musical with lots of style.

What else should we show?

Our final screening of the season will be on 15th May. We have yet to decide what it will be. Slumdog Millionaire? An uplifting new release? A classic? A long introspective Russian film? Let us know.

Trailers and more information about all the newly-added films in the programme are available on the website.

The village hall has ordered its first set of new chairs. It still is somewhat short of its fundraising target for 180 chairs, so if you would like to donate £30 (or any amount) towards this, it would be much appreciated. Cheques should be payable to the Forest Row Village Hall Management Committee. Gift aid forms are available from the village hall website, so the village hall can reclaim your tax if you are a UK tax payer.