Beer Film Society was founded in September 2006.  With a great deal of help from the British Federation of Film Societies and donations from Beer Parish Council, Devon County Council, Mike Green and several others, the Society was able to obtain basic projection and audio equipment.  Our aim is to bring a combination of popular as well as less-mainstream films to the village.  Over the years the Society has used any surplus funds from the screening of films to improve the quality of its equipment.

Our screenings are held in Mariners' Hall in Beer, which has a high-definition video projection system as well as improved acoustics, and which together mean that our audiences get a first-class viewing experience.  A licensed bar is provided.

Did we already tell you that the Mariners' Hall doors will open at 6.30pm and we are now starting screenings at 7pm?  No apologies for repetition here as we don’t want anyone to turn up at 7.15pm and miss the start of the film!

We have selected Alexander Payne’s delightful film The Holdovers (2023, 2hrs 13 mins, 15) for our Christmas screening on Thursday 5 December.  A selection of nibbles – mince pies, stollen bites and chocolates – will be free to all and - once again - a reminder that the Mariners’ Hall doors will open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

The Holdovers (2023, 2hrs 13mins, 15) features the lugubrious and, at times hilarious, Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who won an Oscar earlier this year for her performance as the school’s cook, in this highly-acclaimed comedy-drama set in the 1970s.  Giamatti plays a curmudgeonly teacher at a New England prep school, who is compelled to remain on campus during the Christmas break to babysit the handful of students who have nowhere to go.  Or simply, they are not wanted.  He soon forms an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker (Dominic Sessa), and with Randolph, who has just lost a son in the Vietnam War.  What ensues is a Christmas break to remember.

 What the critics said:

“The format may be unsurprising but there is nothing surprising about just how good and enjoyable this is . . .  this is the kind of bittersweet character-dialogue driven piece they just don’t do anymore.”    Mark Kermode. Kermode and Mayo’s Take

“There’s a bracingly astringent bleakness under its surface layer of melancholy humour; a biting, sharp edge that counters the occasional lurch towards sentimentality.”    Wendy Ide. The Observer. 4*

“A great big warm hug of a movie, immaculately executed and worthy of awards.”    Kevin Maher. The Times. 4*

“The performances from the trio are pitch perfect with plenty of humour and heart — and they soon find themselves going on a life- changing adventure together.”    Dulcie Pearce. The Sun. 4*

Any members wishing to reserve a seat should email us at beerfilmsociety@gmail.com before Monday 2 December.

The bar will be open for all of these screenings and our very popular Baboo Gelato ice creams will be on sale.

Don’t forget our new start time.  7PM. 

Don’t be late! 

Membership of Beer Film Society costs £15 for a full 12 months, and members pay a £5 entrance fee at each screening that they attend.  The entrance fee for non-members is £7.  Priority is given to reservations by members, but non-members may also reserve tickets.  To book tickets or to find out more about Beer Film Society, just email beerfilmsociety@gmail.com.

Last edited: Sunday 24 November 2024