Film & Radio

Film shows are organised through the Film Society and film-making through the separate Community Film Unit. SAC also has a new Community Radio Group.

For community film unit and radio group info please scroll down.  

Film Society

The Film Society publishes its own programme of films annually as well as appearing in the Centre’s own quarterly programme. The society is an integral part of the Centre and one of its most popular activities, with membership regularly at or near its capacity.

A programme of 18 high quality films of international stature is shown from September through to May each year, usually on a Friday and/or Saturday evening. Special showings are also arranged at other times in the week for children and senior citizens and for fundraising.

Society members pay a supplementary subscription from £18pa (£9pa for those on benefits) that entitles them to free attendance at films that are part of the main programme. Subscriptions are paid direct to the centre. Non-society members can attend any films where there are spare seats available for £5 a ticket or £6 for non-SAC members. Payment is normally made to the box office at the time of the screening.

The society is run by a committee elected by its members and has a designated director on the centre’s Board. Films are selected by the society’s committee in June and a members’ poll of suggested titles is taken into consideration. Committee members also help to run ‘Moviola’ community village hall shows in the area and provide advice and support, including equipment, to other local film societies.

The society is a member of the British Federation of Film Societies and affiliated to the British Film Institute and the United Kingdom Film Council.

Film classics shown by the film society during 2010. From the top: Easy Rider, Toy Story 3 and The Ghost starring Ewan McGregor.

Contact: Paul Schilling 01747 853224; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.bffssouthwest.org.uk

Seniors Cinema Club A regular programme of films for the over 50s is also shown at the centre under the banner of the Seniors Cinema Club. A main feature film is shown on the third Tuesday afternoon of every month starting at 2pm. Tickets are available 'on the door' (at the box office) at a cost of £2.50.

For more information contact Ann Griffin, organiser, on 01747 855720

Community Film Unit

Film-making has recently begun through SAC’s new Community Film Unit following a successful bid for funding through the local Sowing Seeds programme. The unit was formally launched on 1 February 2011 and currently consists of some two dozen enthusiasts. Based in the Proctor Room with its own state-of-the-art digital film-making and editing equipment, including two HD cameras and an Apple Mac Pro computer linked to two 23-inch monitors, and with computer-based design and publishing facilities, the unit plans to make a variety of films from short features to documentaries and promotional videos.

Right: Filming a recent community film with young people in Shaftesbury. Below: The new film editing suite at SAC.

The group meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7pm in the Proctor Room and anyone is welcome who is over 18 and interested in film-making. There are presently no extra fees payable beyond membership of the arts centre (see 'Join Us' for details).
 

Production priorities decided at the group's February 2011 meeting are:

• ‘Canning Canning’: feature/trailer short on playwright Victor Canning Coordinator: John Higgins 

• Shaftesbury: A Rolling (Video) Record Coordinator: Alan Casperd 

• Send Us Your Film Clips/Short Film Competition Coordinator: Mike Scott

• SAC/drama group at work Coordinator: John Baldwin

• SAC Documentaries Coordinator: Richard Thomas

Contact: Richard Thomas 01747 850073; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Shaftesbury Arts Centre's Community Film Unit was set up with European funding through the Sowing Seeds Programme.

Community Radio Group

A community radio group was set up in December 2011 based in the Proctor Room and using the same equipmnt as the film unit. The group has a link with Radio Sherborne that won the area's first community broadcast lcence in January 2012 (see http://www.radiosherborne.co.uk/) as well as Vintage Radio, Age UK's national online radio service.

For more information contact the group's coordinator Richard Thomas 01747 850073.