The Regal Film Society
The Regal Film Society
ABOUT
Welcome to The Regal Film Society
The Regal Film Society screens an annual programme of monthly films for members from September to the end of June. In addition the film society organises fund-raising public screenings of mainstream film titles as well as live screenings of opera and ballet from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and other venues.
The members' programme features at least 11 newly-released films from the UK and around the world. Many of these are independent films which do not receive the exposure they deserve in commercial cinemas. The season of films opens and closes with more high profile titles which are open to the public.
The Regal Film Society has its home in the voluntarily-run Regal Theatre in Minehead, Somerset, is itself entirely run by volunteers and is a member of the MATA Regal Theatre Company Ltd, which runs the theatre.
Founded in 1994, the film society has grown to become the largest film society in the south west and the second largest in the country with around 500 members.
The Regal Film Society operates a digital cinema package (DCP) of the type now used in most commercial cinemas and has one of the largest screens in the area which measures more than 9 m (30ft) by 4.5m (15ft).
The film society is a registered as a charity no 1162286. We acknowledge with enormous gratitude financial support to purchase the DCP and the new screen from our members and:
The Clark Foundation
The Elmgrant Trust
The Golsoncott Foundation
The Leonard Laity Stoate Charitable Trust
The Stephen Clark 1957 Charitable Trust
The Garfield Weston Foundation
TRUSTEES
Victoria Thomas
Co-founder and Trustee
A co-founder of the film society in 1994, Victoria's favourite film directors are Ingmar Bergman, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Louis Malle, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Akira Kurosawa, Woody Allen, Nic Roeg, Luigi Visconti, Jacques Rivette, Lukas Moodysson, Agnes Jaoui, Susanne Bier, Sofia Coppola, Rebecca Miller and Greta Gerwig. In her opinion the most overrated directors are HItchcock, Kubrick, Scorsese and Haneke.
Her favourite film critic was Roger Ebert.
Liz Murphy
Secretary
I am a retired primary teacher have three grown up children and love living in Watchet. I once described our visits to the Film Society as "one of the highlights of my life" and have wonderful memories of some amazing films. For several years I organised theatre trips for an Arts Society in Minehead and I am passionate about
art, theatre and music as well
as film.
Monica Hartwell
Trustee
Monica moved to Somerset with her sister in 2013, rather than feeling sad after each brief holiday came to an end.
She is now ‘living life backwards’, gainful employment all but over - 16 years in the Bank of England, BA Hons at York University, a second career in the voluntary sector, then freelancing in the sector - she spends time helping the film society, the Regal Theatre and Minehead Museum.
Doug Brain-Smith
Membership Secretary
I moved to the West Country after retiring as a research chemist 20 years ago, initially to a small village in Devon and then to Minehead in 2005 I am now a widower living on North Hill with an amazing view
over Minehead and he coast, counting my blessings
every day while sitting on
my Gin Deck.
Peter Murphy
Martin Smith
Chair
After teaching in a Yorkshire secondary school I retired to Watchet in 2002 with my wife Liz and became involved in community life. My one claim to fame film wise was being mistaken for Steven Spielberg on Holy Island! Always tried to get to the Society AGM and honoured to become a trustee in 2020.
Trustee and Technical Lead