The British Federation of Film Societies, BFFS, held its 2007 national Film Society of the Year Awards ceremony on Saturday 3rd March.

BFFS welcomed acclaimed director Nic Roeg (Performance, 1970, Don’t Look Now 1973, Puffball, 2007) to present these prestigious awards at London’s new BFI Southbank.

Each year BFFS rewards excellence in the vital work that film societies do in cultural and community cinema. The Film Society of Year Awards are vitally important in achieving recognition for the often unsung work of an army of dedicated film devotees, all of whom work for their film societies entirely voluntarily to bring high-quality cinema to their local communities throughout the country.

The Engholm Prize for Film Society of the Year for the most vigorous and dynamic film society demonstrating all qualities required of individual categories was awarded to CinéGuernsey, for its matchless customer service and creativity.

For his contribution to the film society movement The Roebuck Cup was awarded to Leslie Hardcastle OBE, whose support for film societies encompasses his time in the BFI including the Central Booking Service to his current Chairmanship of Uckfield Film Society.

BFFS Chair, David Miller commented, “This event is always an enormous pleasure and gives recognition to a vitally important contributor to the cinema heritage of this country. Having Nic Roeg present the Awards is the icing on the cake”.

Full List of Winners of the BFFS 2007 Film Society of the Year Awards

Best Programme Notes
Joint Winners – Bracknell Film Society, Bridport Film Society

Distinction – Swindon Film Society, Trowbridge Film Society
Commendations – Penwith Film Society, Winchester Film Society

Best Website
Winner – Keswick Film Club

Distinction – Forest Row Film Society, Wimbledon Film Club
Commendations – Oxen Park Cinema Club, Winchester Film Society

Best Marketing and Publicity
Winner – CinéGuernsey

Distinction – Dorchester Film Society
Commendations – Keswick Film Club, Lytham St Annes Film Society, Wimbledon Film Club

Best Programming
Winner – Penwith Film Society

Distinction – Club Film (Skye), IGA Film Club (London), Keswick Film Club
Commendations – Bracknell Film Society, Bridport Film Society, Louth Film Society, Winchester Film Society

Best New Society
Winner – Real 2 Reel Cinema (Lancs)

Distinction – Looe Film Society (Cinema by the Sea)
Commendations – Diss Film Society, Largs Film Society

Community Award
Winner – CinéGuernsey

Distinction – Swindon Film Society
Commendations – Oxen Park Cinema Club, Strathendrick Film Society

Best Student Society
Winner – CinSoc - University of Exeter Guild of Students Cinema Society

The Engholm Prize for Film Society of the Year
Winner – CinéGuernsey

Distinction – Winchester Film Society