Eva Rachert – Contributor

Alongside volunteer initiatives and mainstay student societies, several new clubs have started on campus this year. Among these new initiatives is the Bishop’s University Film Society, which was created at the beginning of this semester. The BU Film Society has been advertising across campus since the start of September, tabling in the SUB and working with some of the English Department professors to workshop the structure of the club and find relevant films. The Film Society intends to provide an educational space for Bishop’s students to learn about different periods of film and allow students to connect over a love of movies. The Film Society will be meeting weekly starting in October — as of now, screenings are planned to be held on Tuesday evenings in Nicolls 004. Admission is free for all Bishop’s students, regardless of whether they are registered as members of the club. The club is currently run by fourth-year English literature honours students Eva Rachert and Lucie Casinghino.  

After each meeting, students are invited to join the co-leads in the Gait, where attendees will be able to discuss and analyze the contents of whatever movie was shown that week. The club intends to provide an informal setting for students across different departments to learn theory and the history of film, encouraging engagement in the humanities and fostering community between disciplines. The informal nature of the club allows for students to come to screenings as they will — members are encouraged to attend screenings and bring friends and are not required to register in advance. 

Casinghino describes the club as follows: “We wanted to give students a place to watch interesting and culturally relevant movies they might not otherwise have access to — we’re specifically trying to focus on movies that aren’t on streaming sites, that aren’t showing in movie theatres. Universities across the country have similar clubs, and I’ve known them to have high student engagement and help people get to know each other while watching and talking about something they love. We’re super excited to get started.” 

The film club’s first screening will be Michel Gondry’s 2004 drama film The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, likely to be presented on Oct. 2. Interested students can contact the club via their Instagram @bishopsfilmsociety, or by reaching the co-founders through their university email addresses. The club takes movie requests through their Instagram direct messages or in person at the end of each screening.

Graphic Courtesy of Damita Melchi