About us
Harrogate Film Society (HFS for short) has been bringing the best in world cinema to Harrogate since 1955. We usually screen our films at Harrogate Odeon, giving audiences comfort and a full cinematic sound and vision experience.
HFS is run entirely by volunteers and has a strong committed core membership, but we are keen for new members to join us. You will find a warm welcome and a real mix of film fans and enthusiasts - we are not a stuffy bunch of clever clogs!
Seeing a film on your own with HFS is better than missing out! Don't be shy, just turn up on the night and say hello to any of the friendly committee members (we should be wearing name badges) - we will be happy to have a chat and welcome you to the gang.
We have expanded our social media presence, via facebook, with our own page and a group too, threads, bluesky, instagram and we are currently still on X too (though we may not stay there much longer) as well as meetup. Joining our meetup group is free and you can join this meetup group regardless of whether you have paid our annual HFS membership fee / mini-membership fee or not (see website for current prices).
You are welcome to attend any of our events - tickets for these can usually be purchased online in advance via our website or at the event from our desk in the lobby at the Odeon. Please note that a yes RSVP on Meetup does not obligate you to attend any event, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE YOU A PLACE AT THE EVENT IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID FOR A TICKET VIA THE HFS WEBSITE.
You do not need to purchase tickets in advance for our standard film nights (though it does just save you queueing in the Odeon lobby to pay) but it is RECOMMENDED that you book and pay for tickets in advance via the HFS website for any of our special events, art season, or classic cinema, particularly where these may sell out.
The majority of our films are screened in Screen 2 (upstairs with 200+ capacity) and occasional events are screened downstairs in Screens 3 or 5. The downstairs screens have different capacity levels but also have some wheelchair access for a limited number of guests. Please get in touch via the HFS website to reserve a space if required. ALL seating at ALL events is unreserved, so rock up and sit wherever you like.
If you want to join our mailing lists and get more regular updates, please get in touch via contact.harrogatefilmsociety@gmail.com
Perhaps this meetup group could be the first step on your journey to becoming a full member and supporting our society?
Follow the link below for more information or to buy tickets from the Film Society website.
Upcoming events
14
Sentimental Value
ODEON Harrogate, East Parade, Harrogate, GBhttps://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/sentimental-value
Sentimental Value | 2025 | 15 | Dir. Joachim Trier | Norway | IMDb 7.7 | Subtitled | 133 mins
Award winning filmmaker Joachim Trier goes from strength to strength after The Worst Person In the World with his latest endeavour, Sentimental Value. The story of estranged father, Gustav (Settlan Skarsgård), reuniting with his two daughters, as he attempts to beckon the stage acting Nora (Renate Reinsve) into starring in his latest project.
This Norwegian film is not only phenomenally acted but backed with another signature Trier soundtrack as we’re taken through the lives of our characters, what bonds them together, and what once pulled them apart. Its strengths are infinite, but what is does so well is convey the simplest of emotions in the most moving, grand ways.
A must watch and winner of the 98th Oscar’s’ Best International Feature Film award.· Screen 1 upstairs
· Doors open 6.45pm
· Welcome from our chair Paula Stott @ 7.15pm
· Free parking after 6pm if you DISPLAY an orange parking voucher, available from the Odeon lobby
· Unreserved seating
· We invite every viewer to score the film afterwards using a token system in the lobby.Entry is free for HFS members who have paid an annual subscription via our website. Membership costs just £52.50 for all 15 films and just £30 if you are lucky enough to be under 25! Join on the Harrogate Film Society website.
Tickets for non-members will be available from 1st September for this film online and also on the night.
2 attendees
The Girl with the Needle
ODEON Harrogate, East Parade, Harrogate, GBhttps://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/the-girl-with-the-needle
The Girl with the Needle | 2024 | 15 | Dir. Magnus von Horn | Denmark | IMDb 7.5 | Subtitled | 123 mins
Magnus von Horn’s The Girl with the Needle (2024) is a haunting, gothic historical horror that plunges viewers into the bleak, post-World War I streets of Copenhagan. Loosely based on the harrowing true story of serial killer Dagmar Overbye, The Girl with the Needle is based on Denmark’s 1921 baby-killer case. This high-contrast monochrome film delivers a devastating look at desperation and survival. It is a masterful, though undeniably distressing, piece of cinema.
One of the most striking aspects of the film is its black-and-white cinematography. Director Magnus von Horn and cinematographer Michal Dymek purposefully omit colour to reject any romanticised nostalgia. Instead, the visuals create a gothic fairy tale atmosphere that emphasizes the resolute bleakness of the setting. Every frame feels soaked in menace and dread, resulting in a suffocating tension that rivals the most effective psychological thrillers.
The film is anchored by two phenomenal lead performances that carry the emotional weight of the story. Vic Carmen Sonne portrays Karoline’s quiet suffering and gradual descent into darkness with a brilliant, raw authenticity. Opposite her, Trine Dyrholm delivers a multi-layered and terrifyingly complex performance as Dagmar, a woman who is both tormented and profoundly chilling.
The Girl with the Needle is not an easy watch. It tackles harrowing themes of poverty, societal judgment, and morality in the wake of catastrophic war. However, its exceptional directing, stunning technical merits, and thought-provoking narrative make it an outstanding and highly original piece of cinema.· Screen 1 upstairs
· Doors open 6.45pm
· Welcome from our chair Paula Stott @ 7.15pm
· Free parking after 6pm if you DISPLAY an orange parking voucher, available from the Odeon lobby
· Unreserved seating
· We invite every viewer to score the film afterwards using a token system in the lobby.Entry is free for HFS members who have paid an annual subscription via our website. Membership costs just £52.50 for all 15 films and just £30 if you are lucky enough to be under 25! Join on the Harrogate Film Society website.
Tickets for non-members will be available from 1st September for this film online and also on the night.
1 attendee
Inside the Uffizi
ODEON Harrogate, East Parade, Harrogate, GBInside the Uffizi | 2021 | Dirs. Corinna Belz & Enrique Sanchez Lansch | Germany | 97 mins | IMDb 6.9 | Art Documentary | Subtitled
Presented by Harrogate Film Society in partnership with the Friends of the Mercer Gallery.
The film invites us to immerse ourselves into the works of Botticelli and Artemisia Gentileschi, and discovers the 17th century painting ‘Fall of the Rebel Angels’ that confronts us with our contemporary vulnerability and hubris. Wartime scenes and a Mafia bomb attack show the history of threats and the endless efforts to protect and maintain this unique collection for future generations.
https://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/inside-the-uffizi
Seating limited to 64 so we recommend you book in advance.
- Ticket price includes a glass of wine.
- Screen 3.
- One wheelchair space - get in touch to reserve this - at contact.harrogatefilmsociety@gmail.com
- Doors open at 6.45pm and the film will start after the introduction @ 7pm.
- All seating is unreserved.
- Free parking in Odeon car park but you must display a parking voucher available from Odeon staff.
2 attendees
DJ Ahmet
ODEON Harrogate, East Parade, Harrogate, GBhttps://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/dj-ahmet
DJ Ahmet | 2025 | PG | Dir. Georgi M. Unkovski | Turkey | IMDb 7.3 | Subtitled | 99 mins
This is a charming coming of age tale in the rarely depicted setting of North Macedonia. A local shepherd boy from a traditional village is grappling with all of the usual teenage concerns, girls, music, phones, and some less usual such as how to keep a track of his sheep. A new neighbour arrives from the city and he uses his love of dance music to woo her with hilarious results. Look out for the rural rave and pink sheep going viral on Tik Tok.
Directed and written by Georgi M. Unkovski this dramedy has a playful feel all of the way through with genuine laugh out loud moments alongside deeper explorations. Never were the themes of tradition and modernity, love, loss and getting older so delightfully depicted. And despite the colourful and exotic setting all of the human experiences are eminently relatable.
The two young leads are played by non-professional actors, and both give warm and genuine performances. Beautifully shot and with an upbeat and suitably eclectic soundtrack the whole piece has a fresh and vibrant feel about it.
This heartwarming and entertaining film is a hidden gem and not like anything else. It has been applauded by critics and audiences alike, picking up several awards, including the audience award at the Sundance Festival (2025). This is one to be experienced and enjoyed alongside others. Come along and see what you think.· Screen 1 upstairs
· Doors open 6.45pm
· Welcome from our chair Paula Stott @ 7.15pm
· Free parking after 6pm if you DISPLAY an orange parking voucher, available from the Odeon lobby
· Unreserved seating
· We invite every viewer to score the film afterwards using a token system in the lobby.Entry is free for HFS members who have paid an annual subscription via our website. Membership costs just £52.50 for all 15 films and just £30 if you are lucky enough to be under 25! Join on the Harrogate Film Society website.
Tickets for non-members will be available from 1st September for this film online and also on the night.
1 attendee
Past events
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