The Liveliest Art

The newly-created Victoria University Film Society has got off to a brilliant start. Since it began its programmes in May, the audience at the weekly screenings has progressively increased from the initial thirty to one hundred and fifty people, and there are signs that as it is still increasing, C.3, which is almost full at each screening now, will not be able to hold everybody comfortably.

The society is at present screening a two hour programme twice a week—on Wednesdays in C.1, and Thursdays in C.3. As they start at 12.15 p.m. and run through the lunch time period they can be seen by a wide section of the students. A screening consists usually of about five shorts and is designed to cover a wide variety of subjects and interests. For instance, past programmes have included such diverse films as Steelworks at Clabecq, the First Prize winner at the 1956 Anvers Festival, which treats the processes in a steelmill in an impressionistic manner; People In The City, the Arne Sucksdorff short about Stockholm; short films featuring the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the N.B.C. Symphony Orchestra under Toscanini, and the Bach Aria Group; abstract films by Norman McLaren; art films about Picasso and Calder; and John Huston's mutilated masterpiece The Battle For San Pietro.

Future Films

Films which have been booked for future screenings include the Academy Award winning Glass; others dealing with the Glyndebourne Opera, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Sadler's Wells will be shown along with films dealing with scientific, historical, experimental and aesthetic subjects.

The society was formed by Arthur Everard to show films of a high artistic standard which are not generally available elsewhere. Being president, projectionist and programme organiser running of the club depends largely on his efforts and it is greatly to his credit that the Film Society is one of the most active and smoothly working clubs in the the university. Students with any requests about screenings will always receive a sympathetic hearing.

No Grant

At time of going to press, the Students' Association has not yet given the society a grant to cover the hiring of feature films. It is hoped however, to screen these if the necessary money comes to hand. It would be a pity if the most progressive club in the university was forced to curtail its activities for lack of funds, when other more specialised clubs, less well patronised by the student body, receive large handouts.