News

Dear Galway Film Society Patron,

We trust that you enjoyed Galway Film Society’s (GFS) Autumn season, during which we welcomed special guests, presented many sold-out screenings, and saw standing ovations for film.

GFS is delighted to continue championing independent and international cinema with its Winter 2023 programme.

The Winter 2023 Season, starting this weekend on Sunday November 5th and Monday November 6th, will present 6 films, spotlighting a wealth of new award-winning titles from around the world.

The GFS Winter programme celebrates in particular the fantastic diversity of European film with a number of highlights including the much-anticipated French drama Anatomy of a Fall, winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2023; the Berlin Film Festival 2023 Best Performance winner 20,000 Species of Bees, a warm and moving Spanish gem; and the uplifting crowd-pleaser Driving Madeleine.

GFS will also continue its support of emerging filmmakers by screening another two short films during its Winter season, providing an important platform for emerging talent.

IMPORTANT – GFS would like to encourage its patrons to avail of its subsidised season ticket priced at just €45 for 6 films. We would appreciate if patrons could purchase season tickets in person in the Pálás box office, ideally prior to the opening film, to minimise delays on the evening.

GFS as a subsidised voluntary organisation, is obliged to maintain a record of its season tickets holders. When season ticket sales close after the second screening, GFS will request patrons to provide their details accordingly. This will also ensure that GFS season ticket holders avail of associated benefits.

Please also note that Pálás will be operating a free seating policy for this season, so there will be no seat allocation for any GFS screenings.

The season will kick off with the heart-warming coming of age French drama TIME TO GET AWAY!, which is being presented with the support of the French Embassy in Ireland and the Institut Français.

Summer 1982. Eleven-year-old Garance lives in the French Cévennes with her parents and younger sister. The family is part of a group who have come to the area to lead an alternative lifestyle, one that is not entirely approved of by the locals. When a nearby bank robbery by Italian activists goes wrong, it turns the family’s life upside down… 

Lisa Diaz’s feature debut is a sensitive coming of age film, featuring captivating and memorable characters. The story is anchored by a strong performance from young actress Azou Gardahaut-Petiteau as Garance.

In French with English subtitles.

Don’t forget that GFS screenings start at 8.00pm on Sunday evenings and 6.30pm on Monday evenings.

And we are launched!

What a night. Thank you to all that attended the screening of La Syndicaliste.

Special thank you to Maureen Kearney who gave a great and insightful Q+A after the film, Mayor Eddie Hoare and his partner Pam for attending.

If you missed it – we will see you tonight for the second screening of the film.

Photo credit: Holly Buckley

Why Not Have Dinner Before The Film?

GFS would like to encourage its patrons to support its generous sponsors by availing of their variety of pre-film dining options.

Don’t forget to bring a GFS Autumn 2023 brochure to secure a 10% discount at Cava Bodega!

Galway Film Society is delighted to announce its return to Pálás for its Autumn 2023 Season. The season, which starts on Sunday September 17th and Monday September 18th, will present 6 films, representing a range of new critically acclaimed and award-winning titles from around the world. The season will kick off with screenings of the French drama La Syndicaliste, which tells the true story of Mayo-born Maureen Kearney’s fight for justice, with Isabelle Huppert playing the lead role. We are excited to welcome Maureen Kearney to Galway for a Q&A after our Sunday September 17th screening, and to join us for the pre-film reception. Other upcoming highlights include the recent Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Best Director winner Fremont; the multi-award winning Spanish drama The Beasts (As Bestas); and French dance film Rise (En Corps), which was a great critical and box-office success in its native France. In addition we are delighted to be supporting emerging home-grown film talent again this season with our provisionally scheduled three Irish short films – Falling,to screen before Fremont; Baby Steps, to screen before Other People’s Children and His Name Is Scott, to screen before Rise. (Short film titles are subject to confirmation). Scroll down to view the season’s full list of titles, along with information on our programme launch, purchasing season tickets and the benefits of becoming a GFS Member.

Autumn 2023 Film Season Launch The Opening Screenings of La Syndicaliste will be celebrated with a pre-film complimentary drinks reception for GFS members on both evenings (commencing 45 minutes before the film). GFS members will also have the opportunity to win one of the following generous GFS sponsor vouchers (the draw will take place on September 25th to accommodate all GFS Autumn 2023 membership subscribers): – Ard Bia – Cava Bodega – The Hardiman Hotel – Kai – Rúibín Bar & Restaurant or a GFS Autumn 2023 Season Membership GFS season tickets (€45 for all 6 films) can be purchased by phone or in-person from Pálás Box Office (not online) until Monday September 25th. Admission to single films costs €12 / €9.50 (concession). For information / bookings, please contact Pálás Box Office on (091) 394 800.

Galway Film Society Member Benefits – GFS Members are invited to a pre-film complimentary drinks reception in Pálás bar on GFS opening weekend (7.15pm on 17 Sept & 6pm on 18 Sept). – GFS Members will be included in the above Opening Film draw (even if not in attendance on the evening) for generous spot prizes from: Ard Bia, Cava Bodega, Kai, Rúibín Bar and Restaurant & The Hardiman Hotel. – GFS Members can secure a 10% discount at Cava Bodega when they present a GFS brochure. – Parking at Hynes Yard Car Park is capped at €4 from 6pm – 3am for tickets validated at Pálás Box Office.  GFS screenings will start at 8.00pm on Sunday evenings and 6.30pm on Monday evenings. View the Autumn 2023 Season Brochure by clicking HERE Looking forward to an enjoyable season of films in good company! Ticket information Season tickets for the Autumn 2023 programme will cost €45 to cover all 6 films. Season tickets are available to purchase now from Pálás Box Office, not online, and will be on sale until Monday September 25th. After Monday September 25th, standard Pálás ticket prices of €12.00 / €9.50 (concession) per film will apply. Enquiries For additional information or queries, please contact Pálás Box Office on (091) 394 800. In the meantime we thank you for your continued support and look forward to welcoming you back.

We are delighted to announce that GFS will not be abandoning you!

We will continue, under our new GFS Summer Flicks initiative, in collaboration with Pálás Cinema, to screen films that should appeal to our GFS audience, on our usual Sunday night 8pm slot & Monday 6:30pm slot.

GFS Summer Flicks is a continuation of GFS screenings, throughout the summer. To enjoy discounted GFS Summer Flicks, there is no requirement to purchase a season ticket or membership.

GFS patrons will be able to avail of the reduced price ticket for GFS Summer Flicks’ individual screenings (€8 as opposed to €12). Please be advised that these tickets can only be bought in person at the box office at Pálás. However, if you wish to reserve seats, you can ring the box office in advance (091 394800) to request that seats be held in your name and paid for on arrival.

GFS will continue to send out newsletters to keep you updated about our GFS Summer Flicks programme and indeed other GFS initiatives, including our collaboration with the Japanese Film Festival, BANFF Mountain Festival and possibly others over the course of the summer period.

For all film announcements visit our social media or click on the GFS Summer Flicks menu above.

AUTUMN SEASON

We’re also delighted to announce that we’ve already been working behind the scenes for our AUTUMN 2023 SEASON, for which we are planning to bring you even more films.

Our Autumn season will comprise of two 5-week parts, presenting a total of 10 films.

The first 5 film run will start on Sunday September 24th, and the second 5 film run will start on Sunday November 5th.

We will announce further details in due course, but for now mark those dates in your calendar!

Well, that’s a wrap on GFS Spring Season 2023!

We hope you have enjoyed the programme as much as we have enjoyed presenting it!

Thank you to everyone who attended our pre-film reception last night and thank you to Mayor Clodagh Higgins for attending. Also, massive thank you to the wonderful staff at Pálás Cinema & Access Cinema – it wouldn’t have been possible without you!

We are delighted to announce that GFS will not be abandoning you! We will continue, under our new GFS Summer Flicks initiative, in collaboration with Pálás Cinema, to screen films that should appeal to our GFS audience, on our usual Sunday night 8pm slot.

More details coming soon…

Holly Buckley interviews director Nell Hensey of the short anthology film BATHS.

Baths is an Irish anthology drama linked together with themes of human connection & told from the perspective of someone taking a bath.

Screening on Sun 26 Mar @ 8.00pm & Mon 27 Mar @ 6.30pm as part of Galway Film Society’s Spring Season 2023.

For more of Nell: Instagram: @nellehensey

#GFS2023

Galway Film Society’s Edith Pieperhoff interviews creators Marta Sniezek and Christian Spurling of the short animated film SMALL HOURS.

Screening on Sun 19 Mar @ 8.00pm & Mon 20 Mar @ 6.30pm as part of Galway Film Society’s Spring Season 2023.

For more of Marta & Christian: Instagram: @martas_sketchbook & @artofaspurling