Happy New Year, welcome to 2024.

The first important reminder is that our memberships are for the calendar year, so 2024 memberships are due if you haven't already renewed - our fees remain unchanged at $75 full membership and $65 concession. To avoid getting caught up in the dreaded

Queue Conspiracy on the night you can pay online direct to our bank account:

->Account Name: Reels Film Society Inc<-

->Bendigo Bank (Mount Gambier)<-

->BSB: 633-000<-

->Account Number: 165 144 858<-

The second important reminder is that this month we are on the **fourth**

Thursday (the 25th).

Our film to kick off the year comes to us from Bhutan, Young teacher Ugyen is an aspiring singer looking to move to Australia to further his career. When his aspirations lead to him neglecting his duties he is banished to the world's most remote school, high in the Himalayas. The village of Lunana is so remote the only way to reach is an eight day hike and electricity is the stuff of science fiction.

In keeping with our "thematic" wine choices, this month's selection includes:

a) The village of Lunana in Bhutan – high in the Himalayan

mountains.

Nepenthe “Altitude” Sauvignon Blanc 2023

“Moon Collective” Moscato 2023

(so high you’re closer to the Moon)

b) A teacher with ambitions to make it as a singer/musician

“The Musician” Majella Cabernet Shiraz, 2021

“Blockhead” St Hallett Barossa Shiraz, 2021

(every school class has one)

c) A yak in the classroom

Noble Fellows “Baron Betsy” Pinot Gris 2022

“Elephant in the (Class) Room” South Australia

Titanic Tempranillo 2022

(hey – it’s a big creature in the class room)

The more observant among you may notice some subtle artistic additions to some labels in support of the themes.

As always doors will open at 6:30, screening at about 7:00.

Look forward to seeing you then.

 Our last movie for 2023 takes us to a corner of Italy where things are not necessarily as they should be, unless you're the wealthy landowner taking advantage of people's naivety.

Working as a sharecropper on a tobacco farm Lazzaro is befriended by the cruel owner's son, and is persuaded to help in a scheme to stage a fake kidnapping. The plan goes awry, but has an outcome nobody could have foreseen.

We end the year with a highly regarded Italian movie described as a fantasy drama.

As always doors will open at 6:30, screening at about 7:00. If you would like to get in early for your 2024 membership we will be more than happy to accommodate you. Our fees remain unchanged at $75 full membership ($65 concession).

Look forward to seeing you then.

 Reels Hits the Road

Coonawarra, Australia’s “Other Red Centre” was the venue for the Mount Gambier based Reels Film Society to hold a bonus movie screening on Friday 3^rd November.  It was in appreciation of people who were part of  membership growth since the Covid era when movies and membership were adversely impacted.  It was also a  way of saying thank you to the numerous members from the Penola district who have been part of Reels for many years by screening a movie in their own backyard.

Over 70 members took part in a "Road Movie" of their own and travelled to Coonawarra in a chartered bus or made their own way to the Coonawarra Memorial Hall to watch the audience award winning documentary “Blind Ambition”.   Where else, but Coonawarra would you show an inspiring story of four Zimbabwean refugees who not only conquered the odds to become South Africa’s top sommeliers and then with unshakeable pride and passion represented  Zimbabwe in the Olympics of the wine world, the “World Wine Tasting Championships” in France.

Their uplifting story celebrating how irrepressible the human spirit can be was awarded a high rating of 4.4 stars by the appreciative audience after they enjoyed not only the film but the local food and wine on offer.

Feedback was positive with members texting “It was a great night".  "Loved the movie and their determination, their funny personalities and they way they have since gone on and given back to their home communities". "We really enjoyed being in the Coonawarra hall and the food and wine were fantastic. ”

Comments such as these have started the Committee thinking as to where and when the next bonus members night shall be held.  Becoming a member is easy, go online, anytime and register.

 Following a very successful members night at the Coonawarra we return to our regular screenings on Thursday 16th November.

Digging gold and gunfighting prowess were not the only ways to riches in the Wild West, some entrepreneurial spirits sought other paths, This is the story of the unlikely  pairing of Cookie, the kitchen loner and a Chinese labourer as they seek to make it big. But to do so they need a special, hard to get, ingredient.

As usual the doors will open at 6:30 allowing time for members and guests to enjoy a bovine themed tipple and some nibbles before the screening. This month's selection consists of:

Whites

* Cow Bombie (Sauvignon Blanc)

* Noble Fellows "Baron Betsy" (Pinot Gris)*

* Brown Brothers "How Now" (Moscato)

Reds

* "Lovers not Torreadors" (Tempranillo)*

* "Farm Hand" (organic Shiraz)

* Cow Bombie (Cabernet Merlot)

*to confirm the bovine connection check the label.

We'll be screening at 7, see you there.

 Following the thrills and spills of this year's AGM we will be enjoying Antonio Banderas' playing a talented director forced to look back on his career and the life choices he made; the good, the poor and the indifferent.

As mentioned previously, our movie will be preceded by the 2023 AGM. The AGM will commence at 7:00, as usual doors will be open at 6:30 with time for a quick tipple and light snack before all the excitement begins.

Looking forward to seeing you on the night.

No Time Machine Needed

 Thank you to all the observant members who noticed my whoopsie in this week's AGM notice. Our AGM will not be held two months ago, and it won't even be on the 17th.

It will be on Thursday the 19th October. Apologies for the error. Looking forward to seeing you there and then.

AGM NOTIFICATION

 Our official AGM will be held on Thursday 17th August at 7:00pm, immediately before our October screening.

All members are encouraged to attend and be involved. The AGM is your opportunity to hear about how the society is tracking and, if you feel so moved nominate for the committee.

If you can't join us please let us  know so we can record you as an apology.