Films in the Southern Highlands was launched in 1994. It has over three hundred members and exhibits around ten films a year. There are two showings for each film.

Fish’s opening show was Jim Jamusch’s “Night on Earth”, on Tuesday August 30th 1994. This first event was a surprising success. Around one hundred people packed into the small cinema at the Empire and helped to launch our film group. From its inception it has shown “Art House” movies that were not exhibited outside Sydney; although from time to time this has been varied and may well be in the future. A majority of that original audience was composed of subscribers to the Travelling Film Festival which had been coming to Bowral since 1974.

Much of the credit for the initial success of this venture lies with the then new proprietor of the Empire Cinema. Richard Ruhfus was looking to expand the type of audiences that came regularly to the Empire and so in July 1994, he gathered together an interested group of people at “Epicure” and offered them the Empire free of charge once a month. To those of us for whom “Film Society” meant struggling with 16mm projectors in school halls this was a wonderful offer and it created the conditions and enthusiasm that proved so successful in the following years.

There were about ten people at that original meeting. A committee was formed and Alan Purdom volunteered to design the Logo that is now so familiar. To finance the venture, those at the meeting all donated twenty dollars and FISH was launched. The original committee was Chris Topp president, Barb Vickery treasurer, Robert Graham and Judy Mylonas programming, Elizabeth Rogers secretary, Shayne Mortimer and Anne Steven.

After “Night On Earth” FISH was immediately “financial”. Membership numbers rewarded Richard’s original faith in the idea. Through the ’90’s membership was always between one and two hundred and has climbed to the present figure, approximately 350,with the move by Greg and Norma Tome (recently retired President and Treasurer) to issue yearly membership passes, replacing the cumbersome ticketing process and three film seasons that were used in the early years. At that first event we had announced that a three film season would be $20 and that our target for membership would be around 40 subscriptions!

With the passing of time, an increase in membership, and the change of committee members the structure and operation of the committee and the society have become more established. The informal approach that characterised our earlier administration was reformed by Greg Tome who took us through incorporation and the affairs of FISH are now conducted at formal monthly meetings of the committee. Robin Knowles, the current president, and her committee, have continued to refine the procedures. With about 350 members, a monthly mailout, newsletters and interaction with members there is much to do.

Although the annual membership renewal is the most onerous task, the committee’s most important function is the selection of films. Originally this was undertaken by both Robert Graham and Judy Mylonas. Judy’s regular attendance at the Sydney Film Festival and Robert’s English teaching background provided us with splendid programming. In more recent times, the committee has determined the selection with input from all members and particularly from Greg and Norma. At present Trish Goodman acts as the collector of reviews and has provided information to the committee members who all participate in the process of selection. Ross Armfield’s input has been particularly useful.

The success of FISH is seen in the move to two screenings. The original time offered by Richard was 8.30pm on a Tuesday once a month. As membership grew in the early 2000s the committee became aware that there were more members than seats in Cinema 1 at the Empire. The initial response was to restrict membership and establish a waiting list. In 2004 Richard approved a second screening at 10.00am on a Sunday. This has been very successful with many members preferring the Sunday screening. The committee was then able to allow the membership to grow.

At the inaugural meeting it was decided to use a Federation of Film Societies stock constitution which was later replaced when FISH incorporated. In both constitutions our pre-eminent role as a Film Group was associated with a broader role of contributor to the local community. FISH has, over the years, been the proud contributor to a number of community projects, the Walkway to the Empire, seating in the Mittagong Community Theatre, special film showings for senior citizens, a donation to Volunteering Wingecarribee, support for the Travelling Film Festival and lately support for the Sydney Film Festival.

Finally, FISH has always had a wonderful association with the Empire Cinema and Richard Ruhfus our patron. To watch the growth and development of the Empire over the past decade has been a pleasure and it is a privilege for the members of our society to be treated in such a welcoming and professional manner.

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