Just a friendly reminder that our Annual General Meeting is taking place TONIGHT (Monday 21 March) in the Kambri Cinema from 6 pm.
We would love for you to come along to hear about how we’ve been doing over the past 12 months and help us plan for our future – which may even include a role for you if you’re interested in joining our new administration. Drop us a line at info@anufg.org.au if you’d like to know more, but otherwise, we hope to see you there!
As the AGM will be taking place indoors, please also be advised that wearing a mask will be mandatory as per ANU requirements.
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WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK
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The Oscars are taking place next Monday, which means that our Oscar Week is right around the corner with contenders like BELFAST, WEST SIDE STORY, KING RICHARD, LICORICE PIZZA all screening throughout the week.
But first, this week you can catch Kristen Stewart’s Oscar-nominated performance as the People’s Princess in SPENCER, watch Mads Mikkelsen seek revenge in RIDERS OF JUSTICE, see a mother rebuild her life in HERSELF, witness the beginning of the Kingsman in THE KING’S MAN, and catch director Sean Baker’s latest acclaimed film, RED ROCKET.
• WED 23 MAR @ 7:30 PM: RIDERS OF JUSTICE (MA, 116 mins)
After his wife dies in a train accident, a recently-deployed soldier (Mads Mikkelsen) is informed by a survivor that the wreck may not have been accidental after all and sets out to find those responsible, in this darkly comic Danish thriller.
• THU 24 MAR @ 7:30 PM: HERSELF (MA, 97 mins)
Struggling to find housing for her two young daughters after escaping an abusive relationship, a single mother decides to build her own home with the help of the local community, rebuilding her life and rediscovering herself in the process.
Presented in partnership with the Embassy of Ireland
• FRI 25 MAR @ 7:30 PM: THE KING’S MAN (MA, 131 mins)
In 1914, as a shadowy collective of the world's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a world war, a war-hero-turned-pacifist (Ralph Fiennes) must race against time to stop them in this prequel to the Kingsman films.
• SAT 26 MAR @ **5 PM**: SPENCER (M, 116 mins)
In 1991, as the Royal Family prepare the spend the Christmas holidays together, Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) finds herself struggling to enjoy the festivities with her marriage to Prince Charles in crisis and her mental health in question.
• SAT 26 MAR @ 7:30 PM: RED ROCKET (MA, 130 mins)
Finding himself down and out in Los Angeles, a washed-up former porn star decides to return to his hometown in Texas after nearly 20 years away, where he forms a dysfunctional family with his estranged wife and mother-in-law.
Please remember that masks must continue to be worn while in any indoor space on the ANU campus for the foreseeable future. This includes ANU Film Group screenings, for which masks are a condition of entry into screenings: if you don't have a mask, you will NOT be allowed into the cinema.
We will continue to provide disposable masks for anyone who has forgotten theirs, but please ask that you bring your own where possible as our supply is limited.
As required by the ANU, there will also be a COVID Safety Officer present at all screenings to ensure compliance for the duration of the film. Masks may only be removed if you are actively eating or drinking, or if you can supply proof of a valid medical exemption (e.g. letter from your doctor).
Thank you to everyone for your cooperation so far in ensuring our screenings are a safe moviegoing environment for all!
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WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK
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This week at the ANU Film Group, indulge in your appetite for meaningful food, ghostbusting, France's first restaurant, and an Argentinian heist. Plus, celebrate 60th anniversary of James Bond's first big-screen outing with DR. NO!
• WED 16 MAR @ 7:30 PM: BREAKING BREAD (M, 86 mins)
Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel – the first Muslim Arab to win Israel's MasterChef – is on a quest to make a social change through food, pairing Arab and Jewish chefs to discover and celebrate the food of their region free from politics and religion.
• THU 17 MAR @ 7:30 PM: GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE (PG, 124 mins)
After their estranged grandfather passes away, a single mother and her two kids travel to a small town to collect their inheritance but instead discover their connection to the Ghostbusters and the secret legacy that has been left behind.
• FRI 18 MAR @ 7:30 PM: DR. NO (PG, 110 mins)
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of 007's first screen adventure, as James Bond (Sean Connery) is sent to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of a fellow agent and encounters the villainous Dr. No and his plot to disrupt the American space program.
• SAT 19 MAR @ **5 PM**: DELICIOUS (M, 113 mins)
In 18th century France, a talented chef loses his taste for cooking after he is dismissed from his aristocratic posting, but soon decides to get revenge on high society by opening the country's very first restaurant, in this culinary comedy.
• SAT 19 MAR @ 7:30 PM: HEROIC LOSERS (M, 116 mins)
It's 2001 and Argentina is the midst of a great depression. After a group of enterprising small-town locals fall prey to a corrupt banker and lose everything, they band together with a crazy plan to steal back their hard-earned money.
If you want to get more involved in the running of the ANU Film Group, or simply want to find out more about how it’s done, be sure to mark MONDAY 21 MARCH in your calendar because that’s the date of our upcoming Annual General Meeting!
In case you didn’t know, the ANUFG is run by a team of hard-working volunteers and the AGM is a chance for you to get in on the action by joining our new administration for the next 12 months. All members are invited ¬– and encouraged – to come along to hear about how we did in the past year and what our plans are for the future.
The meeting will be held in person in the Kambri Cinema on Monday 21 March from 6 pm onwards.
Want to know more about what being a committee member entails? Or are you keen to put your hand up but can’t make it to the meeting? Drop us a line at info@anufg.org.au and we’d be more than happy to let you know more.
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WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK
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The latest films from Pedro Almodóvar, Wes Anderson and Disney Animation Studios arrive at the ANU Film Group this week, along with a return to the world of The Matrix and an Aussie thriller starring Zac Efron… with a mullet!
• WED 9 MAR @ 7:30 PM: GOLD (M, 97 mins)
When two drifters (Zac Efron, Anthony Hayes) travelling through the unforgiving desert stumble upon the biggest gold nugget ever found, they hatch a plan to excavate – and protect – the gold, in this sparse and tense Australian thriller.
• THU 10 MAR @ 7:30 PM: PARALLEL MOTHERS (M, 123 mins)
Two pregnant women who are about to give birth meet in a hospital room, where they bond over their similar predicaments and soon find their lives entwined in increasingly complex and testing ways, in the latest from Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar.
Presented in partnership with the Embassy of Spain
• FRI 11 MAR @ 7:30 PM: THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS (M, 148 mins)
A video game developer (Keanu Reeves) who has trouble distinguishing dreams from reality begins to see the world differently when a group of rebels inform him that he is living inside a computer simulation known as The Matrix.
• SAT 12 MAR @ **5 PM**: ENCANTO (PG, 109 mins – NO GUESTS)
The extraordinary Madrigal family live in a magical house in the mountains of Colombia which has blessed every child in the family with a special power – except for the extremely ordinary Mirabel, who soon discovers that the magic might be fading.
Presented in partnership with the Embassy of Colombia
• SAT 12 MAR @ 7:30 PM: THE FRENCH DISPATCH (M, 108 mins)
Wes Anderson and an all-star cast transport us to 1970s France where the staff of an American magazine are putting out its last issue, bringing to life stories featuring artistic prisoners, student riots, and the kidnapping of a police commissioner's son.
Spiders, pigs, lamb, caves and Gucci – we’ve got it all this week at the ANU Film Group as we head into the month of March!
Please remember to continue to bring your masks when attending screenings as they remain mandatory while in indoor spaces on the ANU campus, despite the easing of the wider ACT’s mask requirements last week. More information can be found HERE
• TUE 1 MAR @ 7:30 PM: LAMB (MA, 106 mins)
A childless couple live with their herd of sheep on a beautiful but remote farm. When they discover a mysterious newborn on their land, they decide to keep it and raise it as their own, in this dark and unusual Icelandic horror-fantasy tale.
• THU 3 MAR @ 7:30 PM: SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (M, 146 mins – NO GUESTS)
With his identity now revealed to the world, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) can no longer separate his civilian life from being Spider-Man, forcing him to seek the help of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a universe-altering spell.
• FRI 4 MAR @ 7:30 PM: HOUSE OF GUCCI (MA, 158 mins – NO GUESTS)
In 1978, Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) meets Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), the young heir to the legendary Italian fashion dynasty. Before long, Patrizia's unbridled ambition transforms their romance into a fight for control of the family.
• SAT 5 MAR @ **5 PM**: THE RESCUE (M, 107 mins)
Never-before-seen material and interviews bring to life the enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world in 2018: the daring rescue of twelve boys and their soccer coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand.
• SAT 5 MAR @ 7:30 PM: PIG (MA, 91 mins)
Living alone in the Oregon wilderness, a reclusive truffle hunter (Nicolas Cage) is forced to return to confront his past in the big city after his only companion – a prized foraging pig – is kidnapped, in this acclaimed, melancholy indie drama.
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SUPPORT ANUFG AT THE SOUTHERN CROSS CLUB
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With restrictions easing and people dining out again, we encourage you to pay a visit to your local restaurants and clubs that have been hard hit by the pandemic over the past two years. The Canberra Southern Cross Club (CSCC), in particular, is worth a trip thanks to their Community Rewards program, which gives back to a wide variety of community groups – including everyone's favourite film society.
This means that if CSCC members choose to nominate the ANU Film Group as their community group of choice, the CSCC will donate to us 7.5% of what that member spends on food and drink at any of their venues. So you get to have a good meal and support, not just one, but two local organisations too!
If you’re already a CSCC member, nominating us is easy. All you have to do is fill out a short online form by CLICKING HERE
Alternatively, you can email us at info@anufg.org.au with your full name and CSCC membership number, or speak to reception at any CSCC venue. And if you’re not a member, you can find out more about the CSCC and its Community Rewards program at www.cscc.com.au/rewards
The ANU has announced that they will continue to require masks to be worn while indoors on campus "for the foreseeable future", despite the ACT Government easing their mask requirements from this Friday onwards.
This means that all members and guests must wear a mask while attending ANU Film Group screenings, unless you have a valid medical exemption or are actively eating or drinking.
We will continue to have a supply of disposable masks available for anyone who has forgotten theirs, but caution that this supply is limited. You will not be permitted entry into the cinema without a mask so please try to bring your own where possible.
The medical advice remains that masks are one of the best methods of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and should be used indoors whenever social distancing isn’t possible, so we trust that this will result in a safer moviegoing environment for all.
We can also advise that, following the easing of restrictions over the weekend, the use of the ACT Health Check In CBR app is no longer mandatory. However, we will continue displaying our QR code at the entrance to the cinema for anyone to use if they wish. If you are unable to use the app, we can also assist you with checking in on one of our devices.
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WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
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We’ve been expecting you, Mr. Bond… After many delays, Daniel Craig’s last turn as 007 finally arrives at the ANU Film Group this week, along with a hit French comedy, a thrilling documentary, and a rock opera musical?!
• THU 24 FEB @ 7:30 PM: BYE BYE MORONS (M, 87 mins)
Determined to make her remaining days count, a terminally-ill hairdresser sets out to find the son she was forced to abandon 28 years ago, embarking on a madcap quest alongside some unlikely companions, in this hit French comedy.
Presented in partnership with Alliance Française de Canberra in celebration of the upcoming 2022 French Film Festival, screening from March 2 to April 6. More information can be found HERE
• FRI 25 FEB @ 7:30 PM: NO TIME TO DIE (M, 164 mins – NO GUESTS)
Having left active service, James Bond (Daniel Craig) finds his retirement in Jamaica interrupted when an old friend turns up asking for his help to rescue a kidnapped scientist who has developed a dangerous new technology, in Craig’s acclaimed final turn at 007.
• SAT 26 FEB @ **5 PM**: THE ALPINIST (M, 92 mins)
Elusive 23-year-old climber Marc-André Leclerc has accomplished some of the boldest solo ascents in history, all without publicity or fanfare – until now – in this intimate documentary of a young visionary following the trail of his passion.
• SAT 26 FEB @ 7:30 PM: ANNETTE (MA, 140 mins)
A stand-up comedian (Adam Driver) and his singer wife (Marion Cotillard) find their lives taking an unexpected turn after the birth of their first child, a mysterious girl with an exceptional destiny, in this unconventional rock opera musical.
And we’re off! Thank you to everyone who came along and joined us to kick off screenings for 2022 on Monday – it was great to see so many people back in the cinema again after so many months out of action.
But it’s just the beginning and we’ve got a big week of films coming right up, including the first of our 2022 Best Picture nominees with the 10x Oscar-nominated DUNE, animated musical sequel SING 2, Edgar Wright’s trippy horror-thriller LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, and the controversial, 8x AACTA-award winning drama NITRAM.
As a friendly reminder, please remember to abide by our COVID-19 safety rules as a condition of entry into screenings. This includes wearing a mask at all times while inside the cinema (except when actively eating or drinking) and continuing to check in using the Check In CBR app upon arrival. Our full COVID-19 safety rules can be found at www.anufg.org.au/covid
Please also note that pre-registration for ANUFG screenings is no longer required for screenings in 2022.
• THU 17 FEB @ 7:30 PM: NITRAM (MA, 112 mins)
In mid-90s Australia, a young loner (Caleb Landry Jones) who lives with his parents grows increasingly frustrated at never fitting in, ultimately leading to the most heinous of acts, in this winner of 8 AACTA Awards, including Best Film.
• FRI 18 FEB @ 7:30 PM: DUNE (M, 155 mins – NO GUESTS)
In the far future, a gifted young man (Timothée Chalamet) must face his destiny when his family is charged with taking over the desert planet Arrakis, home to the only supply of the most valuable resource in the galaxy.
• SAT 19 FEB @ **5 PM**: SING 2 (PG, 110 mins)
An all-star cast of animal performers prepare to launch a dazzling stage show in the entertainment capital of the world – but they must first find and persuade the world's most reclusive rock star to join them.
• SAT 19 FEB @ 7:30 PM: LAST NIGHT IN SOHO (MA, 117 mins)
After moving to London, an aspiring fashion designer finds herself mysteriously transported to the glamourous 1960s in her sleep each night, where she seeks to unravel the mystery surrounding a dazzling young woman.
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FREE SCREENING: SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
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The ANU, together with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the ACT Chinese-Australian Association, are hosting a series of events on Saturday 26 February to celebrate the Lunar New Year. This will include traditional Chinese musical instrumental performances, lion dances, calligraphy demonstrations, martial arts demonstrations and food stalls – as well as a screening of the Oscar-nominated Marvel Studios hit, SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS in the Kambri Cinema.
The screening will be taking place from 2 pm, prior to our own ANUFG screenings later that evening of THE ALPINIST at 5 pm, and ANNETTE at 7:30 pm.
More information about the celebration can be found HERE, while you can find details – including registration links – for the film screening HERE
It’s been a long six months since our last screening on August 11th but, as of next week, ANU Film Group screenings will be back!
And now, without further ado, you can view our full line-up for our Autumn 2022 season (February 14 to April 30) in one of three ways:
1. On our website with posters, synopses and cast listings by CLICKING HERE
2. In a printer-friendly PDF flyer version by CLICKING HERE
3. Or import all screenings into your phone or computer’s calendar using this .ICS file available by CLICKING HERE
Want to attend a screening but not yet a member? Not a problem – you can join up in person at any screening or online anytime at www.anufg.org.au/join with memberships starting from just $30 for a full season.
Want to try before you buy? We’ve got a free screening of SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME coming up next Monday at 7:30 pm. Full details available HERE
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OSCAR NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED
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Early this morning, the nominations for the 94th Academy Awards were announced, and Netflix’s THE POWER OF THE DOG led the pack with 12 nods while Denis Villeneuve’s DUNE wasn’t too far behind with 10 nominations. Other major nominees include BELFAST, WEST SIDE STORY, KING RICHARD, NIGHTMARE ALLEY and DRIVE MY CAR, with the awards ceremony set for Sunday 27 March.
Want to tick off all of the nominated films on your Oscar watchlist? Here’s a handy guide to when you can catch them at the ANU Film Group, including four Best Picture nominees screening during Oscar Week itself (March 31 – April 2):
• MON 14 FEB @ 7:30 PM: SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME – Best Visual Effects Nominee
• FRI 18 FEB @ 7:30 PM: DUNE – 10 nominations, including Best Picture
• FRI 25 FEB @ 7:30 PM: NO TIME TO DIE – 3 nominations, including Best Original Song
• THU 3 MAR @ 7:30 PM: SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME – Best Visual Effects Nominee
• FRI 4 MAR @ 7:30 PM: HOUSE OF GUCCI – Best Makeup and Hairstyling Nominee
• THU 10 MAR @ 7:30 PM: PARALLEL MOTHERS – 2 nominations, including Best Actress
• SAT 12 MAR @ 5 PM: ENCANTO – 3 nominations, including Best Animated Feature
• SAT 26 MAR @ 5 PM: SPENCER – Best Actress Nominee
• THU 31 MAR @ 7:30 PM: KING RICHARD – 6 nominations, including Best Picture
• FRI 1 APR @ 7:30 PM: WEST SIDE STORY – 7 nominations, including Best Picture
• SAT 2 APR @ 5 PM: BELFAST – 7 nominations, including Best Picture
• SAT 2 APR @ 7:30 PM: LICORICE PIZZA – 3 nominations, including Best Picture
• FRI 8 APR @ 7:30 PM: DRIVE MY CAR – 4 nominations, including Best Picture
• THU 21 APR @ 7:30 PM: THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD – 2 nominations, including Best International Film
• FRI 22 APR @ 7:30 PM: NIGHTMARE ALLEY – 4 nominations, including Best Picture
• WED 27 APR @ 7:30 PM: FLEE – 3 nominations, including Best International Film
• SAT 28 APR @ 7:30 PM: THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE – 2 nominations, including Best Actress
There are less than two weeks before we’re finally back for the first time since August, and we hope you’re getting as excited we are!
To kick things off with a bang, we’re starting 2022 with Marvel’s record-breaking blockbuster, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME. In the film, with his identity now revealed to the world, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) can no longer separate his civilian life from being Spider-Man, forcing him to seek the help of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a universe-altering spell – which leads to unintended consequences.
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME will screen on Monday 14 February at 7:30 pm, with doors opening for entry from 7 pm. As is customary to kick off the year, this will be a FREE screening that will be open to absolutely anyone, including members and future members alike. As such, we do anticipate it to be a busy one and recommend that you get there early to ensure you don’t miss out.
If you would like to avoid the crowds, however, we can let you know now that will be re-screening the film again for members only on Thursday 3 March at 7:30 pm.
The rest of our Autumn 2022 programme will be announced early next week, so stay tuned to see what else we’ve got in store. Or if you can’t wait that long, head over to our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/ANUFG – for some sneak peeks over the next few days!
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UPDATED COVID-19 SAFETY RULES
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Our COVID-19 safety rules have been updated since last year to be in accordance with the latest advice and directions from ACT Health and the ANU. You can find them in full at www.anufg.org.au/COVID or summarised below:
• The wearing of face masks in currently mandatory in all indoor settings, except when actively eating or drinking. We will continue to supply free masks at the door for anyone who requires one.
• All attendees must check-in using the Check In CBR app by scanning the provided QR code upon arrival. If you are unable to use the app, we can assist you with checking in.
• We are permitted to use the full capacity (305 seats) of our cinema, but continue to recommend social distancing whenever this is possible by leaving 1.5 metres between yourself and the nearest person/group, including while queueing up outside.
• Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or who would otherwise be required to be in isolation should not be attending screenings.
• Pre-registration for screenings via Eventbrite is no longer required.
Once again, for anyone who is uncomfortable with attending screenings or has any issues with the safety rules that will be strictly enforced, we are still offering no-questions-asked pro rata refunds up until February 13. If you’d like a refund, please email us at info@anufg.org.au with your name and membership number, and we’ll get back to you with next steps.
There’s precisely one month to go until ANU Film Group screenings return for 2022!
We acknowledge that the COVID-19 situation around the country has been worsening over the past few weeks, but we remain optimistic that it will stabilise before our intended return – which currently slated for Monday 14 February (save the date!).
We will continue to monitor the advice given by the ACT Government as well as the ANU in the coming weeks and advise you if anything changes, but have so far been informed that it is safe to resume screenings with our safety protocols in place.
For more information about membership extensions and the availability of pro rata refunds, please refer to our most recent message from December 24 on our website here: https://www.anufg.org.au/news/471
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WANTED: DOORPEOPLE FOR 2022
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We're currently on the lookout for additional doorpeople to assist us at screenings in 2022. Door people are the smiling, friendly faces of the Group who greet you as you enter, scan your membership card and confirm that you've checked in using the Check In CBR app before entering the cinema.
If you're a current ANUFG member, are punctual, have a sunny disposition, and have experience in the fine art of scanning QR codes, this may be for you!
Please note that this is an unpaid volunteer position, but all doorpeople will receive a free membership for the following season as a token of thanks upon completion of a required number of sessions.
Interested? Want to find out more? Email us at info@anufg.org.au now!
It’s been a long four months since we were shut down (for the second time) due to COVID-19 restrictions, and we acknowledge that it’s been a little quiet as we’ve patiently waited for restrictions in the ACT and on the ANU campus to be lifted.
In the spirit of the holidays, we’re pleased to finally announce that restrictions have now eased enough and that we have begun planning for our return. At this stage, we are aiming to resume screenings from the week beginning February 14, 2022!*
All existing active memberships will be brought forward and automatically extended by an additional two seasons at no charge. For example, if your membership was due to expire in February 2022, it will now be extended until the end of our Winter 2022 season in mid-July. There’s nothing further you have to do, but if you’d like to know your new expiry date, feel free to email us at info@anufg.org.au with your name and membership number.
Rest assured that health and safety remains a top priority for us, and we wouldn’t be resuming screenings unless we were confident we could do so in a manner that was safe for members and volunteers alike. If, however, you still do not feel comfortable returning to screenings or don’t anticipate being able to use your existing membership for whatever reason, we will still be offering no-questions-asked pro rata refunds up until our very first screening back. If you’d like a refund, please email us at info@anufg.org.au with your name and membership number, and we’ll get back to you with next steps.
We hope this comes as welcome news – screenings have never been more disrupted in our nearly-56-year history, and we’ve certainly missed screening films for you. Please keep an eye here on our website or on our Facebook page in the new year for more details about our new Autumn 2022 season as they become available. Until then, we wish you all a very merry Christmas, a happy new year, and look forward to seeing you again in person real soon!
*Assuming that the ACT isn’t hit with another outbreak, new restrictions, an alien invasion or the enslaving of humanity by sentient robots. We’re not ruling anything out at this point!