The Abbotsford Film Society, founded in October 2022, is a non-profit organization that provides the perfect opportunity for all ages to kick up their feet and enjoy a good film. As a fellow movie-lover, I was pleased to speak with the society’s president and founder, Aaron Dawson.
Looking around the Fraser Valley, the movie community is largely in the grasps of Hollywood blockbusters. During Dawson’s time attending Vancouver Film School, he saw a hole where a certain diversity of linguistic and cultural films were missing from the local spotlight. That’s when the Abbotsford Film Society was born.
“[Our] goal is to bring lesser-known films and classic and historically important films to Abbotsford. We do public screenings of those kinds of movies, and we’re starting to also try and work into bringing out more filmmakers with independent films and … to have Q&A’s and talkbacks and that sort of thing after the screenings.”
Dawson also commented on the lack of older Canadian content available — despite the number of streaming services and accessible online media — sharing how this has helped to shape the direction of the Abbotsford Film Society.
“Our official mandate is to raise and increase awareness and access. Access is the big one to independent, classic, foreign Canadian and art house films … Because even with the rise of streaming services … we have so many options for streaming, but I think I was looking at stats … there aren’t any movies on Netflix made before 1979 in Canada.”
When asked about future goals for the improvement of the film society, Dawson spoke about Abbotsford’s lack of cultural infrastructure and the society’s hopes to find or provide new locations.
“One of our biggest struggles right now is just finding spaces to hold screenings … our main venue right now is a place called the banquet room, which is just a spare activity room in a church.”
Having held a few screenings at the Abbotsford Arts Centre, Dawson spoke of his dreams for the film society, and its future in hosting more, and better, screening events.
“This is a pie in the sky kind of dream, but if we could have our own theatre space at some point, that would be amazing. I don’t know how realistic of a dream that is, but just a more permanent home that [has] a slightly better audiovisual experience for people.”
Dawson has a drive to create a unique cinema experience by giving attention to an important aspect of film and what truly matters to audiences.
“[We] would like to be associated with quality of films. I’m trying to keep this legacy of works that, in a lot of ways, is becoming [more niche] … when people think of us, and come to one of our screenings … I would like to think they’re going to get a new experience and something that they can’t get anywhere else.”
The film society is hoping to have more of a presence in citywide events such as the Abbotsford Berry Festival, Fraser Valley Pride, and the Winter Jubilee. For now, all are encouraged to attend one of their screenings. The society plans on showing seven to eight films from September to May, every second Friday of each month. Moviegoers can check out their website at abbotsfordfilmsociety.com to find information on links to tickets, the full list of their 2024-25 showings, and events. Links can also be found on their Instagram and Facebook pages to keep up to date. Their next screening is Jan. 31, playing the film Forbidden Planet (1956).
Veronica is a Staff Writer at The Cascade. She loves to travel and explore new places, no matter how big or small. She is in her second year at UFV, pursuing the study of Creative
Writing.
