For their fifth active season, the Abbotsford Film Society will be showing movies they’ve long been waiting for. The 2026–27 season will include six films, and is — in the opinion of the society’s President and Founder Aaron Dawson — the most diverse season that they’ve presented. Talking about the selection Dawson said, “…we have six movies from six different countries in five different languages.”
The Abbotsford Film Society is a non-for-profit organization that aims to bring better access to Independent, Arthouse, Canadian, Foreign, and Classic films to Abbotsford, where Dawson said he saw a gap after returning from film school in Vancouver, “…getting to see films from all over the world and all different time periods and budget levels was huge. And so I wanted to bring that sort of experience back with me when I moved back to Abbotsford, because it was something that I missed.”
The season will start on Sept. 28 with Godzilla (1954). Dawson says he’s been waiting to screen Godzilla for years, holding off for when they could access a bigger screen and better sound quality. They were able to book the Abbotsford Arts Centre for five out of six of this season’s screenings. Dawson credits the society being a recipient of the City of Abbotsford’s new Arts and Culture grant as a reason for being able to book the venue.
Edge of the Knife (SGaawaay K’uuna) (2018) is set during a 19th century summer on Haida Gwaii and is the first feature film produced in the Haida Language. Two families are on an annual fishing retreat when the nobleman Adiits’ii accidentally causes the death of his best friend’s son, he retreats into the woods and, tormented by his actions, falls into insanity. The nobleman turns into the supernatural being Gaagiixid, crazed by hunger and survives the winter. When the families return for the next year’s fishing retreat, they try to convert Gaagiixid back into Adiits’ii. The film will be shown on Oct. 23.
The Third Man (1949), which won an Oscar for Best Cinematography, Black and White will be shown on Nov. 27 at The Banquet Room. This psychological thriller film follows a pulp novelist that unexpectedly ends up investigating an old friend’s death while travelling to post-war Vienna.
Hard Boiled (1992) directed by John Woo, is one that Dawson is specifically excited for. He describes it as a super stylish and kinetic Hong Kong action movie, and another one that he was waiting for a big screen to watch on. It is the first real “out and out” action movie they’ve shown, being played on Feb. 20, 2027. In Hard Boiled, a tough cop and undercover agent get together to put a mobster and his crew out of business.
Metropolis (1927) is one that is prompting the most curiosity for the society’s president. Set in a futuristic city, the film follows the son of the city’s mastermind as he falls in love with a working-class prophet, and discovers the truth behind what keeps the city running comfortably for the upper class. Being shown on Apr. 30, 2027, Metropolis marks the society’s first silent film. Dawson has been hesitant to show a silent film, not knowing if it would gain interest or be received well, but he’s hopeful and excited to watch it on the big screen himself due to the movie’s impact on science fiction and its special effects innovation.
“And it is kind of the forefather of all science fiction cinema. You can trace Star Wars (1977), Blade Runner (1982), everything up to Megalopolis (2024) can kind of trace its roots back to Metropolis in some way. Even something like 1984 by George Orwell (1949) can kind of trace its roots back to Metropolis. So I’m very curious to see how people react to that one.”
Flow (2024) will close the season on May 28. 2027. Flow follows Cat, who operates alone until a flood destroys his home. His new safe spot is on a boat full of animals that are forced to work together to survive. The Latvian film which features real animal noises but no spoken words, won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.
If you are a film person, looking to try something new, or wanting a good night out the Abbotsford Film Society might be one to look up.
