March 12th, 2006 - National Film Society of the Year Awards

Brighton International Film Society won the prestigious award for the Best New Film Society of the Year. The award instituted by the British Federation of Film Societies was received by BIFS’ chair Geetha J. from renowned filmmaker Anthony Minghella on Saturday night at a gala function at the National Film Theatre.

Geetha picks up the Best New Film Society Award	BIFS with Filmmaker Anthony Minghella and David Miller from BFFS

BIFS also received a Distinction for Best Marketing and Commendations for Best Programme Notes and Best Website. Competing with 133 film societies that have been running for decades, the young BIFS also received Commendation for the big award - the Engholm Film Society of the Year.

BIFS had been nominated for the above five categories, the highest number of nominations received by any film society in this years’ competition, which is all the more remarkable as BIFS has only been going for one year. The BFFS awards are the equivalent of the Oscars of the film society movement. The chairperson of BIFS, Geetha J. commented, "To be nominated for five categories in our first year is a great achievement. And it is just wonderful to come back to Brighton with the Best New Film Society of the Year award". More than fifty societies competed for this award.