Topical Reality tops the poll at Bath Viewing.
Cinema for All South West Group returned in April to Widecombe Social Club in Bath for its third Viewing Day since Covid. Sixtynine committee members from 21 Societies previewed six recent releases, available from the Cinema for All Booking Scheme, Troy Film Agency and filmbankmedia, screened in the Wharf and Waterside venues, as possible titles for their next season. The Social Club provided a good lunch and afternoon tea with excellent cakes! The event also had the generous support of Cinema for All.
The results of the reaction slips show a positive response to the programme with all the titles rated at above 70%, Top of the voting was the tense thriller, Reality, the true story of an American intelligence whistle-blower in 2016, but with surprising relevance to recent leaks in the White House. All the other titles have done well at the Oscars and the prestigious Film Festivals, including Cannes and Venice.
| Film Title | A | B | C | D | E | No.of Votes | RI% |
| Reality | 11 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 81.9 |
| Memoir Of A Snail | 13 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 78.7 |
| All We Imagine as Light | 9 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 77.7 |
| A Real Pain | 17 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 77.5 |
| A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things | 7 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 73.8 |
| Vermiglio | 13 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 37 | 70.9 |
Future of South West Group
After the afternoon interval, there was an informal discussion of the future of the SW Group in general and Viewing Days in particular. The Viewings were felt to be very useful to see new releases not generally covered by the ICO Screening Days. Several of the services offered by the Group pre-Covid such as technical advice, film selection, newsletters and the Autumn Viewings had also been appreciated by Societies.
Members of the Group Executive were in agreement with the comments but admitted that a reduction in the number of volunteers on the committee post-Covid was challenging the future of the Group. The Viewing Sessions required more Societies to volunteer to host the Viewings whilst more Exec members were essential. It was also pointed out that the need for the occasional meetings to organise the Group had been made much easier for members by the advent of Zoom!
Following this encouraging exchange of views, it is hoped that volunteers will come forward to join the committee. Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the SW Group and it would be good to be able to celebrate the success of film societies in the South West with the 90th Viewing Session and, possibly, a revival of the services provided prior to Covid.
The Group Secretary, Jane Sanders, would love to hear from Societies and individuals who are interested in the helping the SW Group go forward into its anniversary year.
