What if I told you there is an environment where a group of people gather on a weekly basis to watch movies, talk about movies, and appreciate the fine art of filmmaking?

It just so happens that such a place exists in the form of the UNF Film Club. According to club advisor Timothy Donovan, a professor in the English Department, the club originated about three years ago and serves to build enthusiasm for films while broadening students’ cinematic horizons.

It’s no secret that certain types of films tend to be marketed more aggressively than others, and these films consequently go on to make truckloads of money at the box office. They’re commonly known as big budget projects that people know about well in advance of their releases: Marvel, Star Wars, DC Comics, and many more. These are the blockbusters, and they certainly have no problem capturing attention.

But then there are movies that are just as high, if not higher, in quality, that side-step the view of a mainstream audience—movies equally deserving of recognition and appreciation. The UNF Film Club gives students the opportunity to explore these kinds of movies for themselves. One example is a film called What We Do In The Shadows which was shown by the club, and it’s one of member and treasurer Kyle Cohen’s favorites.

“They’re either not in pop culture, or they’re not in pop culture anymore,” said  Cohen, a junior economics major. “It’s really cool to me because it teaches me a lot about film and it gives me the opportunity to see quality and interesting movies that I otherwise wouldn’t see.”

The club typically meets each Sunday at 6 p.m. in the Andrew Robinson Theater (Building 14A) on campus to screen a movie. Afterwards, those who wish to stay can engage in an open discussion about the movie: likes and dislikes, thought-provoking questions about the filmmakers’ tactics and/or motivations, and whatever people noticed about the film that they thought was interesting.

The club will also occasionally screen movies associated with anticipated releases. For example, the club watched the 1990 version of Stephen King’s It on Thursday September 7, which was also the opening night release of this year’s It, a film that went on to achieve spectacular commercial and critical success. It was also film club member/horror film enthusiast Chelsea Blanton’s most anticipated film of the year.

Blanton, a junior communications major, has only been a member for about a semester, but has already landed the role of social marketer and runs the club’s Instagram account (@unffilmclub).

According to Blanton, the club is also planning to show Ridley Scott’s classic Blade Runner in October to acknowledge the release of Blade Runner 2049, the long-anticipated sequel coming to theaters October 6.

One common misconception about the club is that making movies is a club objective. Both Cohen and Blanton were quick to dispel the myth.

“The film club is not about making films,” Blanton said. “It’s about talking about it and learning about them.”

“I think that’s a really cool idea that I hope the film club can expand into…but that’s just not something that we do right now,” Cohen said.

The club will also be collaborating with the Rendezvous Film Festival taking place from September 21—23. The festival, located on Amelia Island, will screen a plethora of films from a variety of countries, and it will also host film workshops and a virtual reality experience, all according to their website. Blanton and Cohen were not entirely sure what events the club will be participating in, but nonetheless, the club provides a unique opportunity to experience the festival firsthand.

Some movies that members will be treated to this semester include My Neighbor Totoro, The Iron Giant, and the club will even be screening Beyonce’s Lemonade film.

If all of this sounds intriguing to you and you simply can’t wait to become the newest member of UNF’s most cinematic society, there’s a number of things you can do.

For one option, you can direct message the club’s Instagram account (listed above), and you’ll be given all the information you need to become a member.

You can also contact the club’s Facebook page by searching “UNF Film Club” on the social media site, or you can send an email expressing your interest in joining to filmclubunf@gmail.com.

Lastly, you can take Kyle Cohen’s advice, and just show up:

“Just come Sunday at 6. That’s really it.”

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