About Keswick Film Club

Who are we?

Our club began life in 1998 with the simple intention of trying to bring a different range of films to Keswick on Sunday nights; the idea of a film festival started the following year. The popularity of the films made the programmers more adventurous, expanding their choices to the best of World Cinema: by 2004, Whale Rider (from New Zealand) brought in an audience of 241. The festival, meanwhile, had become an annual event, showing films at both the Alhambra and Theatre by the Lake, where March of the Penguins (from France) showed to 256 people in 2006.

We have continued showing the best of World Cinema to this day, regularly getting well over 100 people to our most popular films (but happy to show more obscure films to small audiences on occasion!) and recently still equalling those early numbers: 241 people crammed themselves into the Alhambra to see Edie last year and 255 were at the Theatre by the Lake to see The Raven on the Jetty in 2014.

And it isn't just our audience that like the Club! Along the way we have won many awards from the British Federation of Film Societies (now Cinema for All) including Best Programme four times, Best Website and even Film Society of the Year.

Where are these films shown?

We are very lucky to be able to show both the Club and the Festival films in The Alhambra Cinema. Walk from the Market Square at the south end (by The Royal Oak) and keep going up St. John's Street for 200 metres until you see the Alhambra on your right. Now over a century old, the Alhambra is a must-see in its own right!

When are these films shown?

Most Club films are screened on Sundays at 5pm, but check the programme for start times. There are two Club 'seasons', each with its own brochure, available in and around Keswick (e.g. Library & Booths).

To keep costs down and allow more flexibility we will not be producing a brochure this season.

How to join

See the membership page for details on how to join the club.