Folsom Film Society launches indie film viewings

The Folsom Film Society launches its initial showing in a gala opening on Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Three Stages on the campus of Folsom Lake College, 10 College Parkway in Folsom.

On opening night, FFS will screen one short film, “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Lessmore” and the acclaimed feature length documentary, “The Waiting Room” with an intermission offering appetizers, wine tasting and information about becoming a member.

“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” is a poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of story, presented in a hybrid style of animation that harkens back to silent films and MGM Technicolor musicals. The film was awarded the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the 84th Academy Awards in 2011.

“The Waiting Room” is a documentary that takes viewers into Oakland’s Highland Hospital, a safety-net hospital fighting for survival while weathering the storm of a persistent economic downturn.

Stretched to the breaking point, Highland is the primary care facility for 250,000 patients of nearly every nationality, race and religion, with 250 patients — most of them uninsured — crowding its emergency room every day. The film offers a raw, intimate, and often uplifting look at how patients, staff and caregivers cope with disease, bureaucracy, frustration, hope and hard choices during one typically hectic day.

The Folsom Film Society will offer screenings of the works of independent filmmakers from the United States and around the world on the second Thursday of each month at Three Stages Theater.

Viewings will include an intermission with wine tastings from Cielo Estate. An evening’s program may at times include Q&A sessions with individuals involved in the production of the featured film.

Members will receive special benefits, including a reduced ticket price.

The founders of FFS hope to bring together an eager local audience with filmmakers who can shed light on many causes and issues, as well as providing insightful and entertaining views of the human condition.

The Folsom Film Society began as the creative undertaking of Najma Merchant, whose educational background and experience in the film industry combined to make this project a long sought-after goal.

“My hope is that FFS will bring the experience of independent cinema to the communities in and around Folsom,” she said. “As we grow, we plan to host film festivals, as well as retrospectives of American and world cinema, in the coming year.”

For more information contact info@folsomfilmsociety.org or go to folsomfilmsociety.org.