Bosque Film Society members use real-time voting system to select classic movies for the monthly members-only Film Appreciation Night Series in 2023
By E. BRETT VOSS
Bosque Film Society Founding Board President
As a part of its new membership drive for 2023, the Bosque Film Society hosted its members-only Third Annual Christmas Party featuring a screening of the traditional Christmas classic “White Christmas” Dec. 13 at the historic Cliftex Theatre in Clifton.
In addition to providing refreshments and Christmas treats to its members, the Bosque Film Society used a real-time voting system allowing members to choose the classic moves to be shown for its monthly members-only Film Appreciation Night Series presentations in 2023.
Established in 2020, Bosque Film Society is a non-profit organization focused on promoting film appreciation, education and production in Bosque County, Texas, while serving as the “Friends of The Cliftex Theatre,” the longest continuously-operating movie theater in Texas, showing films on the silver screen since 1916.
“For us, it’s all about the love for the experience of going to the movies,” Bosque Film Society founding board president Brett Voss said. “Even for directors like Steven Spielberg and so many of our most famous actors and actresses, that’s where it all began – the magical moment of seeing a movie in the theater for the first time. And all of us in Bosque County are so fortunate to have a historical example of where it all began right here in Clifton.”
Beginning with a list of 140 film nominations, the selection process considering film released from 1915-1999 aimed at picking one film from each of the eight decades, as well as three additional of the top vote-getters from any decade. The annual Christmas classic film selection will take place by vote from all members at a later date.
The 2023 Film Appreciation Night Series presentations will include Metropolis (1927) Jan. 17 introduced by Brett Voss; Singing In The Rain (1952) Feb. 14 introduced by Miriam Wallace; North By Northwest (1959) March 14 introduced by William Godby; Wizard of Oz (1939) April 18 introduced by Bryan Davis; Casablanca (1942) May 30 introduced by Angela Smith; The Big Lebowski (1998) June 27 introduced by Matt Wallace; Gone With the Wind (1939) July 18 introduced by Bryan Davis; Amadeus (1984) Aug. 29 introduced by Kaye Callaway; Lawrence of Arabia (1962) Sept. 26 introduced by Simone Voss; Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Oct. 24 introduced by Philip Vasquez; Stagecoach (1939) Nov. 28 introduced by Brett Voss; and the 4th Annual Christmas Party (film to be determined) Dec. 19 introduced by Bryan Davis.
Celebrating a banner year in 2022, the Bosque Film Society offered two four-day special themed film festivals – 2021 Halloween Free Film Fest and 2022 Cowboy Crossroads Free Film Festival – free to the public as well as four single-day free double feature events – 2021 Christmas Free Double Feature, 2022 Cinco de Mayo Free Double Feature, 2022 Bosque Film Society Showcase featuring Ty Murray and the upcoming 2022 Fred Ward Memorial Tribute Dec. 27 – in addition to serving its membership free classic films on a monthly basis.
Staying true to its commitment toward film education and production in Bosque County, the Bosque Film Society produced its first short film in 2022, “Gal Manns Skrik: Mad Mann’s Scream,” a uniquely original concept and narrative mashup based on Edvard Munch’s art “The Scream” while re-imagining scenes from The Shining, Night of the Living Dead, Psycho, Rosemary’s Baby, Silence of the Lambs and Scream. The experimental thriller was acted, directed, written and produced by Bosque Film Society members has now become an official selection for 15 film festivals around the world – in Texas, the U.S. and internationally – while receiving 23 nominations and winner of nine awards.
Members of our cast and crew include Bryan Davis, William Godby, Nathan Diebenow, Angela Smith, Lorana Rush, Miriam Wallace, written by E Brett Voss and Simone Wichers-Voss, directed by E Brett Voss and J Matt Wallace, cinematography, sound design and editing by J Matt Wallace, produced by E Brett Voss and J Matt Wallace.
For those wanting to become members in 2023, annual fees are $30 per individual, $50 per couple and $70 per family. For more information about joining the Bosque Film Society’s non-profit efforts to support The Cliftex Theatre, the longest continuously-operating movie house in Texas, showing films since 1916, visit our website at: www.BosqueFilm.com.