By Callum Ludwig
2025 is promising to be a big year for the Yarra Ranges Film Society (YRFS), with plenty of excitement, change and a $6000 grant from Yarra Ranges Council to celebrate.
There are new (and returning) faces on the committee, a new program for the year ahead and the 40th anniversary of the Warburton Film Festival all to look forward to, which the council grant will go towards.
YRFS co-presidents Rebecca Bowman and Rhiannon Bowman, who share no relation, said the committee is working on some innovative ideas to celebrate the milestone event, as well as the festival’s highly-regarded Show Us Your Shorts competition for budding filmmakers.
“This funding will help ensure we can screen a rich and vibrant selection of films and invite filmmakers to present their films in person,” they said.
“We were fortunate to be joined by Brenda Matthews, director of award-winning documentary The Last Daughter, on the opening night of last year’s festival. In 2023, director Gus Berger gave an in-depth presentation about the making of The Lost City of Melbourne. Feedback shows our audience greatly values hearing directly from the filmmakers themselves.”
This year’s Warburton Film Festival will take place from 13 to 15 June, consisting of the screening of nine films with opening night drinks and a festival dinner.
The co-presidents said the support from the Yarra Ranges Council will help make the 40th festival a reality.
“Yarra Ranges Council provides ongoing support for the Arts in the Yarra Ranges, and works closely with the Yarra Ranges Film Society each year giving grants to promote patronage at both Warburton and Healesville cinemas,” they said.
“This funding is vital to ensuring we can continue inviting award-winning directors, supporting the next generation of film-makers, and keep the festival going for another 40 years,”
“We have a talented group of people on our committee, including a founding member. We’re looking forward to making the 40th Warburton Film Festival one to remember.”
Thanks were given to immediate past president (now vice president) Vivienne Bond and treasurer Sandra Schoffer for applying for the Yarra Ranges Council grant on behalf of YRFS.
The Yarra Ranges Film Society also organises the annual Healesville Mini Film Festival, taking place on Sunday 30 March 2025. The festival has a Scandinavian theme this year and will screen three judiciously curated films: Kingmaker (Denmark), The Riot (Norway/Sweden) and When in Rome (Denmark).
YRFS also screens monthly films for its members at the Arts Centre in Warburton and The Memo in Healesville and has released its 2025 program, with a mix of classic, contemporary and foreign films. A brochure of the 2025 program is available at both venues, as well as at the Warburton Waterwheel Visitor Information Centre and other community venues.
“We welcome new and lapsed members to join us. You don’t need to be an expert in film to join. Our objective is simply to promote cinema as an art form, and do so in our local venues,” the co-presidents said.
“After each monthly film screening we have a casual gathering which includes a light supper; it’s a social society, and a great way to meet members of the community you might not otherwise meet.”
New members can join at the monthly screenings using cash or EFTPOS, or online.
For more information on becoming a member, visit yarrarangesfilmsociety.org.au.
Enquiries can be made by phoning Rebecca Bowman on 0409 183 64.
