Williamstown Film
Society
Don't you just love movie artwork?
THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE
Wednesday 28th January 2026
7:30pm (doors open from 7pm)
Williamstown Film Society
<><><>
The SS Poseidon departs on the date and time above for a cruise you will never forget!
Dress to impress - gown, tux or character costume, the grimier the better! It will be a hoot.
Scroll down for images of costumes etc.
2026 Program Details
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the lands in which our society meets, and pay our respects to Elders past and present, inspired by their traditions of storytelling. Elverina Johnson's artwork - Bandu Gaddaan - means come together as one mob.
Our Appreciation
The Williamstown Film Society would once again like to acknowledge the financial support of the Hobsons Bay City Council through their Small Group Operating Grants. The Committee & Membership thank you for supporting us in 2026, our 30th year.
WFS 2026 PROGRAM
What can I say other than hit the Green 'Learn More' button and you will find a copy of our 2026 program of movies to read and, more importantly, download to magnet to your fridge! Oh...the only film yet to be confirmed is our June screening of Signorinella: Little Miss
Learn More
January 28th, 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber, Williamstown Hall
You are invited to join us on board the SS Poseidon for a belated NYE celebration. Drag out your New Year's best or dress as one of the many over-the-top characters which populated this movie - the FIRST and BEST of the disaster movie fad - sorry, I mean genre. You know you want to... THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (US, 1972, adventure, 117mins, colour, PG) To find out about characters and see their costumes (both before and after) click on the green 'learn more' button. As I said, this is the original 1972 version. Avoid pale, later imitations and join us for a night to remember!
Learn More
February 25th, 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber, Williamstown Hall
SHAKESPEAR IN LOVE (US, 1998, 123min, colour, M, Romantic/Comedy) February is the ideal month to screen the greatest love story almost never told! Winner of 7 Oscars (incl. film, actress x 2, screenplay). An Elizabethan romantic farce the bard would have happily penned himself - had he thought of it. Stars Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Judy Dench, Geoffrey rush and oh so many more.
Learn More
March 25th, 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber, Williamstown Town Hall
OSCAR NOMINATED LIVE ACTION SHORTS 2024 The After (UK,18min); Red, White and Blue (US, 23min); Knight of Fortune (Denmark, 25min, subtitles); Invincible (Canada, 29min, subtitles); The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar (US/UK, 37min). Total running time 133 minutes. Perhaps we could have our own vote then compare our choice with the Academy’s? No cheating though!
April 29th 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber, Williamstown town Hall
JOJO RABBIT (NZ, US, Czech Republic, 2019, 108min, colour, M, War/Comedy) Hitler Youth cadet Jojo Betzler firmly believes in the ideals of Nazism manifested by his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler. However, his foundations are shaken when he finds a Jewish girl in his house. A satirical black comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi (Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What we do in the Shadows), adapted from Christine Leunens's 2008 book Caging Skies.
Learn More
May 27th 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber, Williamstown Town Hall
42nd STREET (US, 1933, 89min, B&W, G, Musical) A ‘backstage musical’, based on the 1932 novel by Bradford Ropes, it follows the rehearsal process of a Broadway show staged during the height of the Great Depression. A pre-Code musical film directed by Lloyd Bacon, with songs by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics). Staging and choreography by Busby Berkeley. An ensemble cast of Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers.
Learn More
June 24th 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber, Williamstown Town Hall - TBC
SIGNORINELLA: Little Miss (Aus, 2024, 86min, colour/B&W, PG) This fascinating documentary, narrated by Greta Scacchi, shines a light on the unsung heroes of the Italian migrant experience, celebrating the spirit of Italian women who shaped Australia and cooked a few plates of pasta along the way. Yet To Be Confirmed but our fingers are well and truly crossed!
July 29th 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber, Williamstown Town Hall
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (US, 2016, 112min, colour, M, Thriller/Sci-Fi) Roy Tomlin (Michael Shannon) makes desperate efforts to protect his eight-year-old son, Alton (Jaeden Martell), who possesses special powers, from a religious sect and officials of the FBI who are on a quest to capture him. Also stars Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver and Sam Shepard. “The sci-fi elements were good, and central to the story, but the human drama was even better. That’s a rare thing in a sci-fi film” (Reddit).
August 26th 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber Williamstown Town Hall
DON'S PARTY (Aus, 1976, 90min, colour, R18+, Comedy/Drama) A black comedy with a screenplay by David Williamson based on his play. Directed by Bruce Beresford (his 4th feature). John Hargreaves plays Don with Jeanie Drynan as Don's wife Kath. The rest of the cast is a who’s who of early Australian cinema - Ray Barrett, Pat Bishop, Graham Kennedy, Graeme Blundell, Veronica Lang, Candy Raymond, Kit Taylor, Harold Hopkins and Clare Binney – you’ll know their faces if the names are not familiar. The setting is an election night party in northern Sydney.
Learn More
September 30th 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber, Williamstown Town Hall
TRUMBO (US, 2015, 124min, colour, M, political/thriller) Dalton Trumbo is a celebrated screenwriter with many successful films to his credit. However, things change when he is blacklisted from Hollywood. An all-star cast led by Brian Cranston as Trumbo.
Learn More
October 28th 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber, Williamstown Town Hall
OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? (US, 2000, 107min, colour, M, Comedy/Crime) satirical comedy-drama musical film written, produced, co-edited, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film is set in rural Mississippi in the summer of 1937. It follows three escaped convicts and is loosely based on Homer's epic Greek poem The Odyssey.
Learn More
November 25th 2026, Wednesday 7:30pm, The Chamber, Williamstown Town Hall
HOW TO STEAL A MILLION (US, 1966, 123min, colour, G, Comedy/Crime) The pairing of Audrey Hepburn & Peter O’Toole in a romantic comedy, styled in 60s chic, all but guarantees a crime caper like no other. Throw in William Wyler (Dir), Givenchy (Audrey’s clothes) and supporting players Eli Wallach, Charles Boyer and Hugh Griffith and you have a solid gold classic… or a classic of the the finest Carrara marble!
Learn MoreRULES - WFS
Rules for The Williamstown Film Society Incorporated
At the Special General Meeting on Wednesday 24th September 2025, held prior to our screening, the members in attendance unanimously voted to adopt Document A as the Rules of The Williamstown Film Society Incorporated. Thank you to everyone who attended or sent their apologies. Michael Slee President WFS Inc. To view the 'Rules' and other documentation from the meeting please click on the green heading above.
HOW OUR FILMS ARE CHOSEN
By clicking on 'Read More' you will find a brief rundown of our approach to putting together a program of 11 films for a particular year. Why eleven not 12? December we have off...everyone needs a holiday break.
Read More
Click on 'read more' to access the criteria we use to produce a balanced annual program of films with more than something for everyone.
Read More
Film Societies pay a one-off fee to Film Distribution Companies for the right to screen each film on their program to their members. Click 'Read More' for details.
Read More
The Federation of Victorian Film Societies (FVFS) provides a wide range of resources for film societies. Many are simple 'how to' guides like this one. Of particular interest are the short outlines from different societies describing how they go about it.
Read MoreCommittee & Meetings
2025/26 Williamstown Film Society Committee
Thank you to those members of the current committee who were keen to continue in their roles for another year. We farewell and thank Pat Duncan, Andrew Rozwadowski and Peter Steinle. Click the green 'learn more' button to see the 2025/26 committee.
Learn More
AGM
Thanks to everyone who attended our 2025 AGM on Wednesday 29th October. It all went very smoothly - no coups or takeovers (drat!). The new committee is outlined on the page above. The film, ON A CLEAR DAY, was the perfect follow up - light, funny and feel good. The AGM minutes were uploaded on 19th November 2025. Happy reading.
Learn More
Committee Meetings
Documentation found here. To access click on the green LEARN MORE button, which will only appear when documents are uploaded.
Federation of Victorian Film Societies (FVFS)
Click the Green Learn More button to access documentation for FVFS AGM.
Learn MoreGallery
