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17
Mar
Ripon couple moot city film society idea
A Ripon couple are hoping to establish a film society in the city.
Huw Parry and his wife Karen Windall moved to Ripon eight months ago from South Wales, where they were members of what they described as the country’s longest-running film society.
Ripon has been cinema-less since Curzon shut its doors in July 2023, but Mr Parry and Ms Windall hope a film society showing predominantly world and foreign language films, plus British-made films, would revive cinema in the city.
Ms Windall today (March 17) told the Stray Ferret the films would likely be shown fortnightly throughout the autumn and winter months, and the couple hope to use the site used by Ripon Men’s Shed on Water Skellgate to host screenings.
When asked if being part of the society would come at a cost, Ms Windall said the society would “have to start with admission fees” to cover the cost of film licences.
However, the couple, who are in their late 60s, hope the society would eventually attract enough paying members to cover costs.
But how have the people of Ripon reacted to the proposed new group? Ms Windall said:
Most people seem happy about it. Lots of people have talked to me about Curzon… it predominantly showed blockbusters, which we wouldn’t be able to afford to show.
The former Curzon site on North Street.
Mr Parry also told the Stray Ferret he and his wife plan to establish a society committee to “sort out the structure of the organisation”.
Once established, the committee would then apply to become affiliated with film organisations, with hopes of films being shown from September.
Mr Parry and Ms Windall said anyone interested in becoming a committee member should message Mr Parry on Facebook (Huw Parry), or email kwindall@googlemail.com or huwpar@gmail.com.
Sterne Properties, which owns the North Street unit Curzon once called home, said it had a new operator lined up at the time of the cinema's closure, who would continue to show films as part of a community project that also included a soft play area.
But the site will have remained empty for 1,000 days on March 27 this year - and the future of a cinema returning to the city remains unclear.
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