The genesis of the film society movement can be traced to Europe, 1925. In India, the first film society was founded in 1943 by Ferenc Borko, a Hungarian photographer. The Bombay Film Society began functioning with nine members and hosted one screening a month at Mumbai’s Eros Cinema. Back then, half-yearly memberships were priced at Rs 12 and members would engage in spirited discussions after every screening. In Which We Serve, Citizen Kane and The River were some of the films screened there. After the Bombay Film Society faded into oblivion, it was the Calcutta Film Society (CFS) that took charge. Founded on October 5, 1947, the CFS held its first meeting in a garret in south Kolkata, with members like Satyajit Ray, Chidananda Dasgupta, Prodyot Narayan and Manoj Mazumdar. During the initial days, the CFS featured screenings of Battleship Potemkin, Brief Encounter, The Land is Mine and Citizen Kane. In this segment, BFA lists out all the film societies of Bengal that have been registered with the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI) till 2022. Over the years, the membership has taken a dip from a high of 3,000 to 200, but die-hard fans still come down thrice a week either for screening of classics or discussions.
Alipore Film Society, Calcutta
29A, Rakhaldas Auddy Road, Kolkata-700027
Affiliated to FFSI on: 19.12.83
Ashoknagar Cine Club
Ashokenagar, 24 Parganas - 743222
Affiliated to FFSI on: 06.06.78
Bangaon Cine Club
C/O Pratul Biswas, Dinabandhunagar, Bongaon, 24 Parganas- 743235
Affiliated to FFSI on: 06.19.80
Barasat Cine Circle
Colony More, Nabapalli, Barasat, 24 Parganas - 743203
Affiliated to FFSI on: 29.10.79
Bardhaman Chalachitra Charcha Kendra
Bishram Bhawan, Curzon GatePO and District: Burdwan, Pin Code: 713101
Affiliated to FFSI on: 03.02.1997
Basirhat Cine Club
Sarat Chandra Biswas Road, Basirhat, 24 Parganas,
Affiliated to FFSI on: 04.04.85
Berhampore Film Society
11/1, Police Reserve Road, PO: Berhampore, Murshidabad, Pin Code: 742101
Affiliated to FFSI on: 02.01.1965
Bhatter College Datan Campus Film Society
PO. Dantan, District: Paschim Midnapore, Pin Code: 721426
Affiliated to FFSI on: 20.04.2019
Bhowanipore Film Society, Calcutta
14/1, Abhoy Sarkar Lane, Kolkata - 700020
Affiliated to FFSI on: 26.12.83
Bidhannagar Film Society
BF 415, Salt Lake City, Kolkata - 700064
Affiliated to FFSI on: 10.02.2011
Burnpur Film Society
BQ – 3/1, SCOB MESS, Burdwan, Pin Code: 713325
Affiliated to FFSI on: 22.11.1965
Calcutta Cine Institute
5th Floor, 26, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata - 700087
Affiliated to FFSI on: 08.03.1966
Calcutta Film Circle
13A, Balaram Ghosh Road, Kolkata - 700004
Affiliated to FFSI on: 05.04.66
Calcutta Film Corner
108/5, Manoharpukur Road, Kolkata - 700026
Affiliated to FFSI on: 10.04.1984
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 24.12.2019
Calcutta Film Society
B-5, Bharat Bhawan, 3, Chittaranjan Avenue, Kolkata-700072
Established in: 1947
Affiliated to FFSI on: 01.04.1960
Centre for Latin American Studies
50, Middle Road, Kolkata - 700075
Affiliated to FFSI on: 01.04.2001
Chalachitra Charcha, Kolkata
Nivapark Housing Complex, Phase II, Flat: H 8/3, Kolkata - 700096
Affiliated to FFSI on: 01.04.2001
Chalachitra Chinta
34/B Park Street, Kolkata - 700016
Affiliated to FFSI on: 01.04.2001
Chandernagore Cine Club
Satyapirtala, GT Road, Chandernagar, Kolkata - 712136
Affiliated to FFSI on: 03.09.73
Chowringhee Cine Society
69 Jainuddin Mistry Lane, Kolkata- 700 027
Affiliated to FFSI on: 01.04.2001
Cine Academy
10/C/1, Balaram Bose Ghat Road, Kolkata - 700025
Affiliated to FFSI on: 03.06.68
Cine Central
2, Chowringhee Road, Kolkata - 700013
Affiliated to FFSI on: 08.03.66
Cine Club of Asansol
16, Municipal Market, GT Road, West End, Asansol, Burdwan - 713304
Affiliated to FFSI on: 28.03.69
Cine Club of Calcutta
2, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata - 700013
Affiliated to FFSI on: 30.01.1966
Cine Club of Chittaranjan
Street 66, Quarters: 49A, Chittaranjan, Burdwan - 713331
Affiliated to FFSI on: 02.07.80
Cine Club of Contai
C/O Subhendu Bikash Bera, Udayan Cinema Road, Contai, Midnapore - 721401
Affiliated to FFSI on: 04.01.83
Cine Club of Haldia
Haldia Township, Midnapore - 721 607
Affiliated to FFSI on: 16.10.1981
Cine Club of Naihati
4, George Road, Naihati, 24 Parganas - 743165
Affiliated to FFSI on: 04.06.1965
Cine Club of Purulia
Post Box: 57, Purulia - 723101
Affiliated to FFSI on: 22.05.1981
Cine Culture, Kolkata
Flat No. D/3, Talash Cooperative, P-4, CIT Scheme,143, Sankar Bose Road, Kolkata- 700027
Affiliated to FFSI on: 01.04.2001
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 24.12.2019
Cine Guild Bally
C/O Anjan Das Majumdar, 35/1, Ray JN Bahadur Road, Badamtala, Bally, Howrah - 711201
Affiliated to FFSI on: 07.06.83
Cine Scope
7A, Gossain Lane, PO. Baghbazar, Kolkata- 700003
Affiliated to FFSI on: 29.12.83
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 09.10.2015
Cine Society Durgachawk
PO Durgachawk, District: Midnapore, Pin Code: 721602
Affiliated to FFSI on: 10.02.1986
Cine Society Durgachawk
Durgachak, East Medinipur
Affiliated to FFSI on: 26.12.1985
Cine Society Kalna
Kalna, Burdwan,
Affiliated to FFSI on: 15.05.69
Cine South
2/7, Naktala, Kolkata - 700047
Affiliated to FFSI on: 25.02.1982
Cooch Behar Film Society
C/O The New Cinema, Bangchatra Road, Coochbehar - 736101
Affiliated to FFSI on: 11.09.85
Dum Dum Cine Club
352, Jessore Road, Kolkata- 700 055
Affiliated to FFSI on: 08.12.67
Durgapur Cine Club
17, Engineers' Hostel, Biswakarmanagar, Durgapur, Burdwan - 713210
Affiliated to FFSI on: 14.08.67
Durgapur Film Society
12A, BC Avenue, Durgapur, Burdwan - 713205
Affiliated to FFSI on: 14.11.66
East Calcutta Cine Club
77, Lenin Sarani, Kolkata - 700013
Affiliated to FFSI on: 09.03.66
Education Cine Forum
16A, Raja Basanta Roy Road, Kolkata -700025
Affiliated to FFSI on: 06.08.1983
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 09.10.2015
Film Club Calcutta
1, British India Street, Kolkata - 700029
Affiliated to FFSI on: 13.05.66
Film Institute Calcutta
156 C, Rashbehari Avenue, Kolkata - 700029
Affiliated to FFSI on: 09.06.1982
Film Society of Cinematographers' India
30, Chandi Ghosh Road, Kolkata - 700040
Affiliated to FFSI on: 01.04.1965
Film Study Behala
27-K, BD Road, Sakher Bazar, Kolkata - 700008
Affiliated to FFSI on: 01.04.2001
Government College of Engineering and Textile Technology Campus Film Society
Affiliated to FFSI on: 26.06.2015
Hooghly Chinsurah Cine Club
C/O Anathbandhu Seal, 67, Goaltuli Road, Hooghly - 712103
Affiliated to FFSI on: 02.04.85
Howrah Film Club
52, Rajballabh Saha Lane, Howarah - 711101
Affiliated to FFSI on: 14.06.82
Islampur Cine Club
Deshbandhupara, Islampur, Dinajpur - 733202
Affiliated to FFSI on: 07.08.82
Jadavpur University Film Society
Jadavapur University, Kolkata - 700032
Affiliated to FFSI on: 05.07.79
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 07.09.2003
Jalpaiguri Cine Society
Kadamtala, Jalpaiguri - 735101
Affiliated to FFSI on: 23.09.1981
Jhargram Cine Club
Raghunathpur, Post Office and District: Jhargram, Pin Code: 721507
Affiliated to FFSI on: 26.04.1984
Kanchrapara Sangbartak Cine Society
H/O Abir Mazumder, Halisahar, Purbachal, PO. Nabanagar, District: 24 Parganas (North), Pin Code: 743136
Affiliated to FFSI on: 28.10.2013
Katwa Cine Club
Kachhari Road, Katwa, Burdwan - 713130
Affiliated to FFSI on: 10.02.86
Kolkata Movie Club
Flat No. 8, Block – 1D, Abantika Housing Estate, Kustia Road, Kolkata - 700039
Affiliated to FFSI on: 01.04.2001
Malda Cine Club
Bichitra Cinema Housing Building, Malda - 732101
Affiliated to FFSI on: 14.07.1987
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 07.09.2003
Malda College Campus Film Society
Rabindra Avenue, Malda, Pin Code-732101
Affiliated to FFSI on: 20.04.2019
Midnapore Film Society
Rabindra Nagar, West Midnapore, Pin Code: 721101
Affiliated to FFSI on: 12.02.1965
Mogra Cine Centre
Mogra, Hooghly - 712148
Affiliated to FFSI on: 22.06.84
National Institute of Film and Fine Arts
35A, Townshend Road, Kolkata - 700025
Affiliated to FFSI on: 01.04.2001
Neo Cine Forum
101/8, SN Banerjee Road, Kolata - 700014
Affiliated to FFSI on: 28.04.83
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 07.09.2003
North Calcutta Film Society
61, Lenin Sarani, Kolkata- 711106
Affiliated to FFSI on: 08.03.66
North Howrah Film Circle
90/1, Kshetra Mitra Lane, Howrah - 711106
Affiliated to FFSI on: 18.12.67
North Point Cine Society
61, Lenin Sarani, Kolkata - 700013
Affiliated to FFSI on: 14.09.70
People's Cine Society
1, Lindsay Street, Kolkata - 700087
Affiliated to FFSI on: 04.07.80
Raja Narendralal Khan Women's College
Gope Palace, Midnapore, District: Paschim Midnapore, Pin Code: 721102
Affiliated to FFSI on: 15.12.2018
Rampurhat Cine Club
Rampurhat, District: Birbhum, Pin Code: 731224
Affiliated to FFSI on: 23.03.1979
Ranaghat Cine Club
Rabindra Sarani, Ranaghat, Nadia,
Affiliated to FFSI on: 15.03.80
Ritwik Cine Society
499, DH Road, 1st Floor, Kolkata - 700034
Affiliated to FFSI on: 22.12.82
Rupnarayanpur Cine Club
IV A/22, Officers' Colony, Hindusthan Cables, Burdwan - 713335
Affiliated to FFSI on: 04.05.73
Salesian College Sonada Campus Film Society
Gorabari, Sonada, Darjeeling, Pin Code: 734219
Affiliated to FFSI on: 22.02.2019
Salt Lake Cine Club
BJ 206, Sector 11,Salt Lake City, Kolkata - 700091
Affiliated to FFSI on: 30.12.1995
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 07.09.2003
Seagull Film Society
Affiliated to FFSI on: 18.11.1985
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 07.09.2003
Sheoraphuli Cine Centre
Zamindar Road, Sheoraphuli, Hooghly - 712223
Affiliated to FFSI on: 21.07.82
Shilpak Film & Television Society
614, RR Plot, Anandapur, Kolkata - 700107
Affiliated to FFSI on: 27.09.2014
Siliguri Cine Society
C/O HNAF, Nivedita Market, Siliguri, Pin Code: 734001
Affiliated to FFSI on: 30.01.1997
Society for Film & Media Culture Kolkata
Sagar Apartment, 11/1, Nagendra Nath Road, Kolkata- 700028
Affiliated to FFSI on: 09.07.2019
South Calcutta Film Society
14/A SN Banerjee Road, Kolkata - 700014
Affiliated to FFSI on: 17.07.1965
South Point Cine Society
13/2 Naryan Chand Dutta Street, Kolkata - 700019
Affiliated to FFSI on: 15.12.1988
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 25.09.2005
Southern Cine Club Baruipur
C/O Soumendra Mukherjee, Subuddhipur, Baruipur, 24 Parganas (South)
Affiliated to FFSI on: 24.07.80
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 07.09.2011
Southern Cine Culture, Sonarpur
Khirishtala, Sonarpur, District: 24-Parganas (South) Pin code- 743369
Affiliated to FFSI on: 22.06.1984
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 07.09.2011
Sree Chaitanya College Habra Campus Film Society
PO. Habra, 24 Parganas (North), Pin Code: 743268
Affiliated to FFSI on: 22.04.2018
Sundarban Nature & Cine Club
Gosaba Rice Mill Para, PO & PS: Gosaba, District: 24 Parganas (South) Pin Code: 773320
Affiliated to FFSI on: 08.07.2017
Tamluk Cine Society
Tamluk, Midnapore, Pin Code: 721636
Affiliated to FFSI on: 31.08.1990
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 07.09.2003
Uttarpara Cine Club
6B, Ramnidhi Chatterjee Lane, Uttarpara, Hooghly - 712258
Affiliated to FFSI on: 25.04.82
Youth Cine Circle
Room No. 6, First Floor,16 Mangoe Lane, Kolkata - 700001
Affiliated to FFSI on: 07.06.1982
Unaffiliated from FFSI on: 07.09.2011