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The Documentary Film Group, better known as Doc Films, is a student-operated film society at the University of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is—according to a 2007 Chicago Tribune article—"the longest-running collegiate film society in the country" and may be the oldest film society of any kind in the United States.[1][2] Formed in 1932 as a group of students who gathered to screen documentary films, it officially adopted the name International House Documentary Film Group in 1940. It has since expanded both the genres it screens and the activities it sponsors.

History

Doc Films began in 1932 as the Documentary Film Group, as the students involved collected money to foot the bill for screening documentaries.[3][4] In 1940, it officially became the International House Documentary Film Group",[5] and by 1950, when an auditorium was in use for screening films, was already being hailed as "probably the oldest U.S. film society" by Film News.[2]

Activities

As the student organizers realized that they could not sustain the organization on documentaries alone, they expanded to incorporate fictional and experimental films. While the University's classes are in session, Doc Films hosts at the Max Palevsky Cinema nightly screenings of films selected from one of these categories. Its screening selection is eclectic. Each quarter of the academic year, University students and members of the public propose series of ten films that are somehow related to each other (filmmaker, actor, era, theme, etc.) Its Programming Committee, which consists of any interested student or member of the public, then chooses among these proposals to schedule a different series for each weeknight (Sunday through Thursday). Recent films, normally delayed one quarter from their nationwide release date, are shown on weekendson weekends. Occasionally, it screens films which have not yet been released to the general public in the area, including The Rules of the Game and Brokeback Mountain.

Other events include showings of student films and conversations with faculty and professionals connected to the film industry. It has hosted a number of film directors, including Alfred Hitchcock, Woody Allen and John Ford.

References

  1. ^ Shaults, Jane (May 18 2007). "Keeping students in the dark for 75 years". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-07-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b Educational Film Library Association, American Film Center (1950). "Film News". 11–13. At the University of Chicago the Documentary Film Group, probably the oldest US film society, has been operating continuously...since 1932. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Kamp, David (2006). The film snob's dictionary: an essential lexicon of filmological knowledge. Broadway Books. p. 26. ISBN 0767918762. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Educational Film Library Association, American Film Center. "The group first pooled funds informally to screen documentaries."
  5. ^ "about Doc Films". University of Chicago. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
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