This past fall, the Shepherdstown Opera House became the home of the Shepherdstown Film Society. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — A number of fascinating films are on tap to be screened in the Shepherdstown Opera House this spring.

On Jan. 21, the Shepherdstown Film Society announced the schedule for its upcoming spring season, which will begin this coming month and continue through June.

“After a successful fall 2024 season in its new home at the Shepherdstown Opera House, the Shepherdstown Film Society expanded its active membership and worked to select another four films,” said Shepherdstown Film Society Chair Sheila Vertino in a press release. “We have selected an exciting spring 2025 lineup of films!”

According to Vertino, the selections were made after the ending of the film society’s fall 2024 season.

“The film society’s hard work this winter paid off,” Vertino said.

The four films being shown this spring will be: “The Dressmaker,” a 2015 Australian comedy-drama starring Kate Winslet that explores the themes of revenge and creativity while showcasing fashion, which will be screened on Feb. 7; “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb,” a 1964 political satire classic directed by Stanley Kubrick, which will be screened on April 4; “Perfect Days,” a 2023 visually-stunning narrative set in Japan about the joy of living life in the moment, which will be screened on May 2; and “The Birdcage,” a 1996 remake of the classic French farce “La Cage aux Folles” starring Nathan Lane and Robin Williams, which will be screened on June 6. A facilitated discussion will follow the screening of each film. Concessions will be available at the screenings, including freshly popped popcorn, soft drinks, wine and beer.

Attendance of any of the screenings is free or pay-what-you-will.

Advanced seat reservations are encouraged to be made, due to the limited seating in the Shepherdstown Opera House. Online reservations may be made until two hours before showtime, at OperaHouseLive.com.

Shepherdstown Opera House co-owner Harriet Pearson said she is looking forward to the start of this film society season.

“We love to host film society screenings,” Pearson said. “The [Shepherdstown] Film Society audiences are curious and community-minded – they know it’s so much better to watch interesting films together with others.”

No movie will be screened during the month of March, to encourage local film lovers who would normally attend the Shepherdstown Film Society screenings to instead purchase tickets to see some of the films being shown at the American Conservation Film Festival, which will be taking place from March 6-9.

The Shepherdstown Film Society was founded in 2004 by a group of Shepherdstown residents, in partnership with Shepherd University.

The volunteer organization is currently facilitated by the university’s Lifelong Learning program.