ILKLEY Film Society opens its 48th season on Sunday, September 11 with the warm-hearted Italian drama The Wonders (Ilkley Playhouse, 8pm).

Teenager Gelsomina lives in the Tuscan countryside where she helps her family with their bee-keeping business. She decides to take the initiative and enter them for a TV competition in which farmers will compete to have their products featured on the show. Her plans are complicated by her father's opposition to the idea, and by the arrival of a troubled boy who has been taken on as a farm hand. The glorious scenery of Tuscany provides another reason not to miss the screening.

Director Alice Rohrwacher's film won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes in 2014 and gets the society's new season off to a flying start. The regular season boasts 22 films from 15 different countries including Iceland, Colombia, South Korea and Georgia. The mood ranges from the feelgood musical comedy Sing Street from Ireland and the irresistibly charming, but little-seen The Crow's Egg from India to the harrowing Hungarian Oscar-winner Son Of Saul and the nail-biting tension of the British Eye In The Sky. France, Japan, Germany, Turkey and Spain are also represented by outstanding films.

As in every season there will be two Special Events: in November, the extraordinary documentary The Fear Of 13 in which a convicted murderer tells his astonishing story direct to the camera; and in February the wonderful British silent film Shooting Stars. The Film Society contributed to an appeal for funds to restore this film, and now members will have a chance to see the results.

Wherever possible the films will be screened in Blu-ray format for the best possible image quality. The venue has an induction loop facility for audience members who use hearing aids.

The society's membership is limited to 200, but places are still available. Brochures, containing a membership application form, can be found in Ilkley at the Library, Visitor Information Centre, Clarke Foley Centre and Ilkley Cinema. Enquiries can also be made via the website at www.ilkleyfilmsociety.org. The membership fee is just £40 to see all 24 films!

Non-members are always welcome as guests (price £4) but should phone secretary Dave Howell in advance on 01943 430097.