Oscar nominations have just come out, and people are buzzing about this year’s top flicks, but in East Aurora, the talk is about a whole different type of film.

In September, the Aurora Art Film Society merged with the Roycroft Campus Corporation to form the Hubbard Film Society.

The former Aurora Art Film Society was founded in 1998 by local film fanatics. After more than 10 strong years, members of the society decided in early 2011 that they wanted to expand, and the best way to do so would be to become a nonprofit organization.

After exploring their options, they decided it would be most beneficial to incorporate the society with an existing group. Simultaneously, the Roycroft Campus Corporation was looking to expand its programming options.

“The planets just aligned, if you will,” said Allen Nowicki, program director of the Roycroft Campus Corporation.

Beyond the convenience of the two organizations looking for the characteristics that the other had to offer, the Roycroft Campus Corporation has a history of film on the grounds.

According to Nowicki, silent films were once shown at the campus’s Power House, to be viewed by members of the community.

The film society has experienced some changes since the two organizations came together, most of which are geared to expanding membership and interest in the group.

The Hubbard Film Society has continued the Aurora Art Film Society’s tradition of screening its movies at the Aurora Theatre, which was founded by Elbert (Bert) Hubbard II, among others, but has added another screening time to the lineup.

Formerly, films were shown once a month, at 4 p.m. on a Wednesday. Since the merger, the films also screen once a month, at 11 a.m. on a Saturday.

Alan Nowicki, program director at the Roycroft Campus Corporation, says the stars aligned to bring his organization and the Aurora Art Film Society together to form the Hubbard Film Society. The next two screenings will be taking place on Saturday, Feb. 4, and Wednesday, Feb. 8. The Wednesday afternoon screenings are also followed by what Nowicki described as one of his favorite aspects of the film society: a dinner and discussion session held at the Roycroft Inn.

Nowicki said the society may be looking to try new restaurants for the sessions in the future but has to make sure the venue would be able to accommodate the crowd, as the film society has approximately 200 members.

The society has also begun to expand its choice of films.

According to Nowicki, the former incarnation of the society focused primarily on foreign films.

A new trend in film, however, is screenings of live performances, which are made significantly more impressive by the theatre’s newly renovated sound system, said Nowicki.

So far, the society has screened live performances of both “The Nutcracker” and “The Phantom of the Opera,” as it was performed at Albert Hall in London, England.

Other recent choices have included “A Matter of Size,” an Israeli comedy released in 2009 about a group of overweight men accepting their weight through the sport of sumo wrestling, and “Something Ventured,” a 2011 film about venture capitalists and the birth of a variety of technologies.

The upcoming film is a French flick titled “Potiche” about a trophy wife who proves herself by assisting her husband’s company through challenging times.

Membership in the Hubbard Film Society costs $20 per individual or $30 per family and will get members a $2 discount off the regular $8 admission price to each film.

Those interested in becoming a member or finding out more about the society can visit its website at www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com/HFS.html.

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