The Birmingham Co-operative Film Society was established in early 2010 to provide public screening of 'films to make you think'. We will be showing a range of titles not normally on offer in the city centre which are high quality and entertaining, but also raise important issues relating to social justice, the environment, peace, co-operation and human rights.

Our monthly film shows are open to all, although we encourage individuals like-minded individuals and groups to become members. This gives you a say in the running of the society and discounts on ticket prices.

After covering day-to-day operating expenses, any surpluses will be invested in supporting young film-makers in the West Midlands.

We are affiliated to the British Federation of Film Societies.

Working as part of the Co-operative Movement

The Society has been established with support from the Midlands Co-operative Society's Member Relations Department (www.members.coop) and we are pleased to be able to use the Midlands Co-operative Member Relations Centre in Birmingham as our venue.

We are part of an emerging network of Film Co-ops across the UK which also includes the Manchester Film Co-operative (www.manchesterfilm.coop).

Adopting a constitution and registering the society was greatly assisted by local Co-operative Development specialists, Co-operative Futures and the legal team at Co-operatives UK.

Co-operatives are a unique form of business which use a democratically controlled enterprise to meet their members' common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations. These members could be customers in a consumer co-op, employees in a worker co-op, tennants in a housing co-op etc.

There are at least 4,700 co-operative enterprises in the UK, with a total of nearly 11 million members, turnover of more than £27 billion and assets of £9.2 billion. They share a common set of internationally agreed values and principles which include democracy, equality, equity, solidarity, self-help, self-responsibility, openness, honesty, social responsibility and caring for others.