Bridport Film Society (BFS) has announced its new season of world cinema.

This comprises a carefully curated selection of contemporary films from all over the world, including France, Spain, Finland, Malta, Lebanon, China, Russia and India.

Tristan Allsop, BFS committee member said: "Each year, our programming committee spends many hours watching and debating the merits of more than 80 films in pursuit of thought-provoking and inspiring choices. This year's selection is richly diverse, full of hidden gems and aims also to deliver a few surprises along the way."

The season kicks off on Tuesday, September 24 with Summer of Soul, which brings alive the story of the unjustly forgotten 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival with extraordinary early footage of Stevie Wonder, BB King, Nina Simone and many other icons of soul. Other season highlights include Pedro Almodóvar's Parallel Mothers with Penelope Cruz, Balloon, a gentle story from Tibet, and Shoplifters, a film from Japan that The Spectator said was 'wholly absorbing and it will steal your heart'.

Chris Pike BFS chairman said: "I love that our film selections are so varied and so global in their outlook. For many of these films, this is their only Dorset screening. Sure, it's possible at great effort to track some of them down on obscure streaming sites. But that's hard work. Instead, let us create those choices, freeing you to simply 'delight in the unexpected' at our fortnightly big screen events at Bridport Arts Centre. World cinema in your doorstep."

Season membership costs £35 for 12 films, the seventh year in a row that membership fees have not been increased. 

Full season details are available at bridportfilmsociety.co.uk