A film society is a membership-based club where people can watch screenings of films that would otherwise not be shown in mainstream cinemas. In Spain, Ireland and Italy, they are known as "cineclubs", and in Germany they are known as "filmclubs". They usually have an educational aim, introducing new audiences to different audiovisual works through an organized and prepared program of screenings.

Editorial output reinforces the work of these organisations, as they produce hand-programmes, brochures, schedules, information sheets, and even essays, supporting the significance of their exhibitions. A common feature that may characterize a film society screening is that they begin with an introduction of the film to the audience, and end with the promotion of a discussion about the film, where assistants, organizers and sometimes the filmmakers themselves, exchange their views.

There are networks in many different countries, and these are organized into federations, councils, collectives, and local networks. Famous film societies include Amos Vogel's Cinema 16, Cinémathèque Française, and the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City.

The film society movement originated in France in the time between the two world wars (see below). The international body for film societies is the International Federation of Film Societies (IFFS). This international association was set up in 1947 in Cannes (France) among groups of film societies in countries throughout the world and this association is called Fédération Internationale des Ciné-Clubs (F.I.C.C.).

Founded in 1946, the Hobart Film Society is the oldest continually operating film society in Australia. The Melbourne Cinematheque began as the Melbourne University Film Society (MUFS) in 1948 and changed its name to Cinémathèque in 1984. The national body for film societies in Australia is the Australian Council of Film Societies (ACOFS) was established in 1949.

Notable members of the Australian "film society movement" include Ian Klava, David Stratton, Michael Thornhill, Frank Moorhouse, Ken Quinnell and John Flaus.

Film society movement in Bangladesh was started in 1963. The young generation of the '70s is continuing this society culture. From their effort, there are now quite a few film societies in Bangladesh. The parent organization is Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh (FFSB). Prominent film societies in Bangladesh are:

The beginnings of Canadian film education may be traced to the relatively late arrival of the film society movement. While the earliest film societies were formed in Paris in 1924 and in London the following year, it was not until 1935 that Donald Buchanan assembled a sufficient number of film enthusiasts to launch the National Film Society of Canada. That organization, largely modelled on the British Film Institute, took as its mandate the establishment of a genuine film culture. Within a year, the society opened branches in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The Vancouver Branch, founded in 1936, was particularly successful in the late 1930s; it presented its screenings in 35-millimetre prints at the commercial Stanley Theatre, and had more than 1,000 paid-up members. The Vancouver Branch was managed by O. C. Wilson (1936-39) and Oscar C. Burritt (1939-42).