The Lyme Regis Film Society was formed in 1988 in response to a demand from local film-goers who wanted to see up-to-date films that were not necessarily 'mainstream', or in other words, were not likely to have a screening at the Regent cinema.

It was clear from the response to the very first season that there was indeed a following for such films and the Society has now shown nearly 200 films during the last 16 years.

Membership has risen from about 80 people in the first season to 260 in 2004/05.