7 Christmas Gifts For The Film Buff In Your Life

Christmas gifting for the film fan in your life is a task full of inevitable hurdles. “Surely they have thousands of films?” you say, feeling panicked, after seeing several festive editions of the same movie on a shelf.  And, let’s get real here: if they are any kind of real movie buff they’ll already have all seven versions of Blade Runner on Blu Ray, so where does that leave you, oh humble present buyer? Baffled at the popularity of Blade Runner? Wanting to stay away from the DVD/Blu Ray sections at all costs? You’d be blamed for neither. The trick, however, is that extra bit of thought. And depending on which route, or rather, reel, you want to go down, you won’t have to spend a fortune either. Jennifer McShane chooses gifts that any film lover should adore this Christmas.

The Smartphone Projector €22.39

Love using your phone for streaming but sick of the small screen?  This snazzy little smartphone projector, promises to “turn everyday Youtube videos into grand cinematic events.” Made entirely from rigid cardboard and printed to look just like a retro device, this stylish projector contains a high-quality glass lens to turn your little screen into a big screen. Just slide your smartphone into the back of this perfectly portable projector to make them larger than life.

The Book Set €116

Just about every film fan on (middle) earth has a copy of Tolkien’s immortal trilogy, but few have one quite as beautiful as this. If you know a film fan who has the same devoted obsession with Tolkien’s words as they do the big-screen adaptations, this is perfect.  From the library of book fetishists, The Folio Society, these are luxuriously bond editions of the three instalments. Too beautiful to read? Well, that was never the point of the set though, was it?

The Movie Posters €70 (approx)

For cinephiles across the world, Mondo is the mecca of movie posters. The company, which owns a gallery in Austin, Texas, in the US creates limited edition one-sheets for an array of films. The archive over at the Mondo website includes posters for recent favourites as well as cult classics, and yes, they ship internationally. The Beauty & The Beast artwork above is just one example of the striking work on offer.

The ‘Christmas Mug’ €22.50 (approx)  

Any film devotee may snigger at the thought of a mere Christmas mug, but what if it the word ‘festive’ was forgotten altogether and the mug just replaced with movie lingo and appropriate imagery? Thought so. Esty has plenty of great variations, but this Casablanca set is especially gorgeous.

The Classic Film Restored To its Former Glory €9.99 (approx)

If you’re buying them a gift, chances are you know them well enough to know at least one childhood/classic film that meant something to them. Get online and hunt for the movie that has been painstakingly transferred to a Blu Ray and let them enjoy it as it was meant to be seen and revel in the memories. A personal favourite is Meet Me In St Louis. Never has such a visual wonder looked as perfect on screen now. No small feat, given that it was first released in 1944.

The Trivia Game €10.50

So, you think you’re really a film buff? Put your cinematic knowledge to the test with the Ridley’s Games Room Movie Buff card quiz. If it’s a film, it’ll be on the cards. It’s bound to cause more friction than the annual Who Gets To Be The Banker? Monopoly Christmas row, and is definitely one to be played when the mulled wine is flowing.

The Subscription €49 (approx) 

The Light House Cinema’s membership packages have something for everyone, be you a frequent cinema-goer or one who saves attending for any of their amazing event seasons. They’ve devoted weeks and months to honouring the greatest films of all time – modern masterpieces as well as the classics – and every few weeks offer something different. Their anticipated Christmas season is about to start, so you have another chance to catch your festive favourite on the big screen.