In 1997, New Hall embarked on a series of film festivals to fill a perceived need in Cambridge for a venue where important, but completely non-commercial, works could be shown. Film directors were often invited to come and speak about their works as a prelude to the showing of the films. In a letter of 23 June 1998 (in NHRF 1/4/6/2) Anne Lonsdale says 'As I watch with horror the demise of the Arts Cinema, the role of New Hall seems to become even more important'. A memorandum in NHRF 1/4/6/6 seeking external funding includes a short history of the establishment and development of the New Hall Film Festivals. The files listed here generally contain the following: correspondence with suppliers, introductory speakers and guests; programmes; programme notes (resumes of films, notes on directors etc); advertising; flyers; Film Committee papers and correspondence and, from 2000, minutes (Liz Poole acted as Secretary to the Film Committee); costs and accounts; papers concerning guest nights held in conjunction with the film festivals, including menus; news cuttings; reports on Film Festivals for the Dolphin, the Review and the Film Committee; and papers concerning sponsorship and donations towards costs.