The Guelcher Film Series has a particularly exciting lineup this winter season — perhaps one of the best in the series’ nine-year history.

Featuring films such as “The Kids Are All Right,” and “The King’s Speech,” the series is sure to please film fanatics and casual attendees alike.

Though all the films that the Guelcher Film Series presents have already hit the big screen, they still provide the Mercyhurst and Erie communities with a great cultural and social opportunity.

The Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center (PAC), a non-profit organization, cannot premiere films, which makes the series non-theatrical.

However, PAC Director Michael Fuhrman said that he always tries to choose a variety of films to appeal to both the college and the Erie community.

“I look for films that really say something,” Fuhrman said about this eclectic season, which includes documentary, independent and international films.

Fuhrman also has a chance to link learning and leisure with the Guelcher films, occasionally partnering a film with a professor or campus group in order to stimulate discussion for the fullest potential experience.

In the upcoming season, the United Way in Erie is sponsoring the screening of “Waiting for Superman,” a documentary the PAC will show on March 23. United Way can also use the film as a starting point for a discussion about the future of education in America.

Also, some of the films are preceded by a “Brew and View,” an event Fuhrman and Assistant Marketing Manager Michelle Ellia organize to promote local Erie businesses and to provide social interaction for the community.

Fuhrman said these events demonstrate that Mercyhurst is open-minded, allowing students to mingle with faculty members before being submerged into the real world.

They also serve to bring an important social aspect to the arts. In a society that is quickly becoming more individualistic, a “Brew and View” allows for interaction and discussion about the films.

This season, “The Kids Are All Right” and “Four Lions,” a quirky film about a group of British jihadists, will each feature a “Brew and View.”

“You could always watch the movie on Netflix, but come on out and see the film. Hear both sides of the story. You might be surprised by what you see,” Fuhrman said.

Given that the films are free to students with ID, Fuhrman’s advice seems wise.

Films are shown Wednesdays at 2:15 and 7:15 p.m. in the PAC, and the film schedule can be found online at merciad.mercyhurst.edu/arts_entertainment.