Into Film Clubs
Find out everything you need to know about starting an Into Film Club.
2023 sees the centenary of Warner Bros., one of the most iconic film studios in cinema history. To mark the occasion, Warner Bros. Discovery are planning a series of film re-releases, restorations, concerts, and more, in cinemas across the country and on home entertainment.
Warner Bros. was founded by Albert, Sam, Harry and Jack Warner and incorporated on 4 April 1923. Today, the studio, which is part of Warner Bros. Discovery, is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry, from feature film, television and direct-to-consumer production to animation, comic books, videogames, consumer products, themed entertainment, studio tours and brand licensing. The Studio's vast library, one of the most prestigious and valuable in the world, consists of more than 145,000 hours of programming, including 12,500 feature films and 2,400 television programs comprised of more than 150,000 individual episodes. Warner Bros. is also home to one of the most diverse portfolios of adored franchises in the world, including Looney Tunes, Wizarding World, DC, FRIENDS, Game of Thrones, Hanna-Barbera and many more.
Into Film is proud to host a large number of Warner Bros. titles from throughout their history on Into Film+ and Into Film+ Premium*, all of which are available to stream for free** for schools that hold a valid Public Video Screening (PVS) Licence. Titles on Into Film+ feature accompanying film discussion guides and other resources. Here are a selection of some the Warner Bros. Favourites we have available.
Classic Animations: From beloved characters such as Tom & Jerry and Bugs Bunny, to classic cartoons Scooby -Doo and Animaniacs, amongst many others, animation has always been central to Warner Bros' identity, on the big and small screens. Adapted from the classic Ted Hughes story, The Iron Man, The Iron Giant is regarded by many as one of the finest animations ever made and has been one of the most popular titles for Into Film since our inception. Equally popular are the adorable Happy Feet films, and the brilliantly subversive The LEGO® Movie. The world of animation was changed forever in 2004 with the release of The Polar Express, the first movie to be entirely filmed with motion-capture technology, and it has gone on to become one of the most popular and enduring Christmas films. Finally, Teen Titans Go! to the Movies brought another of Warner Bros's most popular cartoons onto the big screen, with wonderfully satirical results that delights children and adults alike.
Family Favourites: Away from the world of animation, there is a rich history of live-action family films that have been passed down amongst generations, such as Roald Dahl adaptations Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and The Witches. Sticking with British literature, 1993's The Secret Garden continues to enchant young audiences with its magical adventures, as does the Harry Potter franchise, the first three films of which are available on Into Film+ Premium. American children's literature is represented with Spike Jonze's Where The Wild Things Are, adapted from the famous Maurice Sendak picture book. Turning to documentary, look no further than the beautiful March of the Penguins, which continues to inspire awe with its images of penguins surviving in the Antarctic. And no list of legendary family films would be complete without Elf!
Literary Adaptations: Film adaptations of literary texts can be hugely beneficial for young people studying these works. Younger students are likely to be familiar with the classic World War One novel A Little Princess, and director Alfonso Cuarón's beautiful adaptation has long held a place in the hearts of Into Film audiences. A Streetcar Named Desire rightly remains a staple of the curriculum. The film adaptation starring Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh is- a masterclass of adaptation. Baz Luhrmann's remarkable interpretation of The Great Gatsby was a characteristically audacious and intoxicating adaptation that breathed new life into a classic text. Equally radical was the 2009 reimagining of Sherlock Holmes, starring Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr, also available on Into Film+ Premium. Finally, few literary adaptations have been as commercially and critically successful as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson changing the face of blockbuster cinema.
Auteurs: Warner Bros. has a long-held reputation for celebrating the talents of singular cinematic voices. There are few directors more universally revered than Alfred Hitchcock. Into Film+ hosts one of his greatest films, the timeless North By Northwest, alongside a discussion with Cary Grant expert and film academic Charlotte Crofts, ideal material for any Film Studies students. The partnership between Stanley Kubrick and Warner Bros. resulted in a series of iconic and distinctive films, including the unforgettable The Shining. Kubrick collaborated with another beloved auteur, Steven Spielberg, for A.I. Artificial Intelligence, a film that becomes more fascinating and relevant to modern lives with each viewing. Staying with science-fiction, British director Ridley Scott's Blade Runner remains one of the most hauntingly beautiful science-fictions ever made, as fascinatingly complex as Christopher Nolan's Inception. Nolan has also turned his attention to the war film, with the gripping Dunkirk. New Zealand director Peter Jackson moved from the world of fantasy into archive documentary, with the pioneering They Shall Not Grow Old, using original footage from the World War One trenches to present the soldiers experiences to modern audiences in ways never seen before.
Film History: Warner Bros. has been responsible for some of the most culturally significant Hollywood films ever made, many of which continue to be staples of Film Studies curricular. Released in 1942, the endlessly quotable Casablanca remains one of the most enduring movies of all time, continuing to entrance audiences today, more than 80 years on from its release. The 1950s saw teen icon James Dean project youthful anxiety and rebellion in ways never before seen on screen, in Rebel Without A Cause. More than a decade later, the violent, electric, Bonnie & Clyde set in motion what came to be known as The New Hollywood, and an era of mainstream filmmaking like no other. Fast forward to 1999, and The Wachowski siblings altered the face of science-fiction cinema and anticipated many of today's cultural anxieties with the exhilarating The Matrix, a feat equalled in 2015 with action cinema by George Miller and his pulsating Mad Max: Fury Road. Bringing film history up-to-date is Lin Manuel Miranda's In The Heights, a riotous celebration of cultural heritage and community that both calls back to the musical films that came before it as well as keeping the genre firmly rooted in the present day.
How Do I Get Started?
To access Into Film+, all you'll need is an Into Film Account - it's completely free*, and only takes a moment to set up. Into Film+ is free to use for all UK state schools that hold a valid Public Video Screening (PVS) Licence from Filmbankmedia.
Filmbankmedia PVS Licences are paid for on behalf of schools by all local authorities in England and by some local authorities in both Wales and Scotland. Into Film NI cover the license cost for some schools in Northern Ireland. For further information on licensing in your locality please see our FAQs.
If you're a state school in England that's funded by the Department for Education, you will automatically have access to Into Film+ Premium, which offers an extended catalogue of 500+ titles. Find out more about Into Film+ Premium in our FAQs.
If you don't have a PVS Licence, or aren't already covered, then a licence can easily be obtained from Filmbankmedia.
* Screenings for an entertainment or extra-curricular purpose require a PVS (Public Video Screening) Licence from Filmbankmedia. State-funded schools in England are covered by the PVS Licence.
Into Film and the Into Film+ streaming service is supported by the UK film industry through Cinema First and the BFI through National Lottery Funding, thanks to National Lottery players. Since the very first National Lottery draw in 1994, public support - raised directly through National Lottery ticket sales - has funded more than 670,000 projects, raising more than £46 billion for good causes.
