Into Film Clubs
Find out everything you need to know about starting an Into Film Club.
Congratulations to Dunn Street Primary School in Jarrow, Tyneside, who have been named our Into Film Club of the Year: 11 and Under (Sponsored by MGM Studios) at the Into Film Awards 2020.
Dunn Street Primary School is situated in an area of low income and high unemployment and social deprivation, and their activity with Into Film - in particular, attending the Into Film Festival - has had a profound effect on the young people at the school.
Having an Into Film Club is amazing for any school. In areas of high unemployment and low income it provides children with the opportunity to have that special ‘cinema experience' both within the club and especially with the Into Film Festival.
Jane Baxter, Into Film Club Leader at Dunn Street Primary School
Led by Jane Baxter, Dunn Street's Into Film Club works hard to benefit pupils throughout the school. Funds raised from their tuck shop were donated to subsidise travel costs for the school's KS1 children in Year 2 to attend an Into Film Festival educational screening of Playmobil the Movie.
They also held an end of Academic Year 'Oscars' Party for the whole school and parents in which club members were presented with small 'Oscar Trophies' and certificates for their achievements. Spot prizes were also given during their Oscars Party screening of The Greatest Showman for the children's singing and dancing prowess.
Funds raised by the club during the event were - as voted unanimously - used to purchase an annual school metro pass. Having the pass facilitated every child from every class in the whole school to attend the 2019 Into Film Festival for free. As it is an annual pass, it has also enabled classes to travel for free on school trips to locations that are on the Tyne and Wear Metro Line. In an area of low income, high unemployment and social deprivation this has been wholeheartedly welcomed by parents.
The way Dunn Street has taken the Into Film Clubs framework and used to not just benefit their whole school, but significantly improve the quality of life of pupils is truly inspiring.
I am so proud of our children for the amazing amount of work they do to improve their understanding and literacy abilities. Their generosity and selflessness to donate club funds to be used to benefit children throughout the school is simply outstanding.
Jane Baxter, Into Film Club Leader at Dunn Street Primary School
To emphasise what it means for children from this area to be recognised for their Into Film Club, club leader Jane Baxter shared some responses from her young club members, saying that the reactions ranged from jubilation and excitement to a distinct sense of disbelief.
"Miss are you joking us? You are, aren't you?" followed by "What is so special about us?", "Really! Really, people from London think we are good! Really?", to the dawning realisation "Will I need a tiara? Are we going to meet the Queen in London?".
Into Film provides a fully inclusive resource for children with additional needs, SEN & ESL to relax and enjoy a movie, with differentiated activity sheets, enabling them to participate and access both film and education with their peers regardless of limitations.
Jane Baxter, Into Film Club Leader at Dunn Street Primary School
The Into Film Awards ceremony was due to take place in March 2020, with David Walliams as host, but was sadly unable to go ahead as planned due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, Walliams was still on hand to host our virtual ceremony, and you can see the moment he announced Dunn Street Primary as winner in the clip below.
