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There are lots of great options this month for young audiences whose new year resolution is to go to the cinema. From dramatic storytelling that plunges the viewer into a unique point of view, to insightful portraits of some of the greatest musicians that have ever lived, January's new releases kick off the new year with creativity and inspiration. Be transported to Japan and see the world through kaleidoscopic eyes with the sweet anime The Color Within, or travel back in time to the very same spot where generations upon generations have laughed, cried and loved in Here. Read on to discover more cinematic adventures out this month.
Nickel Boys (12A) - in cinemas 3 January
This drama inspired by real historical events takes the immersive power of cinema to a whole new level, as we see what segregation and friendship was like in Jim Crow era quite literally through the eyes of an African American sixteen-year-old called Elwood. Quiet, clever and idealistic, Elwood one day happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and is sent to a brutal reform school. He is appalled by the exploitation and abuse taking place and wants to do something about it. His friend Turner is more sceptical about their chances, but at the same time his sunny friendship brings light into Elwood's life.
Maria (certificate 12A) - in cinemas 10 January
Opera is an artform known for high drama and beauty, but the real life of an opera singer, as this latest biopic explores, can be just as dramatic, though not always that glamorous. Maria Callas was a once-in-a-generation soprano of American Greek heritage, who rose to fame in the late 1940s with her ‘divine' performances of Italian opera. This film, however, meets her in her twilight era: following many tumultuous years in the public eye and a heartbreaking vocal decline, she retreats, ghostlike, to an apartment in Paris. Yet memories of her former glory swirl all around, in a compassionate character study of celebrity and human vulnerability.
Here (12A) - in cinemas 17 January
Have you ever wondered about the many lives and events that one single location has witnessed, if only it could tell its stories? Another emotional drama with a non-linear narrative released this month follows the lives of the various inhabitants of a single place throughout history. From dinosaurs to modern inventors, from the Spanish influenza to COVID-19, from Christmas celebrations to first loves, this plot of land and the house built upon it have seen it all. Digital de-aging enables actor Tom Hanks to seemingly time-travel to a youthful version of his character Richard, offering plenty of discussion points on the use of such technology in cinema.
A Complete Unknown (15) - in cinemas 17 January
As young people are often reminded, we all have to start somewhere, and Bob Dylan, considered one of the greatest songwriters of all time, started as a completely unknown 19-year-old musician trying to get gigs in New York City in the 1960s. This biopic depicts the pivotal early days of his rising stardom, as his poetic genius captures the folk revival movement in America. He struggles with fame, relationships, and the expectations of others, including people trying to tell him how to define himself. So when Dylan picks up an electric guitar, it causes shockwaves. Accompanied by an evocative soundtrack, this intimate portrait celebrates the importance of self-expression.
Presence (certificate TBC) - in cinemas 24 January
The classic haunted house premise is ingeniously reframed in this slow-burning psychological thriller. A family moves to a new home in the suburbs, where teenage daughter Chloe becomes particularly attuned to a supernatural presence sharing their space, stirred by grief and family tension. Like Nickel Boys, this film also draws attention to the camera's first-person perspective, but rather than adopting the point of view of one of the protagonists, the viewer takes on an unnerving role.
Hard Truths (12A) - in cinemas 31 January
This British tragicomedy by Mike Leigh explores the relationship between anger and depression though surprisingly funny realism. Pansy is a middle-aged woman who is constantly, exhaustingly, angry at the world. She gets irritable with everyone, from her long-suffering husband and grown-up son, to shop assistants who dilly-dally. Her good-natured sister Chantelle appears to be the polar opposite: she has a cheery relationship with her two daughters, and would like to help Pansy, somehow, but the latter is so worked up that at times she even scares herself. With themes of grief, generational dynamics and mental health, this is a compassionate look at modern family life.
The Colors Within (certificate TBC) - in cinemas 31 January
In this colourful anime, three misfit teenagers come together through music and learn to face their difficulties. Young Totsuko is shy but excitable, in awe of the fact that she sees people as bright colours. She develops a crush on her classmate, Kimi, whose aura glows a beautiful blue. When Kimi stops coming to school, Totsuko goes on a mission to find her. She tracks her down working in a bookstore, and learning that Kimi is teaching herself to play guitar - and after chatting to another boy with an attractive green aura - Totsuko impulsively proposes that the three of them form a rock band.
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 700+ 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.
Filmbankmedia
Filmbankmedia licenses and distributes film and TV entertainment to many groups and is the licensing authority we work with to ensure schools, libraries and youth groups have the permissions to screen films from our catalogue.
* 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.
The core Into Film programme is free for UK state schools, colleges and other youth settings, thanks to support from the BFI, awarding National Lottery good cause funding, and through other key funders including Cinema First and Northern Ireland Screen.
