Into Film Clubs
Find out everything you need to know about starting an Into Film Club.
We are delighted to launch the new year by adding eight new films to our free* school streaming platform, Into Film+. These titles have been carefully selected to offer an accessible and fun insight into curricular subjects and topics that are relevant to young people's social, cultural and personal development. An in-depth film guide is available to download for each title, designed to encourage further discussion and help students engage with the films' broader lessons.
For younger learners, there are tales of migrating birds getting lost, a yak taking residence in a Himalayan classroom, Roman soldiers causing havoc in Britain, and ferocious popularity contests in a high school musical. On offer for older students we have Martin Scorsese talking about some of his favourite British films, an additional Classical Hollywood masterpiece that's on the A-Level Film Studies syllabus, an important chapter in Irish history and look at contemporary French social issues.
Migration
Hang on to your tail feathers, it's migration season! This delightful animation offers a fun introduction to bird migration and natural habitats through the adventures of the Mallard family. A duck dad is cautious about leaving the safety of the home pond, but is persuaded to take flight by his kids and wife who are eager to broaden their horizons. However, their sunny trip to Jamaica doesn't go quite to plan and they end up in the urban jungle that is New York City, learning new survival skills and making new friends.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 5-7 and supports subjects including Science and Art & Design in addition to highlighting themes surrounding travel and exploration, animals, aquatic life and urban spaces and the natural world.
Horrible Histories: Rotten Romans
Ancient history gets a fresh and hilarious twist in this lively comedy, based on the Roman conquest of Britain. Having offended the young Emperor Nero, a quick-witted Roman lad called Atti is made to join the army and exiled to the cold, wet British Isles, where they are attempting to quash the rebellion led by the formidable warrior Boudicca. It is here that Atti crosses the path of a feisty Celtic girl, Orla, who is eager to join the battle against the invaders.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 7-11 and supports subjects including History and Literacy, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding gender representation, growing up, and ancient and medieval warfare.
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom
The theme of travel and explorations continues with this heartwarming tale set in the world's most remote school located in the Himalayas, where a young Bhutanese teacher is sent to complete his training. Ugyen, who secretly dreams of going to Australia and pursuing a career as a musician, is reluctant at first to embrace the traditional mountain lifestyle. He faces challenges teaching without electricity, textbooks or even a blackboard, but eventually warms to the students and finds a way to reconnect to his culture and appreciate a gentler way of life.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 11-14 and supports subjects including Geography and Music, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding school, community, the environment and Asian countries.
Mean Girls
The wilderness is closer than you'd think in this next film, which sees new girl Cady navigate an American high school as if it were a ruthless jungle ecosystem of popularity. The musical remake of the 2004 cult classic, adapted from the stage, brings the story of Cady and the so-called Plastics who rule the school up to date with social media and diverse representation, but the timeless themes of friendship, feuds and finding out who you really are remain key to this fun-filled handbook to surviving adolescence.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 11-14 and supports subjects including PSHE Education and Performing Arts, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding school, anti-bullying, growing up, music and animals.
Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger
This documentary explores the extraordinary careers of two creative visionaries whose films, produced in England, seem to transcend worldly realms: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Throughout the 1940s they collaborated as ‘The Archers' to make some of the all-time great films, including A Matter of Life and Death and The Red Shoes. A young Martin Scorsese watched these films on TV as a child and was inspired to direct movies himself. He now looks back at The Archers and examines what makes them so memorable.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and supports subjects including Film Studies and History, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding World War Two, film careers, arts and media and friendships.
All About Eve
Joining to our comprehensive collection of Classical Hollywood titles relevant to the WJEC/Eduqas Film Studies A Level syllabus, this dark satire delves into the glamour and pitfalls of showbusiness and celebrity. It's the 1950s and the young starry-eyed Eve is appointed as a personal assistant to established Broadway actress Margo Channing. Unbeknown to Margo, Eve has grand ambitions of fame and starts to manipulate her way up the showbiz ladder, by any means possible.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and supports subjects including Film Studies and Drama, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding gender representation, fame and consumerism, the film industry and historical periods.
Hunger
The 1981 Irish hunger strike occurred when jailed Provisional IRA members, who wished to be treated as political prisoners, refused to eat in protest. This tense drama follows one of the inmates who led the strike, Bobby Sands, as he puts everything on the line at great personal sacrifice. The film does not flinch from showing the brutality of the prison system and the physical effects of the strike, as well as opening a debate on its ethics and effectiveness.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and supports subjects including Citizenship, History, PSHE Education, Politics and Religious Education in addition to highlighting themes surrounding law and order, campaigns and revolutions, life and death, historical figures and ethics.
Les Misérables
Social justice is also at the heart of this French-language drama, set in a Parisian suburb where tensions between law enforcement forces and the local population are at breaking point. When a new police office joins the street crime unit, he quickly realises that his two colleagues do little to diffuse these hostilities, often provoking those they encounter. When their brutal actions are captured on camera by a drone, two young adolescents find themselves at the centre of a crisis with far-reaching consequences.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and supports subjects including Film Studies and French, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding urban spaces, law and order, racism and prejudice, community and gangs.
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.
