Into Film Clubs
Find out everything you need to know about starting an Into Film Club.
We are pleased to announce the addition of nine new titles to Into Film+ and Into Film+ Premium. As ever, these films have been carefully selected not only for their educational value - especially in introducing topics in accessible ways - but also for the purely joyful experience they can offer to a classroom as a pre-Christmas treat.
Our streaming service now boasts over 600 films to engage every age group, from early learners to school leavers. This new batch of titles includes animated winter warmers, candid portrayals of changing communities, and thrilling action sequences with superheroes, race drivers and bejewelled martial artists. These are accompanied by film guides specifically written to enhance the film-watching experience and spark discussion.
The Snowman and the Snowdog
Released thirty years after the beloved original, this new adventure sees another young boy discover the joy and magic of playing in the snow. Mourning the loss of his dog and longing for a new companion, the child stumbles across a photo of the original Snowman and decides to rebuild him, with the addition of a snowdog pal. That night, both creations miraculously come to life and invite the boy on an incredible journey flying through the sky. The running time of this touching Christmas tale is under 30 minutes, a little gem to kick off the festive season.
Elemental
In a city populated by fire, water, earth and air, the elements have strong personalities and even greater chemistry. Ember is a fire person with a blazing temper, who when she accidentally causes a water pipe to burst in the basement of her dad's store, must enlist the help of Wade, a water person, to try and fix the damage. Love blossoms between this unlikely pairing, but with so many obstacles in their way, will they ever find the space to be together? This story gently touches upon themes of immigration and the difficulties of assimilation, as well bringing science to life!
The Illusionist
Made by Belleville Rendez-Vous director Sylvain Chomet from a script by the late legendary French comedian Jacques Tati, this beautifully animated film is mostly dialogue-free. Tatischeff is an old-fashioned illusionist, a master of rabbit in a hat and card tricks. Sadly for him, audiences have moved on, and the search for someone, anyone, to see his act takes him from France to the distant Scottish isles, and eventually to Edinburgh. Along the way he meets Alice, who really does believe in magic, something Tatischeff never has.
Polite Society
Showcasing a heady mix of Bollywood, action and comedy, this refreshing British hit also reflects on sisterhood, tradition and forging your own path. Ria Khan is an energetic teenage martial artist with dreams of becoming a stuntwoman. Her sister Lena, on the other hand, has lost her sense of direction - until she meets the rich, handsome and charming Salim. Ria becomes suspicious when the new couple fast-track their engagement and pulls out all the stops to uncover what she believes to be a great conspiracy against her sister.
Senna
This documentary, made entirely from archive news, TV and home video footage, pieces together the precious moments of a man's high-octane existence as one of the all-time greats of Formula One racing, before his tragic death in a track accident aged just 34. Ayrton Senna's skill and speed behind the wheel were legendary, as was his intense, bitter rivalry with French world champ Alain Prost. Taking the audience right into the driver's perspective and addressing issues beyond racing, this incredibly crafted portrait will have audiences gripping their seats.
The Dark Knight
The second in Christopher Nolan's eponymous trilogy, this dark rendition of Batman's adventures marked a shift of tone for the superhero movie genre. Having brought down the crime rate of Gotham City, Batman has gathered enemies among local gangs of criminal, who have teamed up with his arch-enemy, the Joker - unleashing mayhem in every direction. The city must hope that Batman's alliance with the new high-flying prosecutor Harvey Dent is also strong enough to overcome the frenzied clown and his hired goons.
A Moving Image
Combining documentary, scripted drama and performance, this experimental but accessible film raises questions about urban change and art as appropriation. Nina is a young actress who has moved back to her home district of Brixton in London. Upon her arrival, she encounters a place she does not recognise, a community that seems to have been irreversibly changed. Determined to find out how and why this has happened, Nina begins work on an art-film that aims to tackle the issues and resistances surrounding gentrification in the country's capital.
Captain Fantastic
A popular choice for the study of American independent film, this title is featured on the WJEC Eduqas A-level Film Studies syllabus in the component relating to varieties of film and filmmaking. The film presents an ideological take on contemporary US society, with the story of a family who has been leading an alternative lifestyle off the grid. As the father and children try and process their grief following the mother's death, differing opinions on how they should move on with their lives create tension.
Charlotte
The colourful and expressive medium of animation brings life the true story of Charlotte Salomon, a young Jewish artist whose own vivid paintings documented the rise of anti-Semitism in Germany before the outbreak of World War Two. This film traces her journey from Berlin to the safety of the South of France with her grandparents, but as painful family history resurfaces and the Nazis advance, the young woman feels the desperate urge to capture her life in illustrated form. A gentle yet challenging animation, that explores mental health issues and personal wartime experiences.
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 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.
