Into Film Clubs
Find out everything you need to know about starting an Into Film Club.
To celebrate the start of term, we have added twelve new titles to our streaming service Into Film+, available to enjoy in the classroom for free*! These films help to contextualise subjects and topics that are relevant for learners of various age groups, including History, Literacy, Design & Technology, and French. They are also packed with some stunning visuals, belly laughs and inspiring life lessons. Each film comes with a downloadable resource to encourage students to delve deeper into the film's key themes.
Superheroes take a leading role in this selection, with four Ninja Turtles, a new Black Panther, a whole pack of Super-Pets and the strongest half-man, half-god in all Ancient Greece. The importance of good teachers and working hard to achieve something you are passionate about are also prominent themes, highlighted in the boxing drama Creed, the story of a school choir Les Choristes (The Chorus), and an anime about a warrior's apprentice, The Boy and The Beast. The art of filmmaking is celebrated through the work of classic auteur Alfred Hitchcock and contemporary directors Matteo Garrone and Hirokazu Koreeda. And famous figures such as Count Dracula and Vincent van Gogh are brought to life through the accessible and engaging medium of animation.
Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation
The summer holidays may be over for us mere mortals, but Dracula and his mates are grabbing their swimming costumes and heading off for a well-earned break! The third instalment in this popular animated franchise sees the vampire hotel manager going on a moonlit monster cruise, where he falls for the ship's charming captain, Ericka. But little does he know that she is a relative of one of his greatest evil enemies. This light-hearted film offers fun reflections on summertime activities, as well as a spooky look ahead to Halloween!
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 5-7 and supports subjects including Art & Design in addition to highlighting themes surrounding family and friendships, travel and exploration and ghosts and monsters.
Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2 are also available on Into Film + Premium.
Hercules
Disney's retelling of the legend of Hercules, son of Zeus, is a raucous musical comedy introducing young viewers to Ancient Greece and its gods, myths and daily life. As a baby, Hercules survives an attempt on his life by Hades, ruler of the underworld, thanks to his almighty strength. But in order for him to re-join the gods on Mount Olympus, he must become a true hero on Earth. He fights monsters and saves people in need, but will it be enough to prove his worth?
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 7-11 and supports subjects including History and Art & Design in addition to highlighting themes surrounding mythology, fame and consumerism, historical periods and growing up.
DC League of Super-Pets
Onto another famous hero, Superman, and his loyal Super-Dog, Krypto: this fun animation offers a taste of the DC Universe to younger audiences. But in this story, it's the pup who must save the day, when Superman gets kidnapped by a tiny guinea pig. Krypto forms a team of shelter pets, each one given a special superpower for the rescue mission. Together they must master their new skills and harness their courage to save Superman from a terrible fate.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 7-11 and supports subjects including Literacy and Art & Design in addition to highlighting themes surrounding animals, friendships and community.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Continuing with the theme of comic books and fighting for justice, this adaptation of the beloved franchise modernises the storytelling while staying true to the original look and feel of the illustrations. Other than being mutant turtles, with incredible ninja skills, living in the sewers of New York, these four brothers are very much typical teenagers who want to have fun and be accepted by society. But they are put to the test when they meet a whole host of other mutant creatures who are intent on wreaking as much havoc as possible in the city.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 7-11 and supports subjects including Art & Design and PSHE Education, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding family, growing up and identity.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
From DC to Marvel, and from New York to the fabled nation of Wakanda and its exciting battles, its Afrofuturistic spectacles and its intriguing geopolitics. The film is a powerful exploration of the reality of grief, paying tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman through the on-screen mourning of his character from the previous film (Black Panther, also available on Into Film+), King T'Challa. But while the kingdom is grieving, it comes under attack from sea-dwelling warriors, as foreign powers seek new ways to get their hands on the precious mineral reserve of Vibranium.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 11-14 and supports subjects including English and Design & Technology, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding life and death, graphic novels and comics, travel and exploration, war.
The Boy and the Beast
Anime fans will delight in this action adventure about fantastical worlds, unconventional families and the value of teamwork and grit. The story follows Ren, a lonely boy who runs away from his new home and bumps into a warrior bear. Kumatetsu is the rebellious heir to the throne of the Beast world, and it is here that he magically transports Ren to. Kumatetsu must train Ren in the art of combat so that he may prove his own worth as the kingdom's ruler, but as bear and boy grow closer, Ren begins to wonder about the human world he's left behind.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 11-14 and supports subjects including English and Design & Technology, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding life and death, graphic novels and comics, travel and exploration, war.
Les Choristes (The Chorus)
The right kind of encouragement and guidance can indeed help unlock enormous potential in young people. This touching French-language film explores the power of music and good teaching, as a young boy called Pierre discovers that he has a natural talent for singing when a new teacher at his boarding school sets up a choir. But Mr Mathieu's choral lessons do so much more than simply unlock talent. The students learn discipline, respect, compassion as Mr Mathieu challenges the headmaster's authoritarian regime. Nevertheless, life is tough in the wake of World War Two, and not always fair.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 11-14 and supports subjects including Music and French, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding growing up, historical periods, school and child safety.
Creed
Mentorship and building up confidence through training are similarly at the heart of this live-action drama, that revives the boxing film franchise Rocky. This tale centres around Adonis, son of the late Apollo Creed, former heavyweight champion who was famously only ever rivalled by Rocky Balboa. Brought up by foster parents, the young Adonis asks the now retired Rocky to become his trainer. While boxing initially helps Adonis' anger management, his pride and quick temper threaten his professionalism but it turns out his mentor also still has lessons to learn.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 14-16 and supports subjects including Film Studies and Physical Education, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding sports, life and death, ethics, friendships, family and film directors.
Loving Vincent
Different perspectives can build multi-layered, comprehensive portrayals. This is very much the case for the first fully hand-painted feature film, inspired by the artist Vincent van Gogh. Exploring the intriguing mystery surrounding his death, the film takes the form of a detective story reluctantly led by a young family friend, Armand. As he slowly gathers a patchwork of testimonies from those who saw Vincent in his final days, the film becomes infused with van Gogh's painting style, with recognisable nods to his most celebrated artworks.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 14-16 and supports subjects including Art & Design, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding mental health, life and death, historical figures and filmmaking.
Monster
School-life is also at the centre of this Japanese drama, which explores prejudice and rational thought through different points of view. The story begins from a mother's perspective, as she notices her son Minato exhibiting strange behaviour at home. Eventually gathering from her son that a teacher has been bullying him, she furiously storms into the school and demands his immediate firing. However, when the perspective of the story pivots to Minato, his teacher and then the new boy at school, the truth of what has happened with Minato gradually becomes clear.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and supports subjects including Film Studies, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding ethics, family, growing up, and film directors.
The Birds
Gripping mysteries continue with this classic film about a town plagued by an airborne menace. When a young, mischievous socialite called Melanie pursues Mitch, a lawyer she has developed a crush on, to his remote coastal hometown, strange things start happening. Shortly after she arrives, Melanie is attacked by a seagull, then sparrows and crows turn increasingly savage, as the town is thrown into chaos by the inexplicable phenomenon. Artfully subtle and suspenseful, this title will be particularly relevant for Moving Image Arts students learning about Alfred Hitchcock's cinematic style.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and supports subjects including Film Studies, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding film and filmmaking, directors, animals and classical Hollywood.
Discover more films by British film director Alfred Hitchcock available on Into Film+, including Psycho, Vertigo and Rear Window.
Io Capitano
Migration is a complex global reality, but this powerful drama aims to offer an insight into the experiences of young migrants in a very relatable and empathetic fashion. The story follows sixteen-year-old Seydou and his cousin Moussa, who leave Senegal in hope for better life opportunities in Europe. All too soon, they fall into the systematic exploitation of desperate travellers. They cross the blistering Sahara Desert and transit through a horrific detention centre in Libya, but will they survive the infamously treacherous waters of the Mediterranean Sea?
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and supports subjects including Citizenship, Geography and PSHE Education, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding refugees and immigration, democracy and rights, friendships and child safety.
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.
