Into Film Clubs
Find out everything you need to know about starting an Into Film Club.
We're kicking off spring 2022 by celebrating heroes on the big screen with this year's Spring Screenings. The programme is happening across the UK and is a fantastic opportunity for educators and their students to take a well-earned trip to their local cinema to watch inspiring tales.
The theme for the 2022 Spring Screenings is We Can Be Heroes, and the programme consists of three weeks of specially curated feature films. Things kick off on International Women's Day (8 March) with an eclectic range of stories about inspiring women including Harriet, a biopic of American abolitionist Harriet Tubman; I Am Greta, which follows influential environmental activist Greta Thunberg and her quest to prevent climate change; and The Perfect Candidate, the story of a female doctor who runs for office in Saudi Arabia.
The programme also includes stunning animation Flee, in which a man recounts his experiences as a refugee; LAIKA's gorgeous stop-motion animation Kubo and the Two Strings; and Mary Poppins Returns, which sees the return of the supportive and magical nanny.
Best of all, you can continue your film watching journey in the classroom! Into Film+ has a whole host of inspiring films that continue this year's theme and follow heroes from all walks of life and from all corners of your imaginination. We have films for both primary and secondary audiences, and each film is accompanied by a film guide to help you bring the film's topics and themes into the classroom, and spark discussion with your students.
Into Film+ is a free* and rights-compliant film streaming service for UK schools, created in partnership with Filmbankmedia. Stream a wide range of classic and new release films directly into your classroom or extra-curricular setting!
Browse the entire catalogue to see what's available to stream now, or keep reading for some cherry-picked highlights that follow the Spring Screenings theme of We Can Be Heroes.
Primary
The Kid Who Would Be King (2019, PG) - Engaging for ages 7-14
Arthurian legends were rich with some of fictions greatest heroes and this British fantasy film takes those long-remembered adventure tales and relocates them to modern day Britain. Here a young boy and his friends must learn how to work together, becomes heroes themselves, and save the world from the medieval enchantress Morgana.
The Iron Giant (1999, U) - Engaging for ages 5-14
One of the great animations about friendship also addresses our prejudices about what a hero should look like. The metal monster at the heart of this film dreams of being a friend and a protector, reminding us that there is more to being a hero than just a cape and a pair of tights.
Supa Modo (2018, PG) - Engaging for ages 7-16
All the way from Kenya, this heart-warming and incredibly entertaining film follows the character of Jo, a witty young girl whose dreams of becoming a superhero are made doubtful by a terminal illness. Supa Modo proves that heroism can make itself known in a multitude of ways and there's nothing stopping a 9-year-old girl from inspiring people in the same way the world's most famous heroes can.
My Brother Luca (2019, Unclassified) - Engaging for ages 7-14
A sweet animation that sees a girl narrating the everyday life of her younger brother, comparing his autism to a superpower. Instead of pity or sadness, this is a short filled with a warmth and kindness, celebrating heroism in all its forms alongside the importance of healthy sibling relationships.
Secondary
Hidden Figures (2016, PG) - Engaging for ages 11+
Some heroic acts are not recognised until much later and this has sadly been the case with a lot of Black history around the world and particularly in the United States. This dramatic re-telling of the lives of three Black mathematicians is packed with incredible performances and addresses their influence on the space race and their courage in the face of racism and adversity.
Suffragette (2015, 12) - Engaging for ages 11+
It is almost difficult to believe that up until 1918, women were not allowed to vote in elections within the United Kingdom. This film follows a young woman as she discovers and ultimately joins the impassioned work of the suffragettes as they tirelessly, and sometimes dangerously, campaign to get the vote. British historical cinema at its finest.
He Named Me Malala (2015, PG) - Engaging for ages 11+
Arguably one of the most recognisable, but wholly unexpected, heroes of the 21st century is Malala Yousafzai, who rose to prominence after her outspoken beliefs about equal rights for women in Pakistan saw her targeted and shot by the Taliban. Miraculously surviving, she refused to back down and this documentary, which tracks her relationship with her father, is a great representation of a modern day heroic act.
Pride (2014, 15) - Engaging for ages 14+
Being a hero can mean standing up for yourself but its just as important to stand up for others too. Heroic empathy is on full show in this 1984-set story based on real events that saw two marginalised communities - gay rights activists and striking miners - come together to protest against a common enemy in British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. A reminder of how history can be changed by community and togetherness.
* Screenings of Filmbankmedia's films for an entertainment or extra-curricular purpose require a Public Video Screening Licence (PVSL) from Filmbankmedia. State-funded schools in England are covered by the PVSL.
