Sir Kenneth Branagh becomes our ambassador for Northern Ireland

15 Oct 2015

3 mins
Sir Kenneth Branagh
Sir Kenneth Branagh

We're delighted to announce that Belfast-born actor, writer, and director Sir Kenneth Branagh, has agreed to become an Into Film ambassador for Northern Ireland. He joins Michael Sheen, Celyn Jones, and Eddie Redmayne, who have also lent their support.

He shares our passion for providing children and young people with access to exciting cultural and educational opportunities that in many cases they might not otherwise receive.

Paul Reeve, Into Film CEO

Branagh - whose acting and directing credits include Hamlet, My Week With Marilyn, and Thor - was inspired after he saw the impact of our work with young people, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, such as that of Ashfield Girls School. Ashfield have been running a film club for three years, ever since we launched our pilot scheme in Northern Ireland, and have gone from strength to strength, winning Into Film Club of the Year: 13 and Over at the inaugural Into Film Awards earlier this year. Teachers at Ashfield use film as a way to raise aspirations, help pupils achieve, and give them new opportunities normally unavailable to them.

Branagh showed his support for our work earlier in the year, when he hosted the charity premiere of his take on Disney's Cinderella in his hometown of Belfast, with profits going to Into Film and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action.

Sir Kenneth had this to say on the announcement:

I'm delighted to be an Ambassador for Into Film in Northern Ireland, and keen to highlight what a wonderful resource it can be for young people in a country very close to my heart. I hope I can assist with promoting the education opportunities that Into Film provides in Northern Ireland, and getting as many young people as possible inspired by great films.

Sir Kenneth Branagh, actor and Into Film Ambassador

He also made specific mention of the upcoming Into Film Festival, calling it an "incredible opportunity for young people in Northern Ireland to experience the cinema, and be immersed in a film or a discussion."

Our activity in Northern Ireland is further supported by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, and our delivery partners include Cinemagic and The Nerve Centre.

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