New Curzon Agreement Sees 8 Additions to Into Film+

We are delighted to announce a new licensing agreement with UK distributor Curzon, bringing a rich selection of independent, foreign language and arthouse films to our streaming service Into Film+. Eight new titles are now available to watch online for free* in classrooms in partnership with Curzon, each with a downloadable discussion guide to encourage deeper engagement with the films' themes.

The newly added films include two very different perspectives from inside the French education system, with school-set documentary Être et Avoir and Parisian lycée drama The Class. There are also two unique and highly critically acclaimed animations, the playful comedy Belleville Rendezvous and refugee tale Flee. Social skills and the complexities of interpersonal relationships are explored in Love & Friendship, based on a Jane Austen novella, and Bradford-set The Selfish Giant. And the universal language of dark humour resonates from Argentina to Zambia in Wild Tales and I Am Not a Witch.

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Love & Friendship

Jane Austen's wickedly funny novella 'Lady Susan' parodying 19th century societal conventions gets a big screen adaptation. The unscrupulous and recently widowed Lady Susan is in need of a new husband. Taking refuge in the countryside estate of her in-laws she sets her eyes on Reginald DeCourcy. Yet the sudden arrival of her daughter Frederica, contrastingly modest and timid, interferes with her plan. Determined to get Frederica out of the way by marrying her off to a buffoon called Sir James Martin, Lady Susan and her despicable confidante Alicia's devious plans are put to the test.

The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 15-16 and is useful for exploring subject including English Literature and History, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding authors and characters, books and plays, gender representation, historical periods, and love and relationships.

Wild Tales

This anthology of Spanish-language films appears on the WJEC and EDUQAS Film Studies A-Level syllabus in Component 3: Production for the evaluative analysis of short films. Taking place largely in Argentina, the collection of stories is a chaotic journey through a world fraught with violence and a thirst for revenge, examining human nature with dark humour. The tales include a road rage incident that quickly spins out of control, a parking ticket which snowballs into an uncontrollable need for retaliation and a bride who discovers evidence of infidelity in the middle of her wedding party.

The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and is useful for exploring subject including Film Studies in addition to highlighting themes surrounding life & death, storytelling and filmmaking.

Être et Avoir

Gentle and unassuming, this portrait of a small, rural school in France has become one of the country's most successful documentaries. A dozen or so children aged four to twelve gather in a single classroom, in which one infinitely patient teacher teaches every subject and helps resolve squabbles. The audience is like a fly on the wall, observing the quiet moments of personal growth as the season change outside. But it will soon be time for this teacher to retire and for the older children, many from farming communities, to step into the wider world.

The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 12-14 and is useful for exploring subject including French and PSHE Education in addition to highlighting themes surrounding school, community, rural life and growing up.

The Selfish Giant

Inspired by writer Oscar Wilde's short story of the same name, this gritty contemporary fable set in Bradford follows best friends Arbor and Swifty. Excluded from school and shunned by their own community, the disadvantaged young teens resort to collecting scrap metal for shady local dealer Kitten. But though cocky 13-year-old Arbor does everything he can to impress his boss, Kitten actually favours his sweeter-natured pal. The more Arbor's jealousy consequently grows, the more his friendship with Swifty suffers, leading to a poignant and powerful conclusion.

The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and is useful for exploring subject including Film Studies and Citizenship in addition to highlighting themes surrounding life & death, friendships and poverty.

Belleville Rendezvous

Celebrated for its intricately hand-drawn mise-en-scène and oddball comedy, this unique film is a must-see for students exploring arthouse cinema and different animation styles. Almost entirely non-dialogue, the story follows Madame Souza, a little old French lady who dotes on her grandson, Champion, who mysteriously goes missing while participating in the legendary cycle race the Tour de France. The intrepid grandma tracks him down in a chaotic metropolis where the French mafia are running a shady operation. Here they meet three very eccentric musicians, who provide much of the jazzy soundtrack of this charming film.

The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 15-16 and is useful for exploring subject including French and Film Studies in addition to highlighting themes surrounding music, visual arts, European countries and filmmaking.

Flee

This critically acclaimed animated documentary tells a true story about the refugee experience and LGBTQ+ rights around the world. Set up as a conversation between the filmmaker and his long-time friend from school, Amin, the film delves into the latter's childhood, and the events which led to him arriving in Denmark. Growing up in Afghanistan, he knew from a young age that he was different in some way; being gay wasn't something that was discussed, however. Amin's memories a child refugee are retold through animation, interspersed with archival footage.

The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 15+ and is useful for exploring subject including Politics, Citizenship and History in addition to highlighting themes surrounding refugees, LGBTQ+ issues and historical periods.

The Class

Based on the autobiographical book by teacher François Bégaudeau, who also plays the main character in the film, this French social-realist drama chronicles a year in the life of a rough school in a working-class suburb of Paris. The teacher uses tough but sympathetic methods to try and win over his unruly classes, but before long his rebellious charges are challenging his authority. Presenting a microcosm of modern, multicultural France, the film opens up conversations around ethics and behaviour.

The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and is useful for exploring subject including Film Studies and PSHE Education in addition to highlighting themes surrounding school, growing up and filmmaking.

I Am Not A Witch

Zambian-born Welsh director Rungano Nyoni' debut feature film blends magical realism and satirical humour in a sensitive depiction of cultural practises and superstition. After a young Zambian girl is accused of witchcraft, she joins a group of other women in a witch camp, where they all have long ribbons attached to their backs, supposedly to stop them from flying away. She is expected to perform magic to help bring rain to the drought-ravaged land and is peraded around for gawping tourists. Meanwhile, Shula longs for freedom, and the right to go to school. 

The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 15-16 and is useful for exploring subject including Citizenship and Art & Design in addition to highlighting themes surrounding magic, African countries, child safety and gender representation.

Please note: Film is a powerful tool for learning, helping to develop critical thinking, empathy, and an understanding of different perspectives. Our films have been selected with consideration to age-appropriateness, safeguarding, the curriculum and statutory and non-statutory guidance to schools. Some of our films and resources include sensitive content which is highlighted in the guidance that Into Film provides with each film. Educators should carefully watch or read all elements of any content and must ensure they are following their own school's policies and guidelines prior to using films and resources in the classroom or in after-school clubs. The final decision to use any film or resource sits with teachers, who should decide what is appropriate for their students using their professional judgement and their knowledge of their students, their school context and their community. Teachers must follow their school's safeguarding protocol if a student is distressed or makes a disclosure as a result of the use of any film or other content.

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.

* 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.