Into Film Clubs
Find out everything you need to know about starting an Into Film Club.
Our Calendar Dates in Focus series provides educators across the UK with a quick and easy summary of how to engage with the half term's academic calendar through film.
From Anti-Bullying Week to International Migrants Day, film can provide an authentic and accessible way of exploring important and timely subjects. Below, discover our wide range of films (all available for free* on Into Film+), articles, resources and training opportunities for educators.
November
- Day of the Dead 2 (November) - There's no better film to explore here than Pixar's Coco and our accompanying article discusses its central themes of family, music and legacy.
- International Stress Awareness Week (7 - 11 November) - Our Moving Minds 2: Building Resilience resource uses youth-made films to explore themes surrounding mental health and wellbeing. Meanwhile, the Mindfulness Through Film online training introduces teachers to mindfulness principles and exercises to help young people combat negative emotions such as stress, and our accompanying webinars (available in English and Welsh) guide you through a simple, mindful filmmaking activity.
- Green Careers Week (7 - 12 November) - Green Production Guide provides a useful deep dive into sustainable film production practices.
- Maths Week (8 -12 November) - Careers in Film Through Maths is a great resource for 7-14-year-olds and and provides exciting film industry experience by allowing them to work as a Second Assistant Director.
- World Science Day (10 November) - Careers in Film Through Science introduces 7-14-year-olds to the work of a Director of Photography and our Scientific Literacy resource helps 11-16-year-old pupils apply their scientific knowledge and skills to issues in the modern world. Filmmaking can also be used to support curricular learning in all subject areas. So, for for this, Maths Week and many of the other dates here, consider signing up for one our many filmmaking courses. These include One-Shot Filmmaking for Primary and Secondary, and Curricular Filmmaking for Secondary.
- Armistice Day (11 November) - The brilliant 1917 can be explored alongside our Bravery and Brotherhood resource, which tackles the film in relation to English Literature and English Language exam preparation for older secondary pupils. Other relevant and insightful films include Drone Strike, Official Secrets, Journey's End, They Shall Not Grow Old, Land of Mine, We Are Many, Testament of Youth and War Horse.
- World Kindness Day (13 November) - Our Ultimate Princess Celebration: Kindness Quest resource takes students aged 5-8 on a PSHE-led quest to help deepen their understanding of what it means to be kind, brave and to help others. Two of our favourite films on Into Film+ - Paddington and Paddington 2 - are also perfect ways to explore the true nature of kindness.
- Transgender Awareness Week (13-19 November) - This crucial week leads up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) on Sunday 19 November, which memorializes victims of transphobic violence. As part of our LGBTQ+ History Month programme on Into Film+, we worked closely with Iris Prize and produced a collaborative educational resource focusing on five short films from the Iris Film Festival that explore themes of trans issues and inclusion.
- Anti-Bullying Week (14 - 18 November) - This year's theme is 'Reach Out'. Our Anti-Bullying on Film resources (7-11 and 11-16) shine a spotlight on bullying and encourage all children, teachers and parents to take action against bullying. Specifically for teachers, the anti-bullying training course is just one of many that can be booked at any time in the year.
December
- World AIDS Awareness Day (1 December) - Our LGBTQ+ History Month programme on Into Film+ features Philadelphia; a compelling and moving legal drama about a high-flying lawyer who is sacked from his big-league law firm, after his bosses learn he has contracted the AIDS virus. The film is accompanied by an exclusive video from The Terrence Higgins Trust who provide an introduction and Q&A about misinformation and progress of AIDS/HIV. This is together with two archive LGBTQ+ related commercials that play before and after the feature.
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December) - Short film can help you explore a variety of topics and perspectives in a limited space of time, so is ideal for a subject as broad as disability. Our extensive collection includes The Present, Imagination, Overload, Louis' Shoes, My Brother Luca, and The Penguin Who Couldn't Swim.
- World Human Rights Day (10 December) - A huge variety of films are relevant here including Small Axe: Mangrove, Half A Life, Official Secrets, I Daniel Blake, I Am Not Your Negro, Mustang, He Named Me Malala, Suffragette, Selma, Belle, Wadjda, 12 Years A Slave and Persepolis.
- International Migrants Day (18 December) - As part of our ongoing partnership with Doc Academy, we've created both an English resource and a Forced Migration Toolkit for 11-16-year-olds around the BBC documentary series Exodus: Our Journey to Europe. The series follows English teacher Hassan as he leaves war-torn Syria and attempts to travel to the UK, showcasing the untold story of the migrant crisis.
Last but certainly not least, our Black History and Experiences programme on Into Film+ aims to help embed this crucial subject in the curriculum, not just for Black History Month, but throughout the whole school year. We'll be continuing to add to the programme this term, starting with an interview with Founder/CEO of The Black Curriculum, Lavinya Stennett in November.
How Do I Get Started on Into Film+?
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.
Filmbankmedia
Filmbankmedia licenses and distributes film and TV entertainment to many groups and is the licensing authority we work with to ensure schools, libraries and youth groups have the permissions to screen films from our catalogue.
* 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.
