NEWS AND EVENTS

FILMCLUB expansion across Northern Ireland

Innovative Scheme Brings Films to After-School Clubs for Northern Irish Schoolchildren

FILMCLUB, a UK wide, free after school initiative for young people aged 5-18 years of age is expanding its reach in Northern Ireland and the launch of the 2013 recruitment phase will be marked with a fun-filled film roadshow across the province from 4th-8th March.

FILMCLUB in Northern Ireland, a Northern Ireland Screen extended schools initiative funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is managed by Cinemagic and the Nerve Centre, and it has been delivering after school film viewing in 229 extended service schools in Northern Ireland over the past twelve months.

In conjunction with Cinemobile, Ireland’s only 100-seater mobile cinema, the FILMCLUB roadshow will be visiting school sites across Northern Ireland promoting the FILMCLUB programme to Primary, Post-Primary and Special Schools, in receipt of Extended School Funding. The innovative initiative helps teachers run weekly after schools clubs screening films from a wide variety of genre from every era which can help support the curriculum, develop pupils’ critical thinking skills, broaden cultural understanding and improve literacy. 

The young people at the roadshow in Derry/Londonderry, Coleraine, Omagh, Belfast and Lisburn will have the opportunity to watch the adventure-filled, DreamWorks animation, ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ and touching drama ‘The Kid with a Bike’, written and directed by the Belgian brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, screening in the Cinemobile!

Teachers will hear about the benefits of belonging to the FILMCLUB scheme that offers members access to over 3500 films from all over the world, and allows pupils to discuss and review their weekly choices. Currently delivered in over 200 schools, FILMCLUB is one of Northern Ireland’s most popular after schools activities.

Beeban Kidron, Film Director and FILMCLUB Co-Founder, said: “I am absolutely delighted that FILMCLUB is being officially rolled out to hundreds more schools across the region. The educational outcomes of our members are a great privilege to behold and we are looking forward to see the same outcomes and engagement in Northern Irish children as we have seen up and down the country in England.”

FILMCLUB in Northern Ireland Ambassador and Belfast born filmmaker and author Mark Cousins commented; “FILMCLUB will make such a difference for young people in schools in Northern Ireland. What a fantastic way to explore the world of film. And by getting young people excited about movies now, we will help create the great Northern Irish filmmakers of the future. I just wish that there had been something this brilliant when I was growing up in Belfast."

Belfast film actor, Martin McCann said “Every child has an opinion when it comes to film. They don't need to be specialist in anything, they just need to be themselves and talk about what they've seen, what they've related to in the movie. Film is a universal language that children can relate to. Implementing FILMCLUB in schools can bring so many different children together through something that they enjoy. FILMCLUB really can change children's futures.”

Bernard McCloskey Head of Education with Northern Ireland Screen commented; “FILMCLUB plays an important part in Northern Ireland Screen’s aim to provide young people with better access to a wider range of films. We want children to enjoy film in all its different forms with their friends and classmates. FILMCLUB is the perfect starting point on their film journey.”

FILMCLUB offers young people the chance to watch, debate and review the very best in cinema. Through weekly screenings, online reviewing and close links with the film industry, the scheme is promoting new avenues of learning in an informal setting and is having a transformative impact on the lives of children. FILMCLUB members and teachers will be able to select from thousands of classic and popular DVD titles available to order via the interactive website (www.filmclub.org) through partner LOVE FiLM, arranged in special seasons to appeal directly to young people and covering every genre and era of movie-making.

The website also contains tips for members to discover new films and features over 650 hand-picked ‘FILMCLUB Recommends’ titles. Members will be encouraged to post their reviews on the website, with prizes awarded each week for the winning review. Other benefits include access to film industry events and talent through the unique “Close Encounters” programme of in-school VIP visits, webcasts, screenings and workshops.

Research into the impact of the scheme – which already runs in over 7,000 schools in England – shows it has substantial education and social benefits and a significant impact on literacy. 80% of leaders say FILMCLUB increases members’ critical skills and over half that it improves their reading and writing skills. Over 6,000 reviews are uploaded onto the website every week, many from youngsters who have never before wanted to write.

Cinemagic Film & Television Festival and the Nerve Centre act as the local FILMCLUB managers in Northern Ireland to facilitate the roll-out of the programme to schools, as well as offer support, advice and training. Schools who are already involved are using FILMCLUB to support the Northern Ireland Curriculum at Primary and Post Primary level and qualifications such as Moving Image Arts and Media Studies.

The roadshow will visit the following sites screening films and sharing information on starting FILMCLUB in your school:

• Monday 4th March at 9.45am: Ebrington Square, Derry/Londonderry.
• Tuesday 5th March at 9.45am: Harpurs Hill Primary School, Coleraine.
• Wednesday 6th March at 9.45am: Sacred Heart College , Omagh.
• Thursday 7th March at 9.45am: The Pumphouse, Titanic Quarter, Belfast.
• Friday 8th March at 9.45am: Island Arts Centre, Lisburn