FILMCLUB INITIATIVE LAUNCHES IN NORTHERN IRELAND
School children in Northern Ireland are set to benefit from the innovative FILMCLUB programme which launched across the country in February 2012 following a successful pilot scheme. Pupils in primary, secondary and special schools in receipt of Extended School Funding can now broaden their cultural understanding and improve their literacy by exploring the world of films through the education charity.
At the launch silver screen icon ‘King Kong’ made a special appearance at Belfast City Hall, along with representatives from FILMCLUB to celebrate the initiative, which was also attended by teachers and young people from local schools. Attendees watched a special film screening in Cinemobile - a magnificent, state-of-the-art 100-seater mobile cinema - and heard about the benefits of belonging to the scheme which helps schools set up and run weekly film clubs encouraging young people, age 5 – 18, to watch, discuss and review a diverse range of films from past and present, and from around the world.
FILMCLUB in Northern Ireland is 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 and is managed by Cinemagic and the Nerve Centre. Currently delivered in 68 schools throughout the province, FILMCLUB is one of Northern Ireland’s most popular after schools activities with over 2,500 students taking part each week. The scheme is now to be extended to 338 schools in receipt of Extended School Funding - to reach 75% of all Extended Schools in Northern Ireland and approximately 28% of the total number of schools in Northern Ireland.
Culture minister, Carál Ní Chuilín, said “I am delighted to support the launch of the expansion of FILMCLUB in the north of Ireland. This initiative has already proved itself in schools here. Children can learn so much about the world through watching film, discussing what they have seen and writing reviews to share with other children. Regular access to film culture should be an important part of every child’s life; my department has been working closely with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to expand this initiative in schools offering extended services.”
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."
Actress Julie Walters said; “I think FILMCLUB is a fantastic idea - I urge any school to get involved in it. Films are stories and everyone loves a story and kids love films and its how we learn about ourselves. It’s what we have done over the generations - telling stories - because it gets people communicating. Film gets people excited on so many levels, it’s not just script, it’s the visual aspect of films, the sensational, exciting parts – FILMCLUB really is just a great thing for them to belong too.”
Belfast 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. To celebrate the launch, this month sees a new season of films, each with a connection to Northern Ireland (http://www.filmclub.org/blog/details/756/celebrating-our-forthcoming-launch-in-northern-ireland-a-special-film-season)
The website also contains tips for members to discover new films and features over 650 hand-picked ‘FILMCLUB Recommends’ titles, selected by Danny Leigh – BBC Film 2012 host and former FILMCLUB Film Manager - as well as discussion topics, film guides, blog posts and FILMCLUB and industry news. 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 will 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 through the pilot scheme 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.
To register your interest in participating in FILMCLUB, email: Laura@cinemagic.org.uk or eavan@nerve-centre.org.uk
Additional Information
Department of Education Extended School Scheme
The Department of Education’s Extended Schools programme has a focus on improving educational outcomes, reducing barriers to learning and providing additional support to help improve the life chances of children and young people, particularly from deprived areas.
Launched in May 2006, £50 million of funding has been provided through the Extended Schools programme over the last 5 years (2006-11) allowing those schools serving areas of the highest social disadvantage to provide for a wide range of services or activities outside of the traditional school day to help meet the needs of pupils, their families and the wider community.
The Extended Schools programme aims to support learning and healthy lifestyles, raising school standards while engaging schools with their local community and connecting people with local services. The diverse menu of activities on offer includes breakfast or homework clubs, sport, art, drama, ICT and many other innovative programmes including those aimed at encouraging parental, family and community engagement.
A further £10m of Extended Schools funding was made available to over 450 eligible schools in the 2011/12 financial year.
More information on Extended Schools including the qualifying criteria used to determine eligibility for the 2011/12 programme and a list of those schools receiving ES funding this financial year can be accessed via the links below:
Further information on Extended School services can be found on the NI Direct website under Extended Schools:
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-services/parents/schools-learning-and-development/extra-curricular-activities/extended-schools.htm
Information on the selection criteria for Extended Schools is available on the Department of Education’s website here:
http://www.deni.gov.uk/extended_schools_criteria_2011_12_for_webpage.pdf
A list of schools currently in receipt of Extended Services funding is available on the Department of Education’s website here:
http://www.deni.gov.uk/list_of_extended_schools_2011.12_.pdf
For further information and guidance on the Extended Schools programme is available on the Department of Education’s website here:
http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/85-schools/03-schools_impvt_prog_pg/schools-sch-impvt-extschoolsguidance.htm
Northern Ireland Screen Education strategy
Northern Ireland Screen is the government-backed lead agency in Northern Ireland for the film, television and digital content industry, driving global growth through boosting our economy, celebrating our culture and enhancing our children’s education.
Northern Ireland Screen’s Education strategy, to embed the use of moving image and related digital technologies across the formal and non-formal curriculum in Northern Ireland, was first set out in A Wider Literacy, published in 2004. An important element of the strategy is the provision of access to a wider range of moving image material and learning resources for young people and, in particular, access to a broader choice of film titles as part of the cinema experience.
Northern Ireland Screen has developed a coordinated approach to delivering these particular aims as part of its Wider Literacy agenda in partnership with organisations funded by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure. These organisations have developed expertise in Film Education over a number of years and are well positioned to help deliver key aspects of A Wider Literacy. They include Cinemagic and the Nerve Centre who are funded to help deliver after school film clubs in Northern Ireland, through FILMCLUB, the UK-based charity. The scheme gives pupils and teachers at schools offering Extended Services the chance to explore the world of film with free weekly screenings, online reviewing, special events and hands-on support. Currently 68 schools in Northern Ireland participate in FILMCLUB. It is planned to make the scheme available to 338 schools in receipt of extended service funding over the next four months.Further information: www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk Contact: education@northernirelandscreen.co.uk
About FILMCLUB:
Education charity FILMCLUB has grown from a 25-school pilot in 2007 to reach 250,000 members across 7,000 schools in the UK. Created by educationalist Lindsay Mackie and filmmaker Beeban Kidron, FILMCLUB helps schools set up clubs providing young people access to a curated catalogue of films from across the world and from over 100 years of cinema, with education and social impact. Free to all state schools, FILMCLUB transforms lives by providing weekly screenings, online reviewing, industry events and hands-on support to engage, challenge and open new avenues for informal learning. Teachers receive the support they need to introduce pupils to the world of film, creating a memorable experience with proven academic benefits.
FILMCLUB patrons include filmmaker Mike Leigh and actors Emma Thompson and Michael Sheen, with funding received from the Department for Education and The BFI Lottery Transition Fund for Audience Development. FILMCLUB operates with the support of various other film organisations, including: LOVEFiLM, the UK’s largest online DVD rental company, which provides access to their film catalogue.
FILMCLUB is funded in Northern Ireland by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) through Northern Ireland Screen and delivered by Cinemagic and the Nerve Centre.
FILMCLUB is a registered charity (Number: 1136558)
The Nerve Centre
The Nerve Centre was established in 1990 as a focal point for youth culture in Derry/Londonderry and is considered one of the UKs most dynamic and innovative multimedia centres. By bringing popular music, film, video, animation and digital media together under one roof, the Nerve Centre promotes creative collaboration and fusion between artists and provides a cultural outlet for many young people who feel excluded from what is traditionally regarded as the ‘arts sector’.
Housed in a state-of-the-art building comprising live music venue, cinema, edit suites, rehearsal and recording studios, and in-house film, the Nerve Centre currently has over 100,000 people benefiting from its various events, programmes and projects including the annual Foyle Film Festival in November.
The Nerve Centre’s artistic output has gained it an international reputation with an Oscar nomination for the short film, Dance, Lexie, Dance in 1998, a BAFTA nomination for the animated film, The Crumble Giant in 2008 and its ongoing collaboration with local visual artist Willie Doherty garnering a nomination for the 2003 Turner Prize.