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Ian Wall, Director of Film Education, reports on this year’s exciting programme for National Schools Film Week
Film Education is the unique link between the film industry, schools and colleges. National School’s Film Week (NSFW) is the most visible and high profile evidence of that link.
Supported by Carlton Screen Advertising and the UK Film Council, the week highlights the use of film across the school cur- riculum. National Schools Film Week 2003 has been taking place (October 9-17) in 91 towns and cities across the UK, playing in 160 cinemas, with over 100,000 school students attending screen- ings of 80 different films.
For many of those attending it will be their first experience of seeing a film projected onto the big screen. For some teachers it will be their first experience of using film within their teaching.
In September, BAFTA hosted Film Education’s launch of the programme of events in the pres- ence of The Rt. Hon. Estelle Morris MP, Minister for the Arts as well as BAFTA members, educationalists and members of the film industry.
In her speech the Minister said, “Film offers more to young people than something to do on a Saturday night. It can inspire, inform, educate and encourage them to question the world they live in. National Schools Film Week will help young people get the most of cinema. It has a key role to play in creating a more media literate generation and is to be applauded.”
John Woodward, Chief Executive of UK Film Council,
explained the reason for its involvement in NSFW for the sec- ond year in succession.
“The UK Film Council is dedi- cated to encouraging the devel- opment of new talent, skills and innovation in film. We are delight- ed, therefore, to be part of National Schools Film Week, an important initiative which helps pupils to learn about and appre- ciate cinema as part of the UK’s culture and heritage.”
Through a variety of strands, National Schools Film Week pro- vides primary and secondary school pupils with a unique insight into the world of cinema.
A highlight for secondary pupils this year is Meet The Critics, giving pupils a chance to interact with leading critics and learn about film reviewing and criti- cism. Behind Distribution explores the methods used by distributors to market and promote different types of films, while the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) will again offer a special series of screenings and seminars about film classification.
With the participation of local MPs speaking about their own specific choice of films, the Citizenship strand aims to stimu- late debate about social and political issues in cinema such as immigration and racism, while Screening History highlights how cinema portrays historical facts and incidents. Moving Images looks at cinema as a forum for the discussion of issues and the adaptation of literature.
For primary pupils, there are strands on Animation and Myths & Legends which explains the role of cinema in communicating different myths, legends, tradi- tions and customs from all over the world. And First Outings gives children who have only seen films on television or video the chance to enjoy the cinema experience.
For the first time, Film Education is part of the European wide initiative, Cinedays. Celebrating the breadth of European film, the highlight occurs on October 10 when across Europe students will watch the same film at the same time – Goodbye Lenin for secondary students, Kirikou and the Sorceress for primary.
Another first this year is the col- laboration between BAFTA, the LEGO Company and Film Education. We have come together to create a totally unique initiative, which will give thousands of children across the country a voice in the film industry.
Launched as part of National Schools Film Week, the LEGO/BAFTA Kids Vote will offer mil- lions of children the chance to vote for their favourite film of the year.
Additionally, over 5,000 chil- dren will be able to watch the short listed films for free, in 16 dif- ferent towns and cities up and down the country.
Voting takes place at www.kidsvote.net from October 9 and is open to all children under the age of 16, even if they haven’t been to a screening.
At the launch, Francesco Ciccolella, LEGO Company Senior Vice President said, “We are delighted to support the LEGO/BAFTA Kids Vote and wel- come the partnership with Film Education. There is a great syner- gy between all our companies; we care about childrens’ opinions and creativity and entertainment are at the core of our business.”
We at Film Education are proud to continue our relationship with the Academy which goes back nearly 15 years and hope that from this new initiative we will continue to further develop our collaboration in the future.
BAFTA is also supporting NSFW through the inauguration of BAFTA/NSFW presentations, to be held in London, Liverpool, Cardiff and Glasgow.
We believe that NSFW should offer access to all students and so National Schools Film Week supports the DDT-CSS system, technology which delivers cap- tions for deaf and hard-of-hear- ing cinemagoers and audio- description for the blind and par- tially-sighted.
A number of DTS screenings will be taking place across the UK, thus ensuring that NSFW offers the cine- matic experience to everyone!
Photos l-r: The Rt. Hon. Estelle Morris MP, Minister for the Arts; The enthusiastic young audience at the Treasure Planet screening; LEGO/BAFTA Kids Vote ID
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