Film Agency News
11 th November 2009
Film Takes the Leading Role in Education as National Schools Film Week Premiers in Wales - 15th - 23rd October 2009
School children across Wales will take part in the 14th National Schools Film Week in Wales as politicians welcome the launch of a unique report (Wednesday 16 September) that studies the impact of moving image education on young people.
National Schools Film Week is the biggest event of its kind in the world. The goal is to support classroom teaching by providing schools with a powerful experience for their students that links directly to elements of the curriculum.
The focus of this year's National Schools Film Week is 'Creativity and Diversity', a theme relevant for both primary and secondary school children and one that encompasses some hard-hitting issues faced by the world today. The programme will feature a range of current and forthcoming films to address topical and challenging issues shown from a variety of different perspectives.
Screenings take place at 10am in local venues, which, in Wales, include: Cardiff Nantgarw Showcase, Cardigan Mwldan Theatr and Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Some examples of films include 'Boy in the Striped Pyjamas', 'Slumdog Millionaire', 'End of the Line' and 'Fox and the Child' for secondary and primary schools.
The 2008 year event comprised:
- 410,000 attendees
- 250 Films
- 2,335 Screenings
- 560 locations
Some highlights of this year's festival in Wales that illustrate the themes of creativity and diversity particularly well are:
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
- Fri 16 Oct - Tale of Despereaux, The [U, 93] Introduced by the Storyteller Fiona Collins Sensory Impaired Accessible Dolby ScreenTalk
- Wed 21 Oct - No Country For Old Men [15, 122] Introduction by Professor of Film & Television Studies, Martin Barker Sensory Impaired Accessible Dolby ScreenTalk
Cardiff Chapter Arts Centre
- PREVIEW Thur 15 Oct - Me and Orson Welles [12, 103]
- Mon 19 Oct - Shifty [15, 86] Followed by a Masterclass on the process of film classification, from a BBFC examiner
- Tue 20 Oct - Coraline [PG, 100] Followed by a Masterclass on the process of film classification, from a CBBFC examiner Sensory Impaired Accessible Dolby ScreenTalk
- Wed 21 Oct - Let The Right One In [15, 114] Introduced by Gavin Allen, Writer & Film Critic Sensory Impaired Accessible Dolby ScreenTalk EUROPE
- Thu 22 Oct - Secret of Moonacre, The [U, 103] Followed by CBBC Me and My Movie hands-on film-making workshop [Ends 3pm] Sensory Impaired Accessible Dolby ScreenTalk
- Fri 23 Oct - Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The [12A, 94] Introduced by Amnesty International UK Followed by a discussion on the film Sensory Impaired Accessible Dolby ScreenTalk
Cardiff Cineworld
- PREVIEW Thur 15 Oct - An Education [12A, 110]
- Tue 20 Oct - Man on Wire [12, 94] Introduced by Gill Branston, Senior Lecturer, Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University
Film Education Director Ian Wall comments: 'It's amazing to see how National Schools Film Week has grown in just 14 years. When Film Education launched it, we didn't dare to dream that it would become this big, with this many separate events and locations. We believe passionately that film can play a pivotal role in education. For many kids across the country, this will be their first magical experience of cinema.'
The screenings include a range of current and forthcoming films to address topical and challenging issues. These are followed by masterclasses, talks and events that will take place before and after the screenings, including masterclasses on the process of film classification from a BBFC examiner, 'Meet the Critics' masterclasses by journalists, talks by senior lecturers at regional universities and storytellers.
The screenings coincide with the launch of the Film Agency for Wales commissioned report, Ffilmschool 2, from the University of Glamorgan Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries, which looks at the impact of a year-long project offered to years 6 and 7 (9-11 year old children) from leading film and media education provider, Media Education Wales with the involvement and artistic expertise of poet Lloyd Robson and musician Neil White, and in conjunction with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.
A cluster of five schools took part in the project: Melin Juniors, Ynysmaerdy Primary, Llansawel Primary, Brynhyfryd Primary and Cwrt Sart Comprehensive School, who, per the report's findings, benefited significantly in developing a range of so-called soft and transferable skills in the children, including verbal and written communication skills, IT skills, peer-to-peer working, the ability to listen attentively, as well as building confidence and increasing engagement
Commenting on 'Ffilmschool 2', Pauline Burt, Chief Executive of the Film Agency for Wales says: “Film is an enjoyable, engaging and accessible medium that can contribute greatly to fundamental and transferable skills beneficial to all young people, helping them gain access to further education, training or employment. We're delighted that the Ffilmschool 2 report provides an evidence base to endorse the extensive and wide-ranging verbal testimony that we constantly hear on how film has made a positive difference to young people.”
