Great movies to be shown at local schools

Inspired by the idea that film can broaden the mind in extraordinary and unexpected ways, FILMCLUB, a network of after school clubs giving children free weekly access to thousands of classic and popular films, has just opened in Dorset. 

Five local schools, including Ferndown Upper School, initiated their Film Clubs this term.  They are among the first in the country to do so and over the next three years Film Club will be made available to hundreds more schools building to 7,000.

Pupils are able to select from up to 60,000 titles courtesy of LOVEFiLM, of which 1,500 are currently arranged in special seasons appealing directly to young people. Films are from a diverse range from the Marx Brothers’ slapstick Duck Soup (1933), the French comedy Monsieur Hulot’s

Holiday(1953), award winning animations such as Spirited Away to timeless classics such as Bugsy Malone (1976).

FILMCLUB members post their own film reviews, enter competitions and find out more about the industry through interviews and live webchats with film practitioners on the FILMCLUB website. As well as screenings in schools, FILMCLUB will also arrange visits by world famous actors, directors, set designers and other industry professionals while encouraging cinema going through organised trips and partnerships with cinemas.

Designed to entertain and arouse creative and curious minds, FILMCLUB offers young people and their teachers the chance to explore new worlds together. A teacher from each school has taken part in specially designed induction sessions and receives technical, promotional and editorial advice on how to select the best films and transform the classroom into a cinema.