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Children's film festivals

People of all ages are apt to enjoy cinema — particularly on the big screen — and most learn something in the process of being entertained. Whether it's animation, documentary or the latest star-studded blockbuster, there's something out there for everyone to watch, enjoy, and even discuss afterwards with their peers. Film festivals celebrate this diversity in cinema and, fortunately, their organisers are increasingly catering to younger audiences.

While film studies is usually thought of as a popular option in higher education for would-be directors, producers and screenwriters, children are often exposed to the educational power of movies as early as primary school. For example, many UK cinemas offer Saturday morning film clubs for children, with activities ranging from pre-film or post-film quizzes, games or workshops to questions or talks relating to the film of the day. These clubs also sometimes offer behind-the scenes tours of projection rooms or other parts of the cinema.

Perhaps the most exciting opportunities for children to learn through cinema, however, are the many annual film festivals with programmes that reach out to young people. These can offer anything from a rich selection of films for children to workshops and talks on film. There are a number of prominent UK film festivals that have programmes for children:

The Belfast Film Festival has an outreach programme aimed at Key Stages 2 and 3, community groups or individuals. Past workshops have given young people aged 11 years and older the opportunity to produce short videos using mini digital camcorders.
Also based in Northern Ireland, the Langanside Cinemagic World Screen Festival for Young People offers advice through its website on how to use film as a teaching tool for classroom activities. Downloadable study guides for films like Hope and Glory, Stand By Me and School of Rock are among the resources available.
Each July, Sheffield hosts the excellent Showcomotion: Film Festival for Children and Young People which highlights short films and animations made by or for children and young people aged two to 18. While it offers previews of major, big budget motion pictures — Shrek, Chicken Run and The Hulk are among the films it has given advance screenings — the majority of the films screened are made by children and come from a diverse array of countries, including Iran, Latvia, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Showcomotion also offers workshops and master classes on the art and craft of film-making, scriptwriting and film reviewing.
Held in April, the annual Leeds Children and Young People's Film Festival has a National Young Filmmakers Award, workshops and a website that offers advice on getting into film. Children can also get involved in activities such as helping to select the films, many of which are made by young people.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival has run an educational programme for the last five years. Aimed at primary and secondary schools, it gives young people rare insights into the world of cinema, including question and answer sessions with industry professionals.
The London International Film Festival offers an educational events programme during the October half-term period that features free film screenings and seminars for Key Stages 2 and 3. The website also provides schools with access to teaching resources on cinema.

Movie magic

Within schools, film studies can be incorporated throughout the curriculum in a number of ways.

In history, pupils can look at the development of the film industry in Britain, comparing it with the far larger Hollywood film industry. Pupils could also do a class survey of the most popular British films, from Carry On to the English Patient.
English lessons at all key stages could involve pupils writing reviews of particular films.
Art classes could critique publicity posters or design new ones.
The financial side of the film business could be incorporated in mathematics, with students looking at the various stages that a film's budget goes through before the film hits the screens. Teachers could discuss the roles of producers, directors, distributors and agents, adding a human interest component to the maths skills they are exercising.
In geography lessons, students can make a study of potential film locations in their area, producing a guide to both natural and urban sites before looking at how they could be used on camera.
ICT and science are subjects that could be used to explore the use of special effects in films.
Films from other countries or ones with culturally diverse casts or storylines could be used in citizenship, as a springboard for discussion on culture, human rights or politics. Alternatively, pupils could talk about film censorship.