London, 5 September, 2018: Now in its sixth phenomenally successful year, having welcomed nearly half a million Primary and Secondary students and their teachers in 2017, the Into Film Festival returns this Autumn with nearly 3,000 free screenings and special events featuring 150 films and screening in 550 venues across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Festival is hosted by film education charity, Into Film, which is supported by the UK film industry through Cinema First and the BFI through National Lottery funding, engaging with over half of UK schools. The Festival is free to all students, supporting education through a carefully curated programme of films and events for schools with topical themes, resources, debates, special events and careers activity. https://www.intofilm.org/festival
The Festival opens across the UK on November 7 with simultaneous pupil premieres of Illumination’s The Grinch, based on Dr Seuss’ beloved holiday classic and starring Benedict Cumberbatch. The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous spirit. Pupil premieres of the film will be held in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Manchester ahead of its UK release on November 9.
Additional pupil premieres and highlights include Cannes Palme D’Or winner Shoplifters; Nativity Rocks; Welsh language film, Pluen Eira; Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old; Bohemian Rhapsody; Mike Leigh’s Peterloo; The Hate U Give; Slaughterhouse Rulez; The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales; Zoo to screen in UK zoos; McQueen; Journey’s End; Little Stranger; Maze Runner: Death Cure; The Shape of Water; Darkest Hour; The Death of Stalin; Mary and the Witch’s Flower; Whitney; A Quiet Place; Pin Cushion; The Post; Thoroughbreds; Sherlock Gnomes; Isle of Dogs; Mary Shelley to name just some of the exciting titles ahead, curated to engage young minds in a broad range of topics with many of the screenings supported by actors, directors and producers at post-screening Q&As.
The Into Film Festival welcomed 487,000 young people from all backgrounds and corners of the UK last year and engages youngsters in all aspects of filmmaking from the popular annual Review Writing Competition, which keeps the Festival experience alive and encourages literacy and critical thinking, to learning about careers in the film industry with industry experts lifting the lid on a vast range of topics including VFX; Directing; Screenwriting; Foley Artistry and Sound Design; Prop Making; Costume Design; Audio Describing; Copywriting, Film Classification and Acting, to name a few.
The Festival will host UK-wide events with a vast range of partners including the UK Space Agency; Oxfam; The Academy; Anti-Bullying Alliance; Epilepsy Association; British Science Association and Action Mental Health. Special screenings will be on offer to support calendar events such as Anti-Bullying Week and Parliament Week, taking place during the Festival’s duration.
The Festival is completely supported by the UK film industry, the major UK cinema chains as well as a rich and varied selection of venues across the UK who make this annual free event possible. The Festival provides access to the big screen at its best, including IMAX screens and the 3D and 4D experience. Accessibility and inclusivity are key aims of the Festival with over half of the programme offered as audio-described, subtitled or autism-friendly.
“We are incredibly proud of the Into Film Festival. With the fantastic support of the UK film industry, this event reached 487,000 children, young people and their educators last year. We look forward to welcoming schools, teachers and pupils again in 2018, and enabling them to experience the magic of cinema.”
Paul Reeve, CEO, Into Film
“The UK cinema industry is immensely proud to support the Into Film Festival. This wonderful event provides a unique opportunity for audience development, engaging and introducing many young people for the first time to the magic of the big screen experience."
Phil Clapp, Board Member, Cinema First and CEO UK Cinema Association
"The Into Film Festival is a brilliant way to introduce and immerse young people from all over the UK in film. Encouraging young people to engage with film is key to growing the audiences and filmmakers of the future, vital to the success of the industry and our cultural life. The BFI is very proud to support the festival and the work of Into Film year round, which makes such a positive impact on young people’s lives."
Leigh Adams, BFI Director of Education and Skills
The Into Film Festival 2018 will take place from 7-23 November. All events and screenings are free. For programme information, to book tickets and download resources visit www.intofilm.org/festival
