Into Film Clubs
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Almost ten years after the tragic death of Molly Russell, a new documentary about her story's legacy puts into poignant relief the current debate around the dangers of the digital age and the UK's potential social media ban for under-16s.
Also in cinemas this month, Hoppers, Arco and Project Hail Mary blend sci-fi and comedy to explore climate consciousness. Literary inspiration and storytelling are at the heart of the fantasy animations Scarlet, a time-travelling re-imagining Shakespeare's Hamlet, and The Land of Sometimes, a charming adventure to a whimsical island where wishes come true. And the ‘astronauts of the underworld' uncover the mysteries deep below the surface of the Earth in the documentary Underland.
Molly vs the Machines (15) - in cinemas 1 March
This powerful and timely documentary examines the dangers of social media and follows a bereaved father's campaign for better online protection for children. Molly Russell was 14 years old when she died by suicide, after accessing thousands of harmful posts on Instagram and Pinterest. Her dad Ian had no idea of the nature of the content that the algorithms had been feeding her over the course of many months. Ten years later, he is still battling for tech giants to take accountability for what young people are exposed to online. The documentary revisits the inquest into Molly's death and includes interviews with tech company whistleblowers, as well compelling calls to action from Molly's friends and family.
Discover our range of resources to support digital wellbeing, and watch another powerful documentary that explores this subject, The Social Dilemma, for free* on Into Film+.
Hoppers (U) - in cinemas 6 March
Ever wanted to go undercover inside the animal world to understand it better? In this latest Disney Pixar animation, teenage animal-lover Mabel volunteers to test a ground-breaking scientific invention that allows human minds to ‘hop' into lifelike robotic animals. Embodying a beaver, Mabel discovers she can understand everything the local wildlife say, but she still has a lot to learn about the ecosystem better known as ‘pond rules'. As she begins to appreciate the challenges animals face, she uncovers a dangerous human plan that threatens their habitat, leading her to rally creatures of all kinds to defend their home.
Get inspired during National Careers Week and join Nicole Paradis Grindle, producer of Hoppers, as she discusses her career journey in film and TV and what it takes to be a producer. Register for the webinar with Into Film, Futures For All, Disney & Pixar here.
Scarlet (15) - in cinemas 13 March
From the director of The Boy and the Beast (available to watch on Into Film+) comes a new anime about dealing with anger and grief, inspired by Shakespeare's Hamlet. The tale is reinterpreted as an action-packed time-travelling story about a medieval princess called Scarlet on a quest to avenge her father's death. But after becoming gravely injured, she wakes up in a realm between life and death. Here, she encounters martyrs, bandits, soldiers and other folk from different eras of history, including Hijiri, an idealistic young medic from the present day. In this purgatory the cycle of hatred seems endless, but Hijiri tries to show Scarlet that there is a possibility of a future free of bitterness and rage.
Arco (PG) - in cinemas 20 March
In this animated sci-fi fantasy, people in the future live high above a flooded Earth in beautiful eco-houses, reconfiguring their relationship with the natural world. Time-travel is made possible by flying through the sky wearing special capes that cast dazzling rainbows. Ten-year-old Arco is eager to join his family on these trips, but he's too young for now. One night, Arco defies the age limit and dons a cape, but he accidentally crash-lands in the year 2075, a world grappling with climate instability and technological dependence. Here he meets a girl called Iris and her robot caretaker Mikki, and they embark on a mission to return Arco home.
We're excited to offer school groups the chance to see Arco on the big screen for free, as part of Into Film's Spring Screenings programme. Discover your nearest participating cinema here.
Project Hail Mary (12A) - in cinemas 20 March
From the author of The Martian (available to stream on Into Film+) comes another sci-fi adaptation highlighting the importance of scientific curiosity and teamwork through humour and cinematic awe. Ryland Grace, a secondary school science teacher, wakes up alone aboard a spacecraft in a distant galaxy with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As fragments of his past return, he discovers that he is on a mission to Tau Ceti, a star located 12 light-years from our Solar System, to save Earth from a catastrophic cosmic threat caused by a mysterious substance draining the energy of the Sun. Things take an even stranger turn when he encounters "Rocky," an intelligent alien engineer whose own world faces the same peril.
The Land of Sometimes (U) - in cinemas 20 March
Adapted from a charming audiobook, this animation celebrates the power of family and timeless storytelling. On Christmas Eve, twins Alfie and Elise's mum gives them a special gift that their soldier dad left for them, before going missing at war: a wish watch. But they get more than they bargained for after summoning the mysterious Wish Collector, an enigmatic man who transports them to The Land of Sometimes, a colourful island where all four seasons pass in just one day. Granted with a total of six wishes, the pair soon learn that they'll need to be careful what they wish for, embarking on a magical, musical journey filled with fantastical creatures and a bond that shines brighter than any wish.
How Do I Get Started?
To access Into Film+, all you'll need is an Into Film Account - it's completely free, and only takes a moment to set up. Into Film+ is free to use for all UK state schools that hold a valid Public Video Screening (PVS) Licence from Filmbankmedia.
Filmbankmedia PVS Licences are paid for on behalf of schools by all local authorities in England and by some local authorities in both Wales and Scotland. Into Film NI cover the license cost for some schools in Northern Ireland. For further information on licensing in your locality please see our FAQs.
If you're a state school in England that's funded by the Department for Education, you will automatically have access to Into Film+ Premium, which offers an extended catalogue of 900+ titles. Find out more about Into Film+ Premium in our FAQs.
If you don't have a PVS Licence, or aren't already covered, then a licence can easily be obtained from Filmbankmedia.
Filmbankmedia
Filmbankmedia licenses and distributes film and TV entertainment to many groups and is the licensing authority we work with to ensure schools, libraries and youth groups have the permissions to screen films from our catalogue.
Please note: Film is a powerful tool for learning, helping to develop critical thinking, empathy, and an understanding of different perspectives. Our films have been selected with consideration to age-appropriateness, safeguarding, the curriculum and statutory and non-statutory guidance to schools. Some of our films and resources include sensitive content which is highlighted in the guidance that Into Film provides with each film. Educators should carefully watch or read all elements of any content and must ensure they are following their own school's policies and guidelines prior to using films and resources in the classroom or in after-school clubs. The final decision to use any film or resource sits with teachers, who should decide what is appropriate for their students using their professional judgement and their knowledge of their students, their school context and their community. Teachers must follow their school's safeguarding protocol if a student is distressed or makes a disclosure as a result of the use of any film or other content.
* Screenings for an entertainment or extra-curricular purpose require a PVS (Public Video Screening) Licence from Filmbankmedia. State-funded schools in England are covered by the PVS Licence.
The core Into Film programme is free for UK state schools, colleges and other youth settings, thanks to support from the BFI, awarding National Lottery good cause funding, and through other key funders including Cinema First and Northern Ireland Screen.
