Into Film Clubs
Find out everything you need to know about starting an Into Film Club.
Our streaming platform for schools continues to grow, and the latest batch of carefully selected titles includes some of the most popular new releases of the year, cinematic classics to inspire young film lovers, and poignant stories that offer insights into pertinent issues in ways that only film can.
Themes of identity and self-acceptance are at the core of Smurfs, while collaboration within the animal kingdom becomes an engaging allegory in Zootropolis 2 and Pets on a Train. Based on true events, Blinded by the Light tackles discrimination in a relatable and accessible way, while Grow promotes having a connection with nature and empathy. Literature is brought to life in Gothic horror classic Frankenstein and Shakespeare-inspired Hamnet. The French-language drama A Very Long Engagement delves into World War One and the British comedy Hot Fuzz bursts with hilarious cop movie references to support the study of this film genre. Finally, superhero film Thunderbolts* explores mental health and finding camaraderie in the face of loneliness.
Support your use of film in the classroom with our downloadable discussion guides, which help students further engage with the themes on screen by drawing links with curriculum subjects and relevant issues in young people's lives. Smurfs and Thunderbolts* are available exclusively on Into Film+ Premium. For further information about Into Film + Premium please check out our FAQ pages.
Zootropolis 2
The long-awaited sequel to Disney's 2016 Zootropolis (also available on Into Film+) broke records last year by becoming Hollywood's highest-grossing animated films of all time. Exploring themes of friendship and defying prejudice through an allegorical animal city, the story follows detectives Judy Hopps, an optimistic bunny, and Nick Wilde, a former con-artist fox, who work together as police partners. Having saved the city from a villainous mayor, they now find themselves once again on a mission to uncover a plot which involves discrimination against an outcast animal group. But with their own personalities clashing, will they be able to work together to bring justice to the city?
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 8-12 and is useful for exploring subjects including PSHE Education and Geography, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding friendship, animals, urban spaces, and racism and prejudice.
Pets on a Train
In our second new addition to the platform featuring a menagerie of animals fighting crime, this animation is packed with humour and positive messages about friendship and redemption. Falcon is a street-smart raccoon well-known for skills in pilfering food. He sets his sights on a luxury train buffet but once aboard among the passenger pets, the train mysteriously departs leaving the humans behind. The animals discover they've been hijacked by Hans, a vengeful badger with a sinister plan. With the train hurtling toward disaster, Falcon must team up with Rex, a loyal police dog, to rally the stranded pets and stop the runaway locomotive.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 8-12 and is useful for exploring subjects including English and Literacy, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding animals, friendship and travel.
Grow
This feel-good children's adventure is a sweet tale about chosen family that promotes environmentalism and patience in the face of adversity. Young Charlie has been in foster care, until she is taken in by her Aunt Dinah, a farmer struggling to keep her business afloat. Charlie discovers a supernatural secret: she can literally hear what plants are thinking. To save her Aunt Dinah's farm and win a high-stakes giant pumpkin contest, Charlie teams up with the eccentric Arlo to grow a massive pumpkin named "Peter" but faces vegetable warfare in the shape of sabotage from a local scientist.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 8-12 and is useful for exploring subjects including Literacy, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding community, nature and family.
Blinded by the Light
From the director of Bend it Like Beckham and Bride & Prejudice (also available on Into Film+) this musical comedy tenderly explores growing up and cultural differences. Set in 1987 Luton, the film follows a British-Pakistani teenager who develops a passion for Bruce Springsteen's music. A keen poet and budding writer himself, Javed identifies strongly with the American musician's lyrics, the songs giving him the confidence he needs to carve his own path outside of his family home and his hometown. But with an economic recession leading to job cuts locally and National Front marches taking place down the street, Javed must also face the reality of his present circumstances.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 12-15 and is useful for exploring subjects including Citizenship, English and Music, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding racism and prejudice, growing up, historical periods and family.
Frankenstein
This 1930s adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic Gothic horror novel sees an ambitious scientist, Dr Henry Frankenstein, carry out his macabre plan to piece together dead body parts to create a new life. Jolted into consciousness by electricity, the monstrous creation nevertheless seems docile at first. But Dr Frankenstein's experiment turns out to have catastrophically violent consequences, as the Monster's sensibilities and temperament clash with society's prejudice and fear. A truly iconic piece of cinema, this title is a must-watch for Film Studies students learning about the horror genre, as well as English Literature students focusing on 19th century prose.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 14-16 and is useful for exploring subjects including Film Studies and Moving Image Arts, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding monsters, literature and adaptations, ethics, and scientists and inventors.
Hamnet
Adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 bestseller, this raw and highly emotional historical drama tells the story of the romance between William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes (also known as Anne Hathaway in other sources). Though their relationship is not approved of by their families, the duo are wed and soon conceive a child. But the loss of their child named Hamnet will go on to define each of them, and will lead to William writing one of the most famed plays of all-time, ‘Hamlet', informed and inspired by his own tragic experience.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 15+ and is useful for exploring subjects including English Literature, History and Drama, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding gender representation, historical figures, Shakespeare, literature and adaptations, life and death, and performing arts.
Hot Fuzz
A pair of mismatched police officers create havoc in this explosively funny British action comedy from the director and stars of Shaun of the Dead (available on Into Film+ Premium). London-based super-cop Nicholas Angel is forced to swap high-speed pursuits for village fayres when his jealous bosses exile him to the crime-free country town of Sandford, in deepest Somerset. Teamed up with a wide-eyed young constable, it looks as though Angel's high-octane days are over until he uncovers a sinister conspiracy involving murder, arson, corruption and competitive flower arranging. The buddy cop movie is a recommended film on the CCEA GCSE Moving Image Arts syllabus for the study of film genres.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 15+ and is useful for exploring subjects including Film Studies and Moving Image Arts, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding crime and justice, rural space, friendship and film history.
A Very Long Engagement
A set film on the A Level French curriculum for AQA, Edexcel and WJEC, Un long dimanche de fiançailles by Amélie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (also available on Into Film+) is an epic tale through 20th century French history via interconnected stories of hope, loss and love. During World War One, five men are sent to almost certain death by their own army after attempting to escape from military service. A few years after the war has ended, Mathilde, the heartbroken but determined fiancée of the youngest of these men, sets out to uncover the mystery of what happened to her love whilst also unearthing the complex tales of the other four soldiers.
The accompanying film guide is designed to engage learners aged 16+ and is useful for exploring subjects including Film Studies, French and History, in addition to highlighting themes surrounding love and relationships, World War One and filmmaking.
Into Film+ Premium
Smurfs
Blending CGI animation with live action, this fun family film centres around a colony of little blue creatures with matching white caps called Smurfs who live in a magical woodland village. When their leader Papa Smurf is taken by evil wizards Razamel and Gargamel, the intrepid Smurfette leads a group of Smurfs to the real world on a mission to save him. With the help of new friends, our miniature but mighty heroes set out on a Parisian adventure to discover what defines their destiny and to save the universe.
Thunderbolts*
Marvel Studios presents a darker and more emotional side to franchise with just as much laughter and actions, celebrating unconventional antiheroes. The fiery superspy Yelena Belova is on a mission to take down the manipulative CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. After finding herself ensnared in a death trap along with other disillusioned misfits, the team embark on a dangerous journey that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. It's time for them to get past their dysfunctional dynamics and unite - before it's too late.
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.
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 800+ 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.
* 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.
