Into Film Clubs
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As we continue to expand our Into Film+ Premium catalogue, available to state schools in England that are funded by the Department for Education, we have selected ten new titles that are now available to stream for free* in the classroom.
This month, we have added lots more titles to Into Film+ Premium, following on from recent additions, and have highlighted ten below. Ranging from engaging animations suitable for primary learners all the way to thought-provoking dramas to inspire young adults, these titles offer a window onto the worlds of archaeology, broadcasting and music, as well as presenting moral lessons through inter-galactic journeys and battles for human rights. Read on to discover more.
Mummies
In the first of two newly added animations to explore the customs of the Ancient Egyptians, we discover the secret underworld city where mummies continue to live on millennia after their own era. But when an evil time-travelling archaeologist manages to snatch an ancient ring, three mummies and their cute pet crocodile must follow him to present-day London to try and retrieve it. The mummy trio includes Princess Nefer, who wants to be a singer; her reluctant fiancé Thut, a former chariot racer; and Sekhem, his boomerang-wielding younger brother. Produced in Spain, this title is available with both English and Spanish audio.
Tad the Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet
Next, more mummy misadventures as the cheery yet accident-prone archaeologist Tad Jones unwittingly releases an ancient Egyptian queen from a sarcophagus, also unleashing a shape-shifting curse upon his friend, an Incan mummy. Tad sets off on a globe-trotting adventure to locate the Emerald Tablet, a powerful artefact that has the power to lift the spell and grant wishes to its owner. This third instalment of the popular animated series offers fun engagement with subjects including History and Geography, building on the previous film Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas (also available on Into Film+ Premium).
Transformers One
From ancient civilisations to intergalactic ones, this sci-fi animation introduces young audiences to the dynamic Transformers franchise, based on toy action figures. In their youth, the legendary Optimus Prime and Megatron were close friends, and their names were Orion Pax and D-16. Unable to transform yet, but keen to prove themselves, they go up to the surface of their planet Cybertron and find a mysterious robot, who gives them transformation cogs to help them access their full potential. But they also discover a terrible secret, which will lead the two best friends on separate paths, setting their incredible powers against each other.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
A further Transformers story brings the alien-robots warfare here on planet Earth, seven years after the events of Bumblebee (also available on Into Film+). It's 1994 and Noah, an ex-military electronics expert, is struggling to find a job to support his family. He stumbles upon a mysterious sculpture which features a Maximal symbol, and discovers the existence of the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime. Noah is roped into the robots' mission to recover a key piece of technology to protect Earth and enable the Autobots to return to their home planet.
Uncharted
This swashbuckling action-adventure film, based on the popular video game franchise, raises questions about cultural appropriation whilst also showcasing the importance of being able to problem solve. Explorer Nathan Drake is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor "Sully" Sullivan, an old friend of his estranged brother, to hunt down a legendary fortune linked to a centuries-old expedition. Travelling around the world and battling their way through treacherous environments, the duo must not only compete with the formidable Spanish aristocrat Santiago Moncada, who believes the treasure belong to him, but also their own complicated histories.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
This title also takes a deeply moral look at societal structures and the lessons of history, adding further layers to a strong sci-fi franchise. In a post-apocalyptic world, apes with human-like intelligence have become the dominant species, having thrown off the shackles that enslaved almost three hundred years ago, when humans ruled over them. A new ape leader has become just as tyrannical as those who once subjugated his own kind. But one young chimpanzee named Noa begins to question what he has been taught, as he gets to know a young human.
Elvis
Elvis Presley, who emerged in the late 1950s as one of music's most electrifying performers, spent two decades in the public spotlight before dying in Las Vegas with his fame dwindling. This dazzling and unique biopic, told from the perspective of his unscrupulous manager Colonel Tom Parker, traces Elvis from his roots as an up-and-coming rhythm and blues guitarist who took inspiration from the Black musicians of the time, all the way through to the superstardom that tragically effected his physical and mental health. The film also contemplates the clash between capitalism and artistic integrity, examining the price of fame.
Saturday Night
‘Saturday Night Live', or SNL, has become staple in weekly US television. But the hit comedy show was seen as a massive risk when it was initially launched in 1975. This comedy-drama is set in real time across the hour and a half which immediately preceded the airing of the pilot as the show's producer, Lorne Michaels, scrambles to address the many disruptive incidents that threaten to unravel his creation. On top of an unruly cast and issues with censorship, Lorne also has to contend with the head of the network, NBC, who threatens to pull the show at a moment's notice.
The Woman King
This historical epic tells the story of Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, this film follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. As well as addressing the history of enslavement within Africa, this powerful film explores issues including overcoming trauma and sisterhood, resonating with contemporary sensibilities.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
This bizarre, hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi presents a deep understanding of fractured familial relationships. Evelyn Wang is a Chinese-American immigrant who runs a failing laundromat business with her husband Waymond. However, on a visit to the local tax auditor, the family are suddenly swept up in a universe-spanning adventure involving parallel multi-verses, unlikely heroes and dastardly villains. As the situation becomes more surreal and unpredictable, Evelyn must find a way to tap into her newfound powers and not only save the entire universe but repair the broken bonds with her family as well.
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 700+ 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.
