Special Events and Hidden Gems at the Into Film Festival

Taking place between 7-28 November, this year's Into Film Festival will see over 3,000 screenings and special events take place across more than 600 venues, spanning the whole breadth and depth of the UK. To help you find the perfect film and Festival trip for you, we're highlighting some of our most exciting special events and a few hidden gems from this year's Festival programme.

Jump to...

• Special Events - Primary
• Special Events - Secondary
• Hidden Gems

Special Events for Secondary Audiences

Letitia Wright speaking alongside her directorial debut Highway To The Moon

Emmy-nominated actress Letitia Wright, known for Top Boy, Black Mirror, and her iconic role as Shuri in Marvel's Black Panther films, presents her directorial debut Halfway to the Moon to students in Manchester and Sheffield.

Written, directed, and produced by Wright, the 25 minute short follows the experiences of young Black men whose lives have been tragically cut short. Set in a fantasy world between Heaven and Earth, the film is a moving coming-of-age drama exploring themes of brotherhood, unity, forgiveness, and hope. Wright created the film in response to London's escalating knife crime epidemic, aiming to provoke urgent dialogue around its roots. She describes it as "a love letter to young Black men all over the world".

Pupil Premieres: Christmas Karma

We're delighted to have pupil premieres of the new film from director Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice). Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol is reimagined through a modern lens in this vibrant musical infused with themes of identity and inclusion, set in contemporary London. 

Suitable for both primary and secondary audiences, and with a rich, multicultural soundtrack blending gospel, bhangra, rap, and pop, the film celebrates both Britain's diverse communities and the spirit of the season.

Pupil Premiere: Brides followed by Q&A with the filmmakers

This highly anticipated British film - which was partly shot in Wales - sees two young Muslim teenagers growing disillusioned with life in London as a result of racism and troubled family lives, and deciding to flee to Syria to live in a more devout Muslim country. It's not long before they find that their fresh start may not be everything they envisioned.

Brides is a film about the sacred bond of teen friendship and the very human vulnerabilities that lie behind recent real-life news stories. 

At our special pupil premiere in London we will be joined by director Nadia Fall and stars Safiyya Ingar and Ebada Hassan who will partake in a post-screening Q&A, while in Cardiff we'll be joined by the producers of the film.

Grand Theft Hamlet plus Q&A with Director Pinny Grylls

Grand Theft Hamlet follows an ambitious attempt to stage a production of Shakespeare's play entirely within the world of a Grand Theft Auto game. At a special event in Derby, the film's director Pinny Grylls will take part in a post-screening Q&A. (This event will include interpreters and be fully accessible for Deaf attendees).

Clout with Talk from Writer and Director Jordan Murphy Doidge

Clout is a coming-of-age drama that explores the dark side of social media through the lives of four friends at school. At its centre is Oskar, whose pursuit of online fame begins to blur the line between reality and illusion.

This screening in Bristol will be followed by a talk from the film's writer and director, Jordan Murphy Doidge.

Special Events for Primary Audiences

Future Council - UK Premieres with stars and Director Damon Gameau

Premieres of Future Council will take place across the UK to open the Into Film Festival, with screenings in Belfast, Bristol and Cardiff, and with director Damon Gameau and the young people featured in the film joining us in Edinburgh, London, and Manchester.

From the director of That Sugar Film and 2040, Future Council sees young people, frustrated by the lack of action on climate change and pollution, deciding it's time for their voices to be heard, setting out to travel across Europe to lobby and challenge powerful leaders to take action.

Pupil Premieres: Christmas Karma

We're delighted to have pupil premieres of the new film from director Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice). Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol is reimagined through a modern lens in this vibrant musical infused with themes of identity and inclusion, set in contemporary London. With a rich, multicultural soundtrack blending gospel, bhangra, rap, and pop, the film celebrates both Britain's diverse communities and the spirit of the season.

Suitable for both primary and secondary audiences, and with a rich, multicultural soundtrack blending gospel, bhangra, rap, and pop, the film celebrates both Britain's diverse communities and the spirit of the season.

Pupil Premieres of Kangaroo

Inspired by a true story, this heart-warming comedy showcases the stunning Australian landscape and has a poignant message about protecting animals, as a TV presenter stranded in the Outback finds himself having to care for injured kangaroos.

Special pupil premieres of this much-anticipated title will be screened in several locations across the UK.

Pupil Premiere: Zootropolis 2

With familiar furry characters and new mammals on the scene, this animated sequel takes a fun and fresh perspective on the animal kingdom and revisits themes of friendship and defying prejudice.

We're delighted to have a special pupil premiere of this much-anticipated Disney sequel as the closing event of this year's Into Film Festival in London.

Wicked: Part One with the Anti-Bullying Alliance

With the Into Film Festival taking place simultaneously with Anti-Bullying Week (10-14 November), we're partnering with the Anti-Bullying Alliance to present more than 50 screenings of the phenomenon that is Wicked: Part One during this year's Festival. 

The adaptation of the popular stage musical sees a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, joining a new school only to come up against a popular young woman, gilded by privilege. Their developing dynamic provides fertile ground for conversations around bullying and empathy.

• Browse Wicked: Part One screenings across the UK

Grow plus Q&A with Director John McPhail and Actor Sanjeev Kohli

Grow sees a young girl begin a new life in the country with her tough aunt, and discovering a supernatural talent that might help her win the contentious local pumpkin-growing contest. Director John McPhail (Anna and the Apocalypse) returns with this exuberant and thoroughly entertaining film set in an apparently sleepy Scottish town.

Special screenings in Edinburgh and Falkirk will be followed by a Q&A with McPhail and actor Sanjeev Kohli.

Craft-Along Screening: Pride & Prejudice (2005) - Celebrating 250 Years of Jane Austen

We'll be Celebrating 250 Years of Jane Austen with a special craft-along screening of Pride & Prejudice (2005), with children joining in with themed craft activities that bring Austen's world to life.

We also have regular screenings of Pride and Prejudice in London and Leeds, and several screenings celebrating the 30th anniversary and seminal teen comedy Clueless, which was based on Austen's Emma.

Hidden Gems

With over 75 films playing across over 3,000 screenings and events, in more than 600 venues, all across the UK, it's understandable that there may be a few titles that you're less familiar with. While we always programme some blockbusters and fan-favourites into the mix, we also endeavour to use the Festival to spotlight lesser-known films, which may not have gained a wide cinema release yet, or simply flew a little more under the radar. These are films that we believe are not just entertaining, but hold educational value for young audiences as well.

Below, we're listing some of those titles you may be less aware of, and demonstrating why they could be the perfect choice for your Into Film Festival visit.

Kensuke's Kingdom

Adapted from the children's novel by beloved British author Michael Morpurgo, this tender animation follows the adventure of an 11-year-old boy named Michael who is separated from his family during their worldwide sailing trip and washes ashore on an island. The film presents themes around the natural world, family, friendship, and World War II to young viewers when Michael meets a man living on the island who resolves to protect its animal inhabitants from poachers.

• Browse Kensuke's Kingdom screenings across the UK

Conclave

This hugely entertaining drama was nominated for eight Academy Awards earlier this year, for categories ranging from costume design to editing to Best Picture. It also won Best Adapted Screenplay for its razor-sharp writing. As well as being an interesting case study in how to adapt a book for the screen - its source being Robert Harris' 2016 novel - it also has palpable real-world relevance in its interrogation of the papal selection process, made even more significant after the recent death of Pope Francis.

• Browse Conclave screenings across the UK

Flow

Introduce students to a different kind of animated film with this celebrated, visually arresting story of an adorable cat who, along with a dog, capybara, monkey, and bird, has to use all of its wit and craftiness to escape the sudden devastating floods that have wrecked its home. Awarded the Oscar for Best Animated Film at the 2025 Academy Awards, Flow is a one-of-a-kind, dialogue-free animation that mesmerises and excites in equal measure.

Use Flow to inspire your learners to explore new technologies and creative ways of animating and enter our brand-new Innovation in Filmmaking category at the Into Film Awards 2026.

• Browse screenings of Flow across the UK

Wolf Children

One of the most celebrated anime films of the 2010s, Wolf Children is an absolute visual treat on the big screen. Telling the tragic but ultimately hopeful story of two half wolf/half human siblings and their human mother as they try to carve out a normal life for themselves in a complicated world, the animation is delightfully vibrant and meshes perfectly with a fantastic story that teaches understanding and accepting the differences in others.

• Browse Wolf Children screenings across the UK

The Most Precious of Cargoes

This French-language animation (with English subtitles) is highly accessible and relevant for students studying the Holocaust. It also provides a powerful yet sensitive set of reference points for broader discussions around war, sacrifice and prejudice.

• Browse screenings of The Most Precious of Cargoes across the UK

Holy Cow

For those based in Manchester, Holy Cow is an excellent title for French language students, and may also prompt constructive discussions around careers, healthy relationships and sex, with its authentic and empathetic portrayal of young people navigating first loves, first jobs and interpersonal relationships.

Ocean with David Attenborough

This documentary vividly illustrates challenges surrounding marine ecology, climate systems, human-environment interactions and conservation in a visually compelling and emotionally engaging way, helping students see the real-world relevance of science and geography.

• Browse screenings of Ocean with David Attenborough across the UK