Free film festival for Hackney schoolchildren

A charity has chosen Hackney to host the world’s largest film festival for schoolchildren where teachers can take their classes to see educational films.

From October 15 to 26, Film Education will be running cinemas across the borough on behalf of the National Schools Film Week (NSFW) and showing films that correspond to school curriculums.

These range from Kirikou for primary school children studying West African stories to the Iron Lady for secondary students studying politics.

Nick Walker, the festival director, said: “The festival seeks to create a greater awareness and understanding of cinema based on the concept of relationships and dialogues in a variety of films, address issues of cultural exchange and raise awareness amongst teaching professionals of the use of film across the school curriculum.

“This is achieved by in-cinema talks and on-line resources, which give teachers the tools to encourage students to explore and understand new cinematic worlds.”

Screenings will be shown in the Dalston Rio and the Hackney Picturehouse with some films including introductions and Q & As from experts.

Jean Clarke from the Urswick School on Paragon Road said: “National Schools Film Week helps students with their personal development. It gives them the opportunity to see a film that they wouldn’t choose to go and see.

“It opens they’re minds to let them see films that are challenging and that they can discuss afterwards.”