History Of FILMCLUB

"I think that stories and the telling of stories are the foundations of human communication and understanding. If children all over the country are watching films, asking questions and telling their stories, then the world will eventually be a better place. That's how important I think FILMCLUB is."

Beeban Kidron, film director and FILMCLUB co-founder

" Films have the power to raise your gaze and raise your game and give you a ticket to pleasure and enlightenment forever more...."

Lindsay Mackie, writer and FILMCLUB co-founder

FILMCLUB was founded by BAFTA winning filmmaker Beeban Kidron and writer and educationalist Lindsay Mackie - borne out of a passionate desire to explore cinema's ability to revolutionise the hearts, minds and visions of young people and to open up new avenues of discovery. They began a journey to set up a nationwide school-based network of film clubs with a focus on making a wide variety of films available that would allow young people the chance to experience characters, images, cultures and stories they would never normally be exposed to.

LOVEFiLM, the UK's largest online DVD rental company, came on board as a key partner providing access to their DVD catalogue of thousands of films.

Between January and March 2007, FILMCLUB joined with additional partners The Guardian, Film Education and the UK Film Council to pilot FILMCLUB in 25 schools across the country. The pilot was a huge success. Teachers were inspired by the opportunity to bond with their pupils in a different environment - and pupils were excited by the chance to be transported to different worlds with their friends.

FILMCLUB is now nationwide, although we are still in the pilot stage in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is funded by:

England - Department of Children, Schools and Families  [Opens in a new window]

Northern Ireland - Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure [Opens in a new window]

Wales - Film Agency for Wales and Skillset Screen Academy [Opens in a new window]

Scotland - Scottish Screen [Opens in a new window]