FILMCLUB visits the Welsh Assembly

"The Welsh Assembly does a fantastic job both protecting and promoting our culture. Through FILMCLUB, young people in Wales can understand Welsh culture in the context of the wider world. They can broaden their horizons, be inspired to recognize their own potential and tell their own stories so that the rest of the world may one day hear them," said actor Michael Sheen in a special message shown at FILMCLUB's recent visit to the Senedd. The event was to celebrate the successful FILMCLUB Cymru pilot scheme and highlight the benefits of a nationwide roll out to Assembly Members. Michael became FILMCLUB's Ambassador for Wales after a 'Close Encounter' at Porth County Community School.

Minister for Education, Children, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Leighton Andrews, who attended, commented: "I think it’s a terrific initiative, I remember when I saw The Third Man when I was at school and that opened up the door to me of what cinema could really do."

FILMCLUB members from Treorchy Comprehensive School attended the event to share their love of film and the positive personal impact of FILMCLUB. 

Pupil David Evans (13) shared with BBC Wales that FILMCLUB "has really made my life more interesting, I don't know what I'd do with my week nights if it wasn't for FILMCLUB". When asked by Treorchy pupils about the film that had changed their life, Mick Bates AM shared that "The Wizard of Oz gave me the vision that there is somewhere over the rainbow but home is best," while Eleanor Burnham AM remembered that Dr. Zhivago "was such a cultural eye-opener".

There are currently 11 schools in Wales enjoying FILMCLUB but with many more wanting to join, FILMCLUB Co-founder, director Beeban Kidron, shared with the Assembly Members, filmmakers, film industry and education representatives gathered at the Senedd that, 'For our members FILMCLUB is many things; a refuge, a place of inspiration, a point of entry, a catharsis, a reason to talk, a reason to write. I believe FILMCLUB is a small fraction of what we must offer our children – not simply the tools of learning – but a reason to learn'.