Lyme Regis kids get ready for film week (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)
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Lyme Regis kids get ready for film week
2:00pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in Lyme Regis
EXCITED: David Johnson
CHILDREN in Lyme Regis will join nearly half a million other pupils in the world’s largest film festival for schools.
In its 17th year, National Schools Film Week, running from October 15 to 26, offers a chance for students to study aspects of their curriculum through film.
Last year the event, which lets children into cinemas for free, involved 2,500 screenings at 570 cinemas across the UK.
David Johnson, Lyme Regis Regent Cinema manager, welcomed the festival and said it was a good way to connect children with the cinema and was much appreciated by pupils and parents.
He said: “National Schools Film Week builds a relationship between the venue and local schools. Venues have received thank you letters from schools and parents and helpers.
“The event helps increase audience.
“The schools do follow-up work after the screenings and at the same time are introduced to a traditional, independent cinema experience.”
Nick Kiddle, assistant headteacher, St Michael’s Primary School said: “Most of the students, both young and older, visit the cinema for the very first time.
“Film week is an institution that supports our local venue and we appreciate that.
“The screening and the films gives an opportunity to our more able writers to develop their film review skills and help out with writing newsletters about the film.”
Established in 1996, National Schools Film Week aims to help make learning relevant and fun and exposes children to world cinema with a chance to discuss a wide range of topics highlighted by what they watch.
Festival director Nick Walker 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 among 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.”
Teachers can book their free tickets online at www.national schoolsfilmweek.org.
The cinema in Lyme Regis will be showing Brave on Tuesday, October 23 and Ice Age: Continental Drift on Wednesday, October 24 with a 20-minute introduction by storyteller Adrian Beckingham.
