L'Derry Students To Explore The Best Of Cinema

Foyle Film Festival is set to get underway next week with an exciting ten days of cinematic exploration for children and young people across the North West.

Running from Monday 18 November to Friday 29 November, the programme is packed full of showcase events including local and international films, presentations and hands-on workshops.

Children will be given the opportunity to explore a range of themes and issues through film, such as family, friendship, and the importance of accepting those who are different.

Foyle Film Festival is funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen and Derry City and Strabane District Council.

An Education Programme offers a cinematic exploration of a number of 20th century milestones for post-primary pupils, such as the 1969 moon landing, the First World War and the Jim Crow-era American South.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the first man on the moon, 'Apollo 11' will screen on Thursday 28 November. Using only contemporary source material, this documentary charts the journey of the astronauts on their groundbreaking mission in 1969.

Post-primary students will learn about the fight for gender equality with a screening of 'On the Basis of Sex' on Friday 29 November, telling the powerful and timely true story of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first woman to hold a seat on the highest court in the United States.

The festival will also offer an outreach screening of Oscar winner for Best Picture, 'Green Book'. Through witnessing the unlikely friendship between a black concert pianist and a New York bouncer who becomes his chauffeur, pupils will gain an understanding of racism and segregation in the United States' Jim Crow era.

Younger audiences will not be disappointed with screenings of 'Toy Story 4' , the long-awaited fourth installation in the beloved Toy Story franchise, while in Disney's 'The Lion King', the powerful and enduring bonds of friendship and destiny are examined in the live-action remake of a classic.

The virtual world of 'Ralph Breaks the Internet' will be brought into the classroom with a workshop giving pupils the chance to work together to create and code their own game using characters Ralph and Vanellope while developing their creative storytelling skills.

Pupils will be immersed in the landscape of Pride Rock from 'The Lion King' as they learn how to soundtrack a film with the sound and vision workshop. Learning about the role music plays in film, pupils can replace scenes from the live action remake with their own choice of music, to make it happy, sad, or full of action.

Foyle Film Festival, in association with CCEA, will also deliver the Moving Image Arts Showcase on Wednesday 20 November – screening the films of MIA students. The festival is delighted to highlight and celebrate the talent, imagination, and creativity of the MIA students by awarding the beautiful City of Derry Crystal Awards for the best films.

Bernie McLaughlin, Foyle Film Festival Programmer and Director said: "I'm delighted to be once again presenting an extensive education programme for primary and post-primary schools. This is an opportunity for schools to extend their learning outside of the classroom and to use the medium of film to encourage and promote conversation about the world around us."

Demand for the wide-range of screenings, workshops and special events is expected to be high and organisers are, therefore, encouraging schools and colleges to register their interest early.

Bookings for educational visits can be secured by calling 028 7126 0562.



(JG/CM)