Foyle Film Festival Education Programme Launches
The Foyle Film Festival has launched a packed Education Programme of films, animations, workshops and special events as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations.
Highlights include a Pixar retrospective to mark the life and achievements of Apple founder Steve Jobs, a tribute to the late Neil Armstrong, and special screenings and workshops to mark the Titanic Centenary and Charles Dickens' Bicentennial.
The education programme, which is organised by the Nerve Centre and runs from November 19 - 30, also takes a digital journey through the peace process from its earliest days to the recent historic meeting and handshake between the Queen and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Bernie McLaughlin, Foyle Film Festival director, said: 'It's very appropriate that the theme of this year's programme is Milestones as the festival celebrates its 25th year.
‘In that time the festival has developed to include what is in effect three distinct strands: the main festival programme aimed at the general public and the education programme which is curriculum focused and targeted at all primary, post primary schools, colleges, and young people.’|
‘Our Light In Motion (LIM) Competition has also become Oscar and BAFTA affiliated. This is a unique element of the festival providing filmmakers with an international platform for their work.’
The festival has been funded for many years by Northern Ireland Screen and Derry City Council.
Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said: 'The Foyle Film Festival has reached a significant milestone this year, with its 25th anniversary. Northern Ireland Screen is delighted to see that their flair and enthusiasm remains as vivid and intense as it did back in 1987, with yet another superb and eclectic programme of screenings and educational events.
'Through our continued core funding, supported by DCAL, Northern Ireland Screen acknowledges the Foyle Film Festival and the Cinema Initiative at the Nerve Centre as key components in our efforts to achieve our goal of making a significant contribution to film culture, education and training. We send our sincerest good wishes to Pearse, Bernie and the whole team for another successful festival as they mark their quarter century.'
Inspired by the London 2012 Olympics, the festival will also uses film screenings and workshops to explore the power of sport to both inspire and to cross boundaries through shared goals and aspirations
Young filmmakers taking the Moving Image Arts GCSE and A-Level will be honoured at the festival’s City of Derry Crystal Awards.
This year’s festival education programme also showcases the Nerve Centre’s most recent innovative project Fab Lab. A Fab Lab is a fully kitted, high tech fabrication laboratory in which practically anything can be designed and prototyped, using state of the art machines.
Foyle Film Festival is offering schools a unique opportunity to engage with Fab Lab through a series of workshops that can be used to stimulate creativity and help children to realise their full potential.
For further information check out the programme embedded in the page above or call the Festival box office at the Nerve Centre on 028 7126 0562. The main Foyle Film Fesitval programme runs from November 21 - 25 and will be launched later this month.