The UK Film Council has announced that Film Education, the industry-funded organisation developing educational materials and services around films and filmmaking, has been awarded £750,000 from the organisation’s UK-Wide Film Education Fund.

The new funding will go to Film Education in recognition of its role as the lead organisation of a consortium including the BFI, Film Club, First Light Movies and Skillset.

The group will lead in delivering on the recent joint Film Education Strategy – Film: 21st Century Literacy, the aim of which was to enhance current film education activity and to initiate new, innovative activities that would enable young people to access a wider range of film content, in school, in cinemas and via other avenues.

Funding will be used to establish a range of initiatives including:

  • Establishing a UK Film Education Fund Office to provide a single point of contact for the sector;
  • Developing a programme of training and continued professional development;
  • Developing programmes of work that align with the Screen Heritage Strategy; and
  • Developing a number of pathfinder projects working with national and regional screen agencies.

Commenting on the announcement, Film Education Director Ian Wall said:

“We’re delighted to be selected to lead the implementation of Film: 21st Century Literacy. For many years the feature film industry has supported Film Education’s work to deliver meaningful educational support to teachers, schools and students across the country.

Now we will be able to move towards greater coordination between all the organisations involved in this work, creating a central hub of information, guidance and consultation. This will ensure that film and cinema are at the heart of education and learning for many years to come.”

Welcoming the new funding, CEA Chief Executive Phil Clapp added:

“This announcement is hugely welcome, and recognises the unparalleled expertise and experience Film Education has in working with teachers to engage young people through film. I am particularly pleased to see an industry-funded organisation taking such a central role.”