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Film: 21st Century Literacy is rooted in the belief that in the same way that we take for granted that society has a responsibility to help children to read and write - to use and enjoy words - we should take it for granted that we help children and young people to use, enjoy and understand moving images; not just to be technically capable but to be culturally literate too.

Britain already has what are probably some of the best film education initiatives in the world. However, for most young people, if they experience film education at all it is as isolated episodes that lack coherence and consistency. We want to move film education on from being a series of disconnected experiences to becoming an integral part of every young person's life. The strategy set out in Film: 21st Century Literacy is the first step on the road.

Beginning with young people across the country, we want a society where a dynamic film and moving image culture is part of every citizen's enjoyment. We won't achieve that in five years or ten years, but if we start now, we may do it in a generation.

The Strategy, in its first phase, was a three year project funded through a 750,000 National Lottery grant, initially funded throught the UK Film Council and latterly by the BFI. The project has been delivered by Film Club, BFI, Skillset, Film Education and First Light. The Strategy's initial aims were to:-

CREATE a UK-wide network of key providers of film education to share best practice.
DEVELOP and sustain innovative activities for learning about film
DEVISE and implement a professional development programme for teachers and other film
education practitioners to raise standards of delivery and quality of engagement for children
and young people.
CREATE online resources to accompany every appropriate publicly funded British film.
DEVELOP online resources that give educational access to the UK's film archives association with the UK Screen Heritage strategy).
BUILD a UK-wide network of school-based film clubs.

The Strategy has recently received continuation funding from the BFI to carry on its work on a transitional basis, developing the next phase of UK-wide film education activity.

The five organisations that steer the strategy are:




Film Education provides teachers and colleges with powerful tools to help them in their work. As a result we hope to preserve and increase our national film culture by building a new generation of cinema-goers who also look beyond the major block busters to appreciate independent productions and world cinema.

www.filmeducation.nen.gov.uk




First Light was launched in May 2001 to fund and inspire the making of short films and media projects, reflecting the diversity of young people's lives. First Light in an initiative supported by DCFS and the UK Film Counil through National Lottery funding.

To date First Light has given more than 30,000 young people the chance to write, act, shoot and produce over 1000 films and other media projects under the guidance of professionals. First Light works in association with youth agencies, schools, colleges, production companies and film club throughout the UK. Some young filmmakers have used First Light as a stepping stone to gain work experience in the film industry.

For more information about First Light projects log on to:

www.firstlightonline.co.uk




FILMCLUB provides pupils and teachers the chance to explore the world of film through after-school film clubs. Schools interested in joining FILMCLUB should visit the website www.filmclub.org and follow the link to the join up registration page. Eligible schools are then invited to attend a full induction session with a FILMCLUB representative offering step-by-step instructions in how to set up a club. A wide range of support materials including FILMCLUB posters, postcards and membership cards are provided to help promote FILMCLUB within the school.

www.filmclub.org




The BFI runs programmes for about 30,000 learners of all ages at BFI Southbank, as well as providing resources in print and online to support film education across the UK. We are a national advocate for film in the education sector, working particularly in the last 5 years with the literacy curriculum at primary level. In www.screenonline.org.uk we have the definitive online guide to British film and television.

www.bfi.org.uk



Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media which comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging and publishing. Our aim is to support the improvements to the productivity of our industry to ensure that it remains globally competitive. We do this be influencing and leading; developing skills, training and education policy; and through opening up the industries to the UK's pool of diverse talent.

www.skillset.org



We recognise that, as well as these organisations, many of which are funded directly or indirectly by the UKFC, there are many small community-based and locally funded organisations which are the life-blood of film education provision. Most significantly, the 35,000 primary and secondary schools and colleges in the UK are all our partners or potential partners.

In going forward it is our intention to work with, and support the work of, organisations of all different types and sizes who are part of film education today.

Please click on the map to the right to find out more about the film education activities across the UK

There is a wealth of film education work taking place across the UK. We want to showcase this work and share good practice. Please click on the map or use the drop-down menu above to see what's happening in each nation and region.