St Gemma's High School Filmclub Pupils Meet Actor Michael Smiley

FILMCLUB Students from St Gemma’s High School in Belfast had the opportunity recently to meet actor Michael Smiley as part of an initiative organised by FILMCLUB which helps schools set up and run weekly film clubs encouraging young people, age 5 – 18, to watch, discuss and review a diverse range of films from past and present, and from around the world.

Michael Smiley won the British Independent Film Award in 2011 for Best Supporting Actor in Kill List and other acting credits include The Other Boleyn Girl Burke and Hare, and Luther.

The FILMCLUB Close Encounter event attended by the actor was hosted by the school to celebrate the launch of their new FILMCLUB. St Gemma’s have been running FILMCLUB since last month with screenings such as 500 Days of Summer and most recently “Burke and Hare”, which Michael Smiley was involved in.

The event showcased some clips of Michael in action and the young people had the chance to hear from Michael about his career and to ask questions about the filmmaking industry and they were given tips and advice on following film as a career path.

Brian McGleenon, Head of Moving Image Arts at St Gemma’s High School said “The A Levels pupils had a very engaging and productive discussion with award winning Northern Irish Actor, Michael Smiley. The discussion also included an analysis of film clips from Michael's films. Michael gave the pupils inspiration and advice from his broad experience in the film industry.”

Bernard McCloskey Head of Education with Northern Ireland Screen said “FILMCLUB plays an important part in Northern Ireland Screen’s aim to provide young people with better access to a wider range of films. We want children to enjoy film in all its different forms with their friends and classmates. FILMCLUB is the perfect starting point on their film journey.”

FILMCLUB member Danielle Larkin said “I found Michael very funny and thought the event was really relaxed and enjoyable as he was very easy to talk to.”

FILMCLUB member Kerry Sharkey added “It was nice to meet an actual actor and was interesting to find out Michael’s journey into the industry and what he is currently working on.”

FILMCLUB inNorthern Irelandis a Northern Ireland Screen extended schools initiative funded by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and is managed by Cinemagic and the Nerve Centre. Currently delivered in 228 schools throughout the province, FILMCLUB is one ofNorthern Ireland’s most popular after schools activities with over 4000 students taking part each week.  The scheme has been extended to 338 schools in receipt of Extended School Funding - to reach 75% of all Extended Schools in Northern Ireland and approximately 28% of the total number of schools in Northern Ireland.

For further information on FILMCLUB and FILMCLUB in Northern Irelandvisit www.filmclub.org  or contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Notes to Editors

About FILMCLUB:

 Education charity FILMCLUB has grown from a 25-school pilot in 2007 to reach 220,000 members across 7,000 schools in theUK. Created by educationalist Lindsay Mackie and filmmaker Beeban Kidron, FILMCLUB helps schools set up clubs providing young people access to a curated catalogue of films from across the world and from over 100 years of cinema, with educational and social impact.  Free to state schools, FILMCLUB provides weekly screenings, online reviewing, industry events and hands-on support to engage, challenge and open new avenues for informal learning. Teachers receive the support they need to introduce pupils to the world of film, creating a memorable experience with proven academic benefits.

 FILMCLUB patrons include filmmaker Mike Leigh and actors Emma Thompson and Michael Sheen.  FILMCLUB is working in partnership with: The BFI, LOVEFiLM, Dogwoof, First Light, Creative Skillset, Artis, Film: 21st Century Literacy and BAFTA. 

 FILMCLUB is funded inNorthern Irelandby the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) through Northern Ireland Screen and delivered by Cinemagic and the Nerve Centre.

FILMCLUB inNorthern Irelandis open to schools in receipt of Extended School Day Funding.

 FILMCLUB is a registered charity (Number: 1136558)

 Department of Education Extended School Scheme

The Department of Education’s Extended Schools programme has a focus on improving educational outcomes, reducing barriers to learning and providing additional support to help improve the life chances of children and young people, particularly from deprived areas.

Launched in May 2006, £50 million of funding has been provided through the Extended Schools programme over the last 5 years (2006-11) allowing those schools serving areas of the highest social disadvantage to provide for a wide range of services or activities outside of the traditional school day to help meet the needs of pupils, their families and the wider community.

The Extended Schools programme aims to support learning and healthy lifestyles, raising school standards while engaging schools with their local community and connecting people with local services. The diverse menu of activities on offer includes breakfast or homework clubs, sport, art, drama, ICT and many other innovative programmes including those aimed at encouraging parental, family and community engagement.

A further £10m of Extended Schools funding was made available to over 450 eligible schools in the 2011/12 financial year.

More information on Extended Schools including the qualifying criteria used to determine eligibility for the 2011/12 programme and a list of those schools receiving ES funding this financial year can be accessed via the links below:

Further information onExtendedSchoolservices can be found on the NI Direct website under Extended Schools:

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-services/parents/schools-learning-and-development/extra-curricular-activities/extended-schools.htm

Information on the selection criteria for Extended Schools is available on the Department of Education’s website here:

http://www.deni.gov.uk/extended_schools_criteria_2011_12_for_webpage.pdf

A list of schools currently in receipt of Extended Services funding is available on the Department of Education’s website here:

http://www.deni.gov.uk/list_of_extended_schools_2011.12_.pdf

For further information and guidance on the Extended Schools programme is available on the Department of Education’s website here:

http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/85-schools/03-schools_impvt_prog_pg/schools-sch-impvt-extschoolsguidance.htm

 Northern Ireland Screen Education strategy

Northern Ireland Screen is the government-backed lead agency inNorthern Irelandfor the film, television and digital content industry, driving global growth through boosting our economy, celebrating our culture and enhancing our children’s education.

Northern Ireland Screen’s Education strategy, to embed the use of moving image and related digital technologies across the formal and non-formal curriculum in Northern Ireland, was first set out in A Wider Literacy, published in 2004. An important element of the strategy is the provision of access to a wider range of moving image material and learning resources for young people and, in particular, access to a broader choice of film titles as part of the cinema experience.

 Northern Ireland Screen has developed a coordinated approach to delivering these particular aims as part of its Wider Literacy agenda in partnership with organisations funded by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure. These organisations have developed expertise in Film Education over a number of years and are well positioned to help deliver key aspects of A Wider Literacy. They include Cinemagic and the Nerve Centre who are funded to help deliver after school film clubs inNorthern Ireland, through FILMCLUB, the UK-based charity. The scheme gives pupils and teachers at schools offering Extended Services the chance to explore the world of film with free weekly screenings, online reviewing, special events and hands-on support. Currently 68 schools inNorthern Ireland participate in FILMCLUB. It is planned to make the scheme available to 338 schools in receipt of extended service funding over the next four months. Further information: www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk  Contact: [email protected]