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Home Schools Primary First ever LitFilmFest for primary schools comes to Britain

First ever LitFilmFest for primary schools comes to Britain

Up to 1,600 7-11 year olds will see their work on the BFI IMAX’s screen, as part of a new drive to improve literacy through filmmaking
Hannah Vickers
Hannah Vickers

LitFilmFest, featuring films written, performed and filmed entirely by primary school pupils, is launching today at the biggest cinema screen in Britain. Powered by A Tale Unfolds, the festival premieres at the British Film Institute’s IMAX Cinema in Waterloo, London, allowing children aged 7-11 see their work showcased on the 20 x 26 metre screen.

(Photo: Kingsland Academy)

Today’s festival sees the winning schools from up and down the country travelling to the IMAX, after writing and producing films in their English lessons choosing from four different categories:

  • Pupil Prime Minister – bringing together English, Politics & Citizenship
  • Action & Adventure – the long format, edutainment category
  • Film Trailers – a quick and easy way to enter
  • The Plastic Times – the environmental news report category

(Photo: Kingsland Academy)

All categories are supported by comprehensive teaching resources made by A Tale Unfolds, which have tripled literacy progress and been used in more than 3,000 classrooms up and down the country and internationally. 

It has been a humbling experience to have now been used in over 3,000 schools and for teachers to tell us that our resources have tripled their pupils’ literacy progress! – Dominic Traynor, primary teacher and founder of A Tale Unfolds

Dominic Traynor, primary teacher and founder of A Tale Unfolds, said, “When we started out back in 2012 to radically improve KS2 English & filmmaking, we never dreamed that we would be in this position. It has been a humbling experience to have now been used in over 3,000 schools and for teachers to tell us that our resources have tripled their pupils’ literacy progress!”

(Photo: Kingsland Academy)

Selected winners have been invited to shoot their films professionally at YouTube’s Creator Space, CNN’s Turner House and the BFI in London, in preparation for seeing themselves on the giant silver screen. Both winning and shortlisted schools are visiting the IMAX today across four screenings, which will also be attended by organisations such as First News and CNN, two of the main media partners of the festival. 

LitFilmFest has been made possible this year due to support from the BFI education department.