Pupils from around isles take part in national schools film week

Some of Shetland’s rural schools are taking part in National Schools Film Week, which begins on Monday, with free screenings at the Shetland Museum.

The museum auditorium is expected to be packed out for the events, with two showings apiece of Kirikou and the Sorceress (U) on Monday and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (12A) on Tuesday.

The local schools involved are Brae High School, Sandwick Junior High School, Scalloway Junior High School, Whalsay Junior High School, Aith Junior High School, Skerries School, Bell’s Brae Primary School and Urafirth Primary School.

The museum showings have been organised by the SIC education department, along with Shetland Film Club as part of its outreach partnership with Shetland Arts.

Kathy Hubbard of Shetland Arts said: “It’s good to be able to offer quality world cinema to children and young people that they would not normally choose to go and see themselves.

“Last year’s film, Persepolis, was not one that would have usually attracted children in on a commercial basis, but the 150 young people who got to see it in Shetland as part of National Schools Film Week seemed to really appreciate it.”

The national event, launched recently by director Danny Boyle and actor Bill Nighy, is now in its 14th year and the biggest of its kind in the world. It is expected that over 440,000 pupils will watch 2,500 screenings of 250 films in well over 500 locations.

A spokesman said: “With culture and the environment high on the education agenda, more and more teachers are turning to film as the unique medium that can deliver complex information to a young audience in a meaningful and accessible way.

“Through carefully selected classic, foreign and upcoming films, we believe we can encourage children to use their imagination and build on their creativity, while addressing important issues in today’s society and exposing youths to different cultures.”

The focus of National Schools Film Week for 2009 will be “creativity” and “diversity”, themes relevant to both primary and secondary school children.