Inspired by the idea that film can broaden the mind in extraordinary ways, FILMCLUB, an after school club has captured the hearts and minds of pupils across the country.

The official launch of FILMCLUB took place in London on Thursday, 12th June 2008 in Morpeth School, Bethnal Green, the purpose of which was to highlight the importance and value of such an after school club, so much so that it is now being rolled out to over 7,000 schools across the UK over the next three years.

De La Salle High School was lucky enough to be part of the pilot scheme which began in May 2007, whereby pupils were given access to thousands of classic and popular films. Club members and teachers, via an interactive website select their films, courtesy of LOVEFILM. The website features film synopses, discussion topics and trailers. Members can post their own film reviews, enter competitions and find out more about the film industry through interviews and live webchats with film practitioners.

Declan Graham a Year Nine pupil in De La Salle High School, was invited to the official launch in London, which was hosted by the founder of FILMCLUB, Beeban Kidron (Director of Bridget Jones’s Diary 2-The Edge of Reason). Declan took part in the press conference along with two other members of FILMCLUB from across the UK who were interviewed by Channel Four and Channel Five about their FILMCLUB experiences to date. Other members on the panel of the press conference included actress, Emma Thompson (In the Name of the Father, Nanny McPhee) and director, Sir Alan Parker (Bugsy Malone, The Commitments).

Once pupils had finished ‘rubbing shoulders’ with the rich and famous they were treated to a screening of Bugsy Malone, with Sir Alan Parker himself sitting in the audience, which was a real treat for all.

FILMCLUB is funded in Northern Ireland by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland and Cinemagic. Long may the funding continue as FILMCLUB provide pupils with the chance to see films that they may never had the chance to experience before.