European Film Training Conference Begins In L'Derry

A major conference featuring 50 delegates from across Europe is meeting at the Nerve Centre in L'Derry today to discuss the future of film education in Europe.

The event, Screening Literacy, follows the launch of a survey of film education in 32 European countries that was funded by the European Commission’s MEDIA Unit in 2012, and carried out by a consortium of partners led by the BFI (British Film Institute).

The survey found that successful film education programmes operate "where there is a rich background film culture, a joint endorsement of film education from Education and Culture ministries, a commitment to teacher development, and robust evaluation processes in place".

Countries that share these features include Scandinavian countries, France and Northern Ireland.

The event will feature presentations from Belfast-born filmmaker and critic Mark Cousins, based on his new film A Story of Children and Film, in official selection at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Mark said: "Northern Ireland is a wonderful place to watch and study film. I am so pleased to be screening work in Derry-Londonderry; it’s a great time to be young and engaging in the most magical of art forms."

BFI Head of Education, Mark Reid, added: "The host city for the launch was chosen because Derry-Londonderry is the UK’s City of Culture in 2013, but also because Northern Ireland Screen’s film education strategy, A Wider Literacy, was found by our survey to be one of the most successful and long established strategies of its kind in Europe. We are delighted therefore that Bernard McCloskey, Head of Education at Northern Ireland Screen, will present the findings of the 10 Year Review of A Wider Literacy."

Mr McCloskey said: "Northern Ireland Screen is delighted to have been recognised in the BFI survey as an example of how film education can best be integrated both inside and outside school. This has been central to our work over the last ten 10 years and we are now seeing some really positive outcomes as a result. Teachers and schools are receiving high quality training through our Creative Learning Centre programmes and children and young people have opportunities to see a much wider range of film as a result of our work."

(IT/MH)