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School pupils holding their hands up in DCA Cinema

Schools Programme

Bring your class to Discovery Film Festival to experience cultures, languages and stories from all over the world.

Join us from Mon 27 October – Fri 7 November 2025

This autumn, we’re pleased to welcome you to the 22nd edition of Discovery Film Festival. We’re excited to announce all our screenings will be FREE for the first time. A trip to the cinema can be accompanied by a workshop, and we have free resources too made by a dedicated group of local teachers. 

We have so many films to look forward to – from the very youngest nursery groups to Senior secondary school students and beyond, there’s plenty for all ages including animated shorts, feature films, a documentary following a group of children seeking to influence the world’s most powerful companies on becoming greener, and Kenyan’s official entry for the Best International Film at the Oscars! 

This year’s film programme has a strong focus on the rights of children across the globe, so why not enhance your pupils’ learning of the UNCRC articles with these beautiful stories and their accompanying resource packs? Look out for the UNCRC reference on the info page for each film.

See you in the cinema soon!

Amaya Bañuelos Marco

Cinema Young Audiences Coordinator
 

Discovery Schools Programme 2025

Download
1.2 MB (PDF)
school group raising their hands in DCA cinema seats

How to book

Bookings are now closed.

We have received an incredible number of requests for the festival this year. If you’re interested in bringing your class to Discovery, please email amaya.marco@dca.org.uk indicating your school, the film you’d like to bring your pupils to, and include total number of pupils and accompanying adults. We might be able to accommodate your group to an existing booking/screening but please note it’s not a guarantee due to this year’s high demand.

When filling in the booking form, you'll be asked for details including:

  • The film you would like to see
  • Your preferred days of the week
  • The number of pupils and teachers/adults attending
  • If you will need a bus
  • Your school's name, address and contact number

Screenings will always be in the mornings and early afternoons, but you can nominate those weekdays which work best for you, and request assistance with bus transport if you need it.

Pricing

  • All screenings are free
  • Free bus travel for Dundee schools*
  • Bus travel for schools in Fife, Perthshire and Angus costs £3 per pupil*

*Minimum of 25 pupils per bus

Films

Discovery Film Festival – Schools
An animated scene of a tree house in the background. In the foreground a man pushing a wheelbarrow and three children

Tales from the Magic Garden - Schools Screening

Age 7+. This heartwarming animation shows how storytelling can heal, inspire, and bring us closer to the people we cherish.
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
A green forest space in the centre a group of children sit around a table

Future Council - Schools Screening

Age 8+. An urgent and positive film that will get your class inspired to change the world.
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
Two girls dance in a woodland area

Jahia’s Summer - Schools Screening

Age 12+ A sensitive story about friendship.
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
A bearded man looks at camera while writing on the blackboard and a small boy throws a paper aeroplane

Jump! - Schools Screening

Age 8+. A buddy film with sci-fi touches that will touch young hearts
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
A girl looks intently at the camera fists raised in a punching motion

La Suprema - Schools Screening

Age 12+. A film about the importance of community, cultural identity and following your dreams.
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
stop motion of a school classroom

Living Large - Schools Screening

Age 10+. A film that conveys the beautiful message of accepting yourself.
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
A cardboard cut out of a blonde girl lifting the head off an alien costumer

Maya, Give me a Title! - Schools Screening

Age 7+. Made mostly with paper cut animations, this delightful film from Michel Gondry will make everyone laugh
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
a girl looks out at the horizon in rural Kenya

Media Studies Day 2025

Join us for a day of film related activities for students currently studying film and/or media at upper secondary level.
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
A girl in traditional Kenyan dress stares intently at the camera

Nawi: Dear Future Me - Schools Screening

Age 13+. The powerful story of a determined girl growing up in rural Kenya.
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
An illustration of a girl with a black bob staring at phone while being followed by a pack of friendly dogs

Shorts for Middle Ones 2025 - Schools Screening

Age 7+. Bring your class to enjoy this collection of colourful and imaginative short films.
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
A small felt mushroom cutting a slice of cake

Shorts for Tinies 2025 - Schools Screening

Age 0+. We can offer a selection of a few of the titles from our Shorts for Wee Ones collection for very young children
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
A painted image of two animated girls lying on forearms drawing pictures

Shorts for Wee Ones 2025

Age 3+. A collection of seven short films for our youngest viewers is sure to delight and amuse.
Discovery Film Festival – Schools
A group of school ages girls in sports uniforms raise hands in the air joyfully

Winners - Schools Screening

Age 10+. A young refugee is selected for the girls' football team at school, but finds it hard to fit in with the other players.

CLPL for Teachers

Discovery Film Festival – Teachers
A painted image of two animated girls lying on forearms drawing pictures

Ten Tools of Film and Screen for Early Years and Primary

A lively and interactive session for Primary teachers and Early Years Practitioners on using Film and Screen with their wee learners. With a focus on…
Two children painting in Create Space

Resources

2025 resources coming soon!