Bookings for the Discovery Film Festival 2009 have topped all sales from previous years!

The schools programme, which is advertised to schools and educational organisations in advance of the public programme, has seen a huge boom in ticket sales from 2008 to 2009. Bookings are up by 33% and extra screenings have been laid on to cope with demand. Films such as Lost and Found, Dragon Hunters, and Shorts for Wee Ones have been particularly popular. Primary schools bookings are particularly healthy, reflecting perhaps the work of Discovery's partner, Dundee City Council's Education Development Dept, in encouraging moving image education for the Primary age group.

Discovery Co-ordinator, Katharine Simpson comments: "We're absolutely delighted at the rise in bookings from schools this year, hopefully this means we are delivering something relevant that teachers and pupils can both enjoy and benefit from. There have been many return bookings and also increased interest from new schools who haven't attending Discovery before. I've recently joined the DCA to run Discovery, and it's great to see so many teachers keen to get their pupils involved with international film and moving image education. We've had great support from the Dundee City Council Education Development Dept, and our partners at Stagecoach who offer free schools transport - which we know makes a huge difference to the schools who attend Discovery - I'd like to thank them both for their continuing support."

The public festival programme goes on sale this week, with a range of films for all ages from 3+. Animation demonstrates a range of faces - from new international animation in the Shorts for Wee Ones programme (age 3+); to the UK premier of the fantastic french animation Dragon Hunters  voiced by Forest Whitaker (ages 7+); and the dramatic 2D and 3D animation of Sky Crawlers from Japan (all ages 15+).

Coming of age films are also a strong theme for Discovery with 32A, a tale of growing up and going out, set in Ireland in 1979; September,  which follows the turbulent boyhood friendship of an aboriginal and white Australian in the 1960s; right up to the modern day with Fighter - the moving story of a Muslim girl battling to reconcile her upbrining with her own desires and ambitions.

Discovery Film Festival runs from the 20th October - 1st November 2009

www.discoveryfilmfestival.org.uk