Discovery Schools Programme 2019

As DCA celebrates its 20th anniversary, we are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Discovery Film Festival back for its 16th spin around the block, once again offering the finest selection of films for young audiences from around the world.

Sixteen days of snapshots, stories and sensational filmmaking from Belgium, Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, India, Luxembourg, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA – when we say “international”, we really mean it!

Programme highlights this year include the return of our favourite ladybird, ant and spider in A Minuscule Adventure, a Spanish tale of misdeeds on the school football pitch requiring sterling detective skills and a chilling (and factual) account of the East German secret police’s investigations into one small act of youthful resistance in a senior high school that spirals horribly out of control. And then there are all the short films – animated, dramatic, touching, finely crafted and occasionally truly bizarre – they are always a Discovery favourite.

Browse our website or download our Schools Programme to see exactly what is on offer and how you can make your bookings, arrange your transport and prepare for the screenings with a broad range of educational resource packs. There are also associated CLPL sessions – renowned not just for their immediately useful content on using film in the classroom, but also for our very own legendary Jute Café Bar’s standards of catering! A CLPL gathering with a mouthwatering slice of cake – is it really so very wrong? We don’t think so…

Once again we have an exciting exhibition in DCA galleries alongside the film programme, this year featuring the work of Barbadian-Scottish artist Alberta Whittle. And with so much to do, it’s well worth making the most of your visit to DCA. With a variety of workshops and creative activities on offer, there are a wealth of experiences and opportunities for critical thinking to be had, all featuring CfE-related content.

In 2018, 53 different schools from across Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perth & Kinross came along to at least one of our events. Many of those schools have been coming to Discovery each year over a long period now, and we’ll be thrilled to see you all back again in 2019. But for those of you for whom this might be a first experience, please do join us. We’re a friendly bunch, the films are great and we’re sure you and your classes will all have a grand time. Come on down!

Mike Tait, Festival Producer and Cinema Youth Development Officer