Into Film Clubs
Find out everything you need to know about starting an Into Film Club.
And just like that, the first term of the school year is coming to an end. We know educators, teachers and students alike have been working very hard, so, with the season upon us, it's time to sit back and enjoy a well-deserved treat in the classroom - a feel-good festive film with Into Film+!
Into Film+ is our free* streaming service for schools, hosting over 700 titles across all genres, many of which are supplemented by film discussion guides, learning resources, and other exclusive content, supporting educators to feel confident in bringing film into the classroom throughout the year.
Plus, if you're a state school in England that's funded by the Department for Education, you'll have access to Into Film+ Premium, which offers an even greater selection of films.
Read on for a curated list of some of the best festive and feel-good films to stream straight into your classroom during this festive season. Each film is paired with a film guide and/or curriculum-matched resources, so that you and your learners can enjoy an end-of-term film with an extra educational benefit.
Our selection below is stacked with some of the best festive and feel-good films for both primary and secondary audiences. Journey back in time with It's a Wonderful Life, travel to Japan with Tokyo Godfathers or Whoville with The Grinch, or hop aboard The Polar Express to the North Pole. Maybe you have a different definition of what makes a festive classic and would prefer to treat your students to Gremlins or Anna and the Apocalypse. Whatever your take on the festive season, there's a film for everyone with Into Film+!
And while they may not be explicitly festive, we also have some of the best feel-good films from the last year, including Wonka and Inside Out 2. And as always, we have included some brilliant animated shorts and incredible archive films from the BFI which we hope you will also enjoy.
And it wouldn't be this time of year without the Into Film Festive Quiz, which returns for 2024 with a brand new set of exciting questions to engage young people. Put your learners' festive film knowledge to the test and create a competitive buzz in the classroom!
Last year we loved seeing how your clubs and classrooms were getting into the festive spirit, so don't forget to share which seasonal films and activities you're engaging with this December via @intofilm_edu on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).
And if the films below aren't enough, then our Christmas, Humbug! playlist of scenes and short highlights from various festive films playfully explores the nuances of Christmas through humour, pathos, song, and resolution, highlighting a range of different Christmas traditions.
As you dust off your fairy lights, dig out your stocking and un-bend your twinkling star for the top of the tree, the only thing left to do to really get you in the festive mood is cosy down and watch a festive film!
The Into Film Team
Get into the festive spirit with Into Film+
Jump to...
Festive classics
A Christmas Carol (2009) (PG)
Jim Carrey plays multiple roles in Robert Zemeckis' computer animated version of what is surely the most enduringly popular Christmas story of them all, in which a miserly old man is visited by three ghosts at Christmas, with life changing results. Charles Dickens probably never dreamt his tale would one day look like this!
Elf (PG)
This hilarious modern classic has captured the imaginations of children and adults alike, with perhaps no festive film released this century matching it for heart or popularity.
Home Alone (PG)
A John Hughes classic that's as funny and charming today as it ever was, with Macauley Culkin giving one of the most iconic child performances of all time as the innovative 10 year old who goes up against two bumbling crooks.
It's a Wonderful Life (U)
One of the most beloved films of all-time, It's a Wonderful Life continues to tug at the heartstrings and affect audiences more than six decades after it was first released. A classic in the true sense of the word.
The Grinch (2018) (U)
Benedict Cumberbatch lends his distinctive vocals to this computer animated version of Dr. Seuss' imaginative story that sees a mean-hearted green creature discovering the true meaning of Christmas.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (U)
An all-singing, all-dancing take on Charles Dickens' classic tale, which features esteemed actor Michael Caine as the only human actor among a cast of hilarious and chaotic muppets.
The Polar Express (U)
Another digital animation from Robert Zemeckis, this visually arresting film sees Tom Hanks take on multiple roles and provides a magical journey to the North Pole and the heart of Santa's operation.
Tokyo Godfathers (12)
This fast-paced and funny anime from Japan is about a homeless trio who discover an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve.
Klaus (PG)
A gorgeously animated alternate origin story for Christmas, which teaches that one act of kindness leads to another, as a hopeless postal worker recruits a reclusive toymaker to boost his deliveries.
Feel-good favourites
Sing 2 (PG)
This sequel to the wildly popular original sees musical theatre manager Buster Moon and his friends attempting to convince reclusive rock star Clay Calloway to come out of retirement for a brand-new show.
Elemental (U)
This dazzling adventure from Pixar follows two wildly opposing elements as they meet in Element City and begin to become drawn to one another, despite their differences, leading to a story that to a love story that gently touches upon themes of immigration and the difficulties of assimilation, showing audiences that society can succeed through understanding and collaboration.
Little Women (U)
Playing lightly with the structure of the novel and comprised of flashbacks and flash-forwards to their later lives, in which they are young adults with careers and husbands of their own, Greta Gerwig's warm and heartfelt adaptation of ‘Little Women' is an ode to writing your own story.
Inside Out 2 (U)
Pixar's sequel to their beloved film Inside Out naturally progresses the story and characters to reflect the pains and delights of maturing into a young person whilst also providing a heaping of slapstick laughs along the way.
The Personal History of David Copperfield (PG)
Made with a diverse British cast, this broad and charming comedy from director Armando Ianucci is one of the most accessible and entertaining Dickens adaptations to date.
Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio (PG)
This beautifully crafted stop-motion animation transposes the story of Pinocchio to 1930s Italy, amidst the rise of fascism.
Something different...
Anna and the Apocalypse (15)
This is a fun, musical-filled horror about the highs and lows of school life, with plenty of inventive song-and-dance numbers.
Gremlins (12)
This hilarious black comedy has fun special effects and is a brilliant spoof of B-movie monster horrors.
Short films
The Snowman and the Snowdog (U)
Made to celebrate the 30th anniversary of beloved classic The Snowman, this short uses the same charming, hand-drawn animation style to tell a sweet, wintry story about a boy mourning the death of his pet pooch, who decides to rebuild him out of snow.
Robin Robin (U)
This is a funny and heartfelt short animation, accompanied by catchy musical songs, that discusses themes of family, belonging and growing up, as a sweet little robin, raised by a family of mice, is surprised to find out about her true nature.
Partridge in a Bear Tree (Unclassified)
This English language short comes from a Welsh production company called Cloth Cat Animation, and is a beautifully animated film with a beautiful musical score by award winning Composer Kirsten Evans. The perfect short film for a cosy winter's day.
2025: The Long Hot Winter (Unclassified)
This satirical mockumentary that conducts interviews with Londoners during the winter heatwave of 2025 is full of funny moments, but dispersed throughout are reminders that this is a reality that could very well be on the horizon. 2025: The Long Hot Winter tackles a vital subject in an entertaining fashion and is a perfect accompaniment to lessons about climate change and environmentalism.
Arthur Christmas (U)
How does Santa deliver so many presents in a single night? The answer's revealed in this computer-animated fantasy from Aardman that gives an imaginative and hugely amusing twist to the magic of Christmas.
The Man Who Invented Christmas (PG)
This warm family drama recounts the story of how Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, establishing many of the holiday traditions we know today in the process. Entertaining and educational, the film opens up the creative process, highlights issues around social inequality, and captures something of the life of one of our greatest authors.
Happy Feet (U)
A young emperor penguin who can tap dance - but not sing like the rest of his community - is cast out into the wilderness where he meets a whole range of characters and seeks to understand his place in the world.
BFI Archive Shorts
Christmas is Coming!
This selection of special archive shorts celebrates the joys of Christmas. From early cut-out animation to the first filmed version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, these shorts are a perfect way to start the festive season in the classroom. The films are also a great introduction to early filmmaking, with silent shorts and some of the first cinematic storytelling techniques included here.
How Do I Get Started?
To access Into Film+, all you'll need is an Into Film Account - it's completely free, and only takes a moment to set up. Into Film+ is free to use for all UK state schools that hold a valid Public Video Screening (PVS) Licence from Filmbankmedia.
Filmbankmedia PVS Licences are paid for on behalf of schools by all local authorities in England and by some local authorities in both Wales and Scotland. Into Film NI cover the license cost for some schools in Northern Ireland. For further information on licensing in your locality please see our FAQs.
If you're a state school in England that's funded by the Department for Education, you will automatically have access to Into Film+ Premium, which offers an extended catalogue of 500+ titles. Find out more about Into Film+ Premium in our FAQs.
If you don't have a PVS Licence, or aren't already covered, then a licence can easily be obtained from Filmbankmedia.
Filmbankmedia
Filmbankmedia licenses and distributes film and TV entertainment to many groups and is the licensing authority we work with to ensure schools, libraries and youth groups have the permissions to screen films from our catalogue.
* Screenings for an entertainment or extra-curricular purpose require a PVS (Public Video Screening) Licence from Filmbankmedia. State-funded schools in England are covered by the PVS Licence.
The core Into Film programme is free for UK state schools, colleges and other youth settings, thanks to support from the BFI, awarding National Lottery good cause funding, and through other key funders including Cinema First and Northern Ireland Screen.
