The Pirates of Rabbit Doll Island have gone global!
The short animated film made by Year 3 pupils at Battyeford CE Primary School is set to cross The Pond for an American screening.
The three-minute swashbuckling adventure has been selected from more than 1,000 children’s films to be shown at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival at the end of October.
These are exciting times for the seven-year-old filmmakers, as they are also in with a chance of winning the first prize of $2,500.
And on October 25, around 30 of them are travelling to London with their parents for the Rabbit Dolls screening, on the following day, at the British Film Institute (BFI) on the South Bank.
Battyeford’s art teacher Natalie Deane said: “This is the UK’s most prestigious film centre and it is a privilege for our film to be shown here.
“Filmmakers from all over the world would love to have their work shown at the BFI.
“This has been a brilliant project. I am so proud of our youngsters, our Year 3 filmmakers did an amazing job on the production of their animation. Deservedly, this film is now up for several children’s film awards.
“This is just the beginning of national and international screenings for The Pirates of Rabbit Doll Island, which will have a long legacy, and we are all very excited. Who knows what may happen next?”
Rabbit Dolls has sparked a wider interest in film among the pupils. The school is about to start a film club and several pupils have invested in apps and software to make their own short films at home.
First Light, which funded the project, is now called Film Nation, and Battyeford will be applying, along with other schools in Kirklees, for further funding for new film projects this autumn.
Natalie Deane has been co-opted onto the National Advisory Panel for Art and Design, and will help to develop the new curriculum.
