Over the past few months, many of us will have been to see the last instalment of Harry Potter, relived our younger years with the Smurfs or endured Spy Kids in 4D Smellivision with younger viewers.

Films are a good classroom tool as they don’t feel like “work” to learners. However, asking your Year 8s to watch a full-length French or German film might be pushing it a little. That’s where short films come into their own as they are more direct and can be played repeatedly.

Cine-minis from the British Film Institute offers 12 French films that vary from three to 12 minutes selected for use with pupils aged seven to 14. La Genie De La Boite De Raviolis is an animated fairytale about wishes, while Les Crayons looks like a live action story of young love - but is it? For the older learner, the animation Le bon numero looks at what a “perfect match” for someone might be.

Find out more about Cine-minis at www.bfi.org.ukeducationteachingcineminis.

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