On Wednesday 29th January 2025, 29 of our Year 8 Mandarin Excellence Programme students took part in a KS3 Mandarin Study Day at the British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank. The event, titled Family, Culture, and Modernity in Chinese Cinema, explored contemporary Chinese culture through film.

In the morning, students analysed key themes such as family, travel, and technology in selected Chinese short films, engaging in thoughtful discussions on how these themes reflect modern Chinese society.

During the break, students enjoyed lunch by the River Thames, taking in the sights of Southbank before returning for the afternoon session. They then watched a full-length screening of The Farewell (2019), gaining further insight into Chinese culture through cinema.

The trip was a fantastic opportunity to enhance cultural understanding and broaden perspectives through film.