Left to look after himself by his widowed father in their run-down shack in Woop Woop, Western Australia, 11-year-old Dylan discovers the art of folding paper planes. Motivated by his friends and a passion for flight that is shared by his law-breaking spitfire pilot grandfather, Dylan shoots for the sky and a place in the World Paper Plane Championships in Tokyo. This funny and uplifting film boasts great special effects and a big heart.

Australia • 2015 • Family • 96min
Director: Robert Connolly

THE GREAT PAPER PLANES EVENT 
Do you like making paper planes? The world record for the furthest distance a paper plane has been flown is 69.14 meters – that’s almost 18 cars in length!
Group Work Task:
•Research different ways of making paper planes. See our website for tips and clips. Now make your own! Use your design to explore how different forces can affect its movement. How does it move? Can it go faster?
•Hold a paper plane throwing competition in your school to see who can throw the furthest or do the coolest trick!

•Bring your planes to the IFI screening and join in our Great Paper Plane Event in Meeting House Square.

HOW TO MAKE A PAPER AIRPLANE!

1. Gather your materials:

The best type of paper for making paper airplanes is ordinary printer paper (the same type of paper that you would use in a photocopier). The paper should be strong enough to hold a shape but light enough to stay in the air.

Tip: Don’t use newspaper (too flimsy) or card (too heavy).

2. Choose your design:

There are loads of different paper airplanes that you can make!  Look up how to make ‘The Dart’, ‘The Aviator’, The Flying Fish’ ‘The Manta Ray’, ‘The Raptor’ and the circular plane called ‘The Peace Plane’ and try them out. The Paper Planes Film website has some great tutorials if you get stuck.

Tip: It’s important to make tight folds when you make your plane. Line up your corners and pinch where your folds will go, then use a ruler or pencil to flatten and make then nice and sturdy so that no air gets in!

3. Get throwing:

Now, bend your knees and stand with your feet a little bit apart. Use your free hand to point in the direction you want your plane to go – then let go!

Tips: Bend the tail of your plane to the direction you want your nose to go. If you want the plane to go left, bend the left side of the tail (the back of your plane) up and the right side down, and vice versa if you want it to go right.

Check out the following link for tips on how to achieve the perfect throw! https://vimeo.com/116933450

Blanchardstown – Feb 24. (Draiocht Arts Centre on 01 885 2622)

IFI – Apr 12, 10.15am

Cork – Apr 18. (Cork Film Festival on 021 427 1711)

These screenings are part of the 2016 Spring/Summer Schools programme.