Young film buffs in Bradford are being offered the chance to win tickets to the premiere of the digitally-enhanced version of The Railway Children.

Educational organisation Film Club is providing schools in the district with copies of the film for a review competition as part of Bradford’s City of Film celebrations.

Two winners will be given family tickets to the black tie, red carpet screening of the new version of the film on Sunday, March 28, the last night of the Bradford International Film Festival.

Classmates of the winners will have the opportunity to take part in a workshop at their school with a Film Club representative to help improve film literacy and review writing skills.

Entries will be judged by a panel from the National Media Museum and Film Club.

Anna Lowman, creative assistant at the organisation, said: “Here at Film Club we think it’s really important that children get to see a whole range of films – not only big, Hollywood blockbusters, but classics just like The Railway Children.

“This review competition promotes that diversity, and also encourages active engagement with film. To review The Railway Children, the children have to think about the characters, the film’s tone, what it’s trying to say and the methods used to say it. We hope it will spark a real love of film in children all over Bradford.”

The competition has two categories, one for children aged seven to 11 and another for pupils aged 12 to 16. Reviews must be 250 words and 500 words for each category respectively.

Schools should submit a maximum of three reviews each.

The updated copy of The Railway Children, which was filmed along the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in 1970, is being unveiled to mark its 40th anniversary.

The newly-restored film will be released in cinemas nationwide in April and a DVD version will be available in shops from May.

Bradford City of Film will be officially launched at a civic reception on Thursday, March 18, to coincide with the opening of the film festival. Other events will be held throughout the first weekend of the festival.

Entries must be submitted by Friday, March 12. For a competition pack e-mail kofi@filmclub.org.

e-mail: hannah.baker @telegraphandargus.co.uk