Since 1991, SFFILM’s Schools at the Festival outreach program has created a vital connection between the annual San Francisco International Film Festival and the local educational community, providing students of all ages the opportunity to experience stories from around the world.
The Schools at the Festival program introduces students ages 6 to 18 to international film and the art of filmmaking while promoting media literacy, deepening insights into other cultures, enhancing foreign language aptitude, developing critical thinking skills, and inspiring a lifelong appreciation of cinema.
2020 Program
The Art & Science of Lucasfilm – Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker
Total runtime 120 minutes
This special Schools at the Festival edition of this exciting collaborative educational series will highlight the work of the Academy Award nominated film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Now in its 13th year, this program will feature experienced professionals from Lucasfilm and ILM as they share their knowledge in a behind-the-scenes, interactive multimedia presentation. This program demonstrates the intersection of art and science in the entertainment industry, all while making connections to current STEAM curriculum topics. Presentation doesn’t include screening of the film.
Suggested Subjects: Arts/Media, Career Path Training, Math, Peer/Youth Issues, Science
Recommended Grades: 6 – 12
Boys State
Directed by Jesse Moss, USA, 2020, 109 min
“I’m gonna keep my job if it’s the last thing I do,” says one of the “elected officials” in Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine’s prize-winning documentary, and it’s hard not to wince. Filming a group of Texas teens selected to participate in the titular highly respected program, Boys State masterfully observes as they engage in a weeklong course of political instruction, forming parties and platforms and electing candidates. As enthusiasm gives way to the competitive instinct, with members of the two parties turning to ruthless campaigning and sophisticated smear tactics (including “fake news”) to win at all costs, the film holds up an unforgettable mirror to the country’s current political turmoil.
Suggested Subjects: Arts/Media, Political Science, Journalism, Peer Youth Issues, Social Studies, Student Activism, World/Current Affairs
Recommended Grades: 7 – 12
Program Note: Brief profanity
Child of Nature
Directed by Marcos Negrão, USA, 2019, 90 min
The world can be a very difficult place, especially for children. They are the greatest victims of war, poverty, hunger and abuse. Yet they are resilient and many of them are transforming their stories into a new beginning. Narrated by a young journalist from India, Child of Nature follows the journey of children from Kenya, Philippines, Syria, Canada and India who against all odds are creating change in their lives and their communities. Stories of courage, hope and generosity that will both amaze the mind and touch the heart.
Suggested Subjects: African Studies, Arts/Media, Journalism, Peer Youth Issues, Social Studies, Student Activism, World/Current Affairs
Recommended Grades: 5 – 12
Program Note: In English and several other languages with English subtitles
Dolphin Reef
Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Kevin Scholey, USA, 2019, 90 min
Disneynature continues to inspire passion for conservation with its groundbreaking series of wildlife documentaries. The latest, narrated by Natalie Portman, follows Echo, a young bottlenose dolphin, as he navigates the coral reef his family calls home, learning all the skills he needs to survive while interacting with a full coterie of neighbors. All of this is brought to vivid life with stunning underwater cinematography and skilled direction from veteran nature filmmakers Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey.
Suggested Subjects: Arts/Media, Elementary School, English Language Arts, Environmental Science, Science
Recommended Grades: 1 – 6
Program Note: Circle of life depicted
From Fact to Fiction
Total runtime 72 minutes
Collected from around the world, this compilation of short films explores such topics as endurance swimming across the Loch Ness, the artist process of World Renowned photographer JR, and cultural family traditions from Mexico. The program features narrative, documentary and animated films using traditional hand-drawn stop-motion, and CG techniques to bring their characters to life. This collection gives students the perfect smorgasbord of all the SFFILM Festival has to offer.
Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.
Betye Saar: Taking Care of Business
At 93, the incomparable artist Betye Saar, known for her politically inspired art created from found objects, is profiled in this insightful and inspiring documentary.
(Christine Turner, USA 2019, 8 min)
Broken Bird
Birdie, a biracial girl pulled between separated parents, searches for her own identity as she prepares for her bat mitzvah and adulthood.
(Rachel Harrison, USA, 2020 10 min)
Día de la Madre
A mariachi band made up of juveniles with a secret heartwarming agenda partakes in a 24-hour spree breaking into houses and causing a ruckus.
(Ashley Brandon, Dennis Höhne, USA, 2019 6 min)
Grab My Hand: A Letter To My Dad
A powerful lesson to be present in each moment is movingly told in this poignant tale of loss and healing that employs stop-motion techniques and papier-mâché puppets.
(Camrus Johnson, Pedro Piccinini, USA 2019, 5 min)
Loch Ness Swim
In this moving and beautifully photographed film, ultra-marathon swimmer Patti Baurnfeind finds inspiration for her swims from various social causes.
(Sean Gillane, USA/UK 2020, 16 min) This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
Memoirs of Vegetation – The Castor Bean
This playful paper-based animation from Jessica Oreck delves into the salubrious uses and nefarious misuses of castor beans throughout history.
(Jessica Oreck, USA 2020, 3 min)
Metro6
When his car breaks down, Zak is forced to encounter all forms of humanity during a frenzied ride on a city bus.
(Geoff Hecht, USA 2020, 8 min) This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
One Thousand Stories: The Making of a Mural
An intimate behind-the-scenes look at the creation of JR’s iconic San Francisco mural which showcases the unique atmosphere of trust and community of everyone who participated in this emblematic project.
(Tasha Van Zandt, USA 2020, 14 min) This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
Puddles
An adventurous boy discovers that puddles can be portals to a fantastical world.
(Zack Parrish, USA 2019, 2 min)
Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Arts/Media, English Language Arts, Journalism, Latin American Studies, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Sciences, Social Studies
Recommended Grades: 6 – 12
Program Note: Brief profanity
The Iron Hammer
Directed by Joan Chen, USA/China/Italy, 2019, 99 min
In this personal and rousing documentary, Joan Chen charts the inspiring life and career of “Jenny” Lang Ping, a fearless and independent professional athlete who propels China to international prominence in volleyball. On the court, her most effective weapon is her lethal spike, hence her titular nickname, while her leadership skills and calm demeanor solidify her unique status as the first player and coach to win multiple World Championships and Olympic Gold. Chen, in her documentary feature debut, skillfully combines thrilling excerpts from championship games, intimate conversations with Lang Ping, her colleagues, and players to craft an entertaining and multi-dimensional portrait of this groundbreaking athlete who transformed women’s volleyball.
Suggested Subjects: Asian American Studies, Physical Education, Women and Gender Studies, World/Current Affairs
Recommended Grades: 5 – 12
Marona’s Fantastic Tale
Directed by Anca Damian, France/Romania, 2019, 92 min
Marona is a mixed-breed pup who has a profound impact on every human she encounters. After an accident, she journeys into the past, revisiting all of the humans who shaped her perception of the world. This beautifully expressionistic depiction of a dog’s innocence, from Crulic (Festival 2012) director Anca Damian, offers an emotional story about love and loss. The film’s colorful, fluid, and child-like animation creates the perfect backdrop for the landscapes that engulf Marona throughout her journey.
Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, English Language Arts, French, Peer/Youth Issues
Recommended Grades: 2 – 12
Onward
Directed by Dan Scanlon, USA, 2020, 102 min
When teenage elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot get an unexpected opportunity to spend one more day with their late dad, they embark on an extraordinary quest aboard Barley’s epic van Guinevere. Like any good quest, their journey is filled with magic spells, cryptic maps, impossible obstacles, and unimaginable discoveries. But when the boys’ fearless mom Laurel realizes that her sons are missing, she teams up with a part-lion, part-bat, part-scorpion, former warrior—aka The Manticore—and heads off to find them. Perilous curses aside, this one magical day could mean more than any of them ever dreamed.
Suggested Subjects: Arts/Media, Elementary School, English Language Arts, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues
Recommended Grades: 2 – 8
Program Note: Mild action/peril.
River City Drumbeat
Directed by Anne Flatté and Marlon Johnson, USA, 2019, 95 min
For 30 years, Ed “Nardie” White has dedicated his life to uplifting and empowering African-American youth through the River City Drum Corps, teaching kids about their African roots and culture through music. Filmmakers Marlon Johnson and Anne Flatté spent years in Louisville, KY, filming the charismatic founder and the many children he inspired. As he prepares to pass the torch to his successor and former student Albert, Nardie also reflects on the triumphs and bittersweet losses of the past three decades. River City Drumbeat is an inspirational story of music, love, and legacy set in the American South.
Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, African Studies, Arts/Media, Career Path Training, Journalism, Music, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies
Recommended Grades: 5 – 12
Program Note: Brief profanity
Saudi Runaway
Directed by Susanne Regina Meures, Switzerland, 2020, 88 min
Muna is a young woman in Saudi Arabia, who is unable to live the life that she desperately wants. Restricted by laws and religious practices that prohibit women from doing anything alone – including leaving home to visit the store – Muna decides that she would rather dangerously chance fleeing her country and family to seek asylum elsewhere. Filmed entirely in secret by Muna on two cell phones, Saudi Runaway is an intimately personal thriller that follows the heartbreaking decisions and necessary steps to leave a life behind in hope for a better one.
Suggested Subjects: Arts/Media, Islamic Studies, Journalism, Mental Health, Women and Gender Studies, World/Current Affairs
Recommended Grades: 8 – 12
Program Note: Brief profanity and some adult themes
Shorts 5: Family Films
Total running time 66 min
Things are not always what they seem in this exciting collection of films from around the world. At first glance, a puddle is simply water accumulated on a sidewalk after an afternoon shower. A jumbled sequence of letters is surely just a child’s spelling error. One can easily jump to conclusions, but a closer look yields surprising and satisfying revelations. Works range from recent student films to award-winning independent filmmakers, along with stories told by emerging voices at established animation studios like Disney and Pixar.
Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play. All films are in competition except where noted by *.
Broken Bird
Birdie, a biracial girl pulled between separated parents, searches for her own identity as she prepares for her bat mitzvah and adulthood.
(Rachel Harrison, USA, 2020 10 min)
Día de la Madre
A young boy forms a special bond with a lost baby elephant.
(Ashley Brandon, Dennis Höhne, USA, 2019 6 min)
Elephant in the Room*
Penny, a fearless young girl learning to dive, is unperturbed by a talented diver who keeps stealing the spotlight. (Jeremy Collins, South Africa 2018, 5 min)
(Brian R. Scott, USA 2019, 3 min)
For Estafani
A poet receives a card with a cryptic message from a third grader, uncovering a perfect little moment of beauty.
(Jordan Bruner, USA 2019, 3 min)
The Fox & the Pigeon
A cunning fox grabs hold of destiny and rewrites the narrative to save his ice cream from a pigeon with a sweet tooth and a narrator with a wild imagination.
(Michelle Chua, Aileen Dewhurst, Canada 2019, 6 min)
Grab My Hand: A Letter To My Dad
A filmmaker’s gift to his grieving father provides a message to all to cherish every second you have with the ones you love.
(Camrus Johnson, Pedro Piccinini, USA 2019, 5 min)
Loop*
Two kids at canoe camp find themselves adrift on a lake, unable to move forward until they find a new way to connect.
(Erica Milsom, USA 2020, 8 min) This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
The Magic of Chess
A young boy is interviewed about his hopes and fears while playing with his colorful matchsticks.
(Jenny Schweitzer Bell, USA 2019, 5 min)
Matches
A group of children competing at the 2019 Elementary Chess Championships share their uninhibited insights about the benefits of the game.
(Géza M. Tóth, Hungary 2019, 12 min)
Pangu
A modern tale about parenthood and the differences between generations, based on the ancient Chinese creation myth.
(Shaofu Zhang, USA/China 2020, 6 min)
Puddles*
An adventurous boy discovers that puddles can be portals to a fantastical world.
(Zack Parrish, USA 2019, 2 min)
Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, Elementary School, English Language Arts, Peer/Youth Issues
Recommended Grades: K – 6
Program Note: Monday April 20th screening at SFMOMA will be an accessibility screening. To recognize the students in our community who have special needs, we will be screening this program in a sensory friendly environment, meaning brighter house lights and lower volume. There will also be an ASL interpreter present and the venue is wheelchair accessible.
Shorts 6: Youth Works
Total running time 83 min
See the world through the lenses of today’s young filmmakers! This selection of narrative, documentary, and animated films from all over the world, tells stories that mix genre, style, and passion to offer up a fresh perspective to the world of cinema. From a documentary about decolonizing the Indian spice trade to a compelling narrative that investigates childhood PTSD, to a lighthearted comedy about two young girls overcoming hardships in their friendship, these films will prepare you for the next cinematic revolution.
Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.
Chasing Normality
This emotional doc intends to start a deeper conversation about mental health by telling the stories of high school students as they struggle with various disorders.
(Madison Empalmado, USA 2019, 9 min)
Coffee Cart
A group of special needs students and their teachers comes together to organize a community program that serves coffee and pastries to middle-school staff.
(Alex Knopf and Christine Lu, USA 2020, 4 mins) This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
Diamond Game
Three high-school teens gather to write a screenplay about a ’70s cop show, but as the story world unfolds, the script takes an unexpected turn
(Nolan Hieu Trifunovic, USA 2020, 10 min)
Early Works
A teenage girl forgets to do her English homework, which compels her to hand in a plagiarized poem.
(Ethan Ross, UK 2020, 9 mins)
Fishy
In this comedy disguised as a wholesome animated tale, a young misfit struggles as she uses her obsession with mermaids to cope with loneliness.
(Ashley Cai, USA 2019, 1 min) This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
Indian Gold
Sana Javeri Kadri, a 24-year old, queer, Indian immigrant strives to create a more just and equitable spice trade.
(Viggo Williams, USA 2019, 4 mins) This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
Jimmy Qirqqut – Gjoa Haven Elder
An elder of Gjoa Haven community conveys the difficulty of connecting with the younger generation in his community, who only speak “the white man’s language.” In Inuktitut with English subtitles.
(Kadence Kikoak, Canada 2019, 4 mins)
Longer Nights
As nights grow longer in the cold winter, a girl is inclined to ponder her relationship with the sky.
(Jen Frisch-Wang, Germany 2019, 4 min)
No Fan of Andy
After a pet-related mishap, a devoted but misguided friend has to carry out an absurd plan for redemption.
(Kai Tomizawa, USA 2019, 8 min)
Passenger
A man out for a drive at night encounters a young stranger who might end up not being a stranger at all.
(Cal Thacher, USA 2019, 8 min) This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
Shotgun
After witnessing a jarring murder, Emilia, a college-bound swimmer, is forced to face the repercussions of loss in her own life.
(Grace Gallagher, USA 2019, 18 mins)
Symmetry
This poetic short questions the validity of the concrete jungle many of us inhabit.
(Robert Plaza, Australia 2019, 4 min)
Suggested Subjects: Arts/Media, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Journalism, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues, Student Activism
Recommended Grades: 8 – 12
Program Note: Brief profanity and violence.
Truth to Power: Barbara Lee Speaks for Me
Directed by Abby Ginzberg, USA, 2019, 80 min
Oakland residents have long considered Barbara Lee to be their fierce and visionary champion for social justice equity, but it was her historic “no” vote in the aftermath of 9/11 that captured the attention of the world. This comprehensive documentary by local luminary Abby Ginzberg shows Lee in her hometown as she reminisces on her early years as a single mother dependent on federal aid, to her work with the Black Panthers, and her pivotal friendships with Shirley Chisholm and Ron Dellums. Ginzberg takes full advantage of her unlimited access to Lee’s sons, sisters, and colleagues to present a compelling and inspiring profile of a Bay Area political powerhouse who has steadfastly worked on behalf of the underserved for decades.
Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Arts/Media, History, Journalism, Political Science, Social Studies, Women and Gender Studies
Recommended Grades: 7 – 12
A Voluntary Year
Directed by Ulrich Köhler and Henner Winckler, Germany, 2019, 86 min
High-school graduate Jette has plans to spend most of her gap year in Costa Rica. Though she wants to get out from under her domineering dad, Urs (Dark‘s Sebastian Rudolph), her departure means separation from her beloved boyfriend, Mario. Writer/directors Henner Winckler and Ulrich Köhler (In My Room, Festival 2019) pinpoint a very particular moment of adolescent ambivalence when drastic change is something both desired and feared, and newcomer Maj-Britt Klenke brilliantly conveys the impulsive and mercurial behavior that can result.
Suggested Subjects: German, Peer/Youth Issues, Women and Gender Studies
Recommended Grades: 9 – 12
Program Note: Mild profanity and brief nudity.
We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest
Directed by Amy Schatz, USA, 2020, 60 min
*Schools at the Festival Exclusive*
Every year, hundreds of children from pre-K through 12th grade take the stage at the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest, a public speaking competition where they perform poetry and speeches inspired by the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The film covers the months leading up to the 40th annual festival, as schools across the city send their top-placing students to compete. It is a portrait of young people raising their voices about issues they care about and of the unique community that celebrates and supports them.
Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Arts/Media, English Language Arts, History, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies, Student Activism
Recommended Grades: 2 – 12