April 23-May 6
About Schools at the Festival
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.
Throughout the San Francisco International Film Festival, classes from across the Bay Area will attend weekday in-person and online matinees of curated Festival film programs at no cost to students or educators. Dozens of filmmaker guests from around the world will also visit local classrooms in person and online to discuss their films with students.
Notable past filmmaker participants in the program include Ryan Coogler, Barry Jenkins, Jennifer Lawrence, Domee Shi, Jenny Slate, Bryce Dallas Howard, Phil Lord, Karen Allen, and Joe Talbot.
Schools At The Festival In-Person Programs
The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: Star Wars: Maul Shadow Lord
Program Runtime: 120 min
WED APR 29 12–2 PM PT | PREMIER
Dave Filoni, the new President and Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm, has been responsible for creating some of the most beloved Star Wars content, including The Clone Wars and Ahsoka. His newest project is Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. Set after The Clone Wars, this pulpy adventure finds Maul plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. There, he crosses paths with a disillusioned young Jedi Padawan who could be the apprentice he is seeking to aid him in his relentless pursuit for revenge. This presentation will include a screening of the first episode of the series. We will also be joined by a talented group of artists from the production: Senior Technical Director Alex Shaulis, Senior Story Artist Justin Bruce Lee, Senior Digimatte Artist Kyra Kabler, Senior Animator Gregory Verreault, Senior Concept Designer Stephan Carey, and Assistant Technical Director Caitlin Cheek. They will give a behind-the-scenes look at the series as well as share their individual journeys to working at Lucasfilm. This is the 18th year of our collaborative educational series with Lucasfilm, highlighting the intersection of art, science, and technology in the entertainment industry while making connections to STEAM curriculum.
Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Career Path Training, Computer Science, English
Language Arts, Math, Science
Recommended Grades: 6–12
Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story
Directed by Yemi Bamiro, UK/USA, 98 min
TUE MAY 5 12:30–2:30 PM PT | SFMOMA
For photographer Kwame Brathwaite, the camera served as an instrument of love for his people. From capturing the mirth flowing through the streets of 1960s Harlem to following the Jackson 5 on a tour of Africa, Brathwaite chronicled Black America in all its glory. It was Brathwaite along with his brother Elombe Brath who coined the now ubiquitous phrase, “Black is Beautiful.” Somewhere along the way, his grand achievements faded into a forgotten past until his family fought to resurrect his legacy and restore his place in the African American canon. His photographs—now collected by the likes of Gabrielle Union, Jesse Williams, and Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz—are not just reflections of Black joy but serve as a defiant insistence on the beauty that is inherent in Black lives and experiences. Yemi Bamiro’s enthralling documentary celebrates Brathwaite’s life, art, and his monumental contribution to Black history.
Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Art/Media, Journalism, Photography, Social Studies, U.S History
Recommended Grades: 6–12
Program Note: This program contains brief historical depictions of violence and brief profanity.
Cookie Queens
Directed by Alysa Nahmias, USA, 91 min
MON APR 27 10 AM–12 PM PT | MARINA
Ara, Shannon Elizabeth, Nikki, and Olive live by the mantra, “Sell! Sell! Sell!” Each Girl Scout in this diverse group, including Black, Latinx, Native American, and disabled communities, has her own sales goal to reach or maybe even surpass during the short cookie-selling season. The race to become Cookie Queen is not for the faint of heart with a surprising amount of money and rewards like summer camp and European trips on the line. In between lugging wagons piled high with boxes across town and weekends spent manning cookie booths, the girls find themselves pulled between their ambition to succeed and the desire to just be a kid and play. This adorable coming-of-age story—a Sundance hit—follows the highs and lows of a single season, illuminating both the pressures of entrepreneurship at such a young age, and the empowerment of nurturing their aspirations.
Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Economics, Math, Peer/Youth Issues, Women and Gender Studies
Recommended Grades: 3–8
Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles
Directed by Otilia Portillo Padua, Mexico, 87 min
In Spanish, Tlahuica, Zapotec, and Mazatec with English subtitles
FRI APR 24 12:15–2:15 PM PT | SFMOMA
Tangled networks spread through the forest floor, connecting plants, humans, and fungi in an inseparable web of coexistence. In the forests of Mexico, mycologists Eliseete and Julieta are working to document and preserve their communities’ long-held symbiosis with the mushrooms that grow around them, a project grown more urgent in the face of continued environmental destruction and cultural loss. From decay comes life, and in this debut feature, director Otilia Portillo Padua weaves together the scientists’ hopes, dreams, and work with immersive interludes that dive into the depths of the forest to give voice to the mushrooms themselves. Through this dreamlike meditation on interconnectedness and shared fates that occupies a unique space between documentary and science fiction, Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles presents not a story of devastation, but an attainable dream of a more thriving future.
Suggested Subjects: Biology, Environmental Science, Indigenous Studies, Latin American Studies, Science, Spanish, Women and Gender Studies
Recommended Grades: 7–12
Fork in the Road
Directed by Vivian Sorenson, Jonathan Nastasi, USA, 88 min
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
THU APR 30 12:15–2:15 PM PT | MARINA
Fork in the Road is an intimate documentary that explores the profound connections between people, the land, and the future of our food system. Through a tapestry of compelling stories from independent small-scale farmers across the United States, from Alaskan kelp harvesters, dairy farmers in Kentucky, and organic farmers in Salinas, the film reveals the authentic, lived realities and unprecedented challenges of those working against the tide of escalating industrialization in agriculture. Featuring insights from visionary chefs and experts, Fork in the Road expands the conversation beyond the farm, demonstrating how food sustainability is a shared responsibility that extends into our kitchens and communities. More than a call to environmental action, the film illuminates the vital ways that sustainable food practices can nourish our bodies, strengthen our communities, and heal the Earth.
Suggested Subjects: Career Path Training, Culinary Arts, Current Events, Economics, Environmental Science, Journalism
Recommended Grades: 5–12
Program Note: This film contains brief profanity.
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Directed by Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han, France, 77 min
In French with English subtitles
THU APR 23 12–2 PM PT | SFMOMA
TUE MAY 5 10 AM–12 PM PT | SFMOMA
In this Academy Award®-nominated picture, the world is a perplexing, peaceful mystery to Amélie, a little Belgian girl born in Japan, until a miraculous encounter with chocolate on her third birthday ignites her wild sense of curiosity. She discovers language, her attachment to her parents, her love and disdain of her brothers and sisters, a heavenly garden, passions, aversions, seasons and time. As she develops a deep attachment to her family’s housekeeper, Nishio-san, Amélie discovers the wonders of nature and appreciation for the surrounding culture as well as the emotional truths hidden beneath the surface of her family’s idyllic life as foreigners in post-war Japan. Adapted from the autobiographical novel by Amélie Nothomb and brought to life in the completely original animated style Little Amélie or the Character of Rain tells a tender, poignant and visually stunning story about the healing power of human connection.
Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Asian Studies, Coming of Age, English Language Arts, French, Philosophy, World Studies
Recommended Grades: 3–12
Magic Light Pictures: Tiddler and The Scarecrows’ Wedding
Total Running Time: 50 min
FRI APR 24 10 AM–11:15 AM PT | SFMOMA
For more than 25 years, Magic Light Pictures has been delighting audiences with award-winning animated films based on the beloved children’s books of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Their adaptations have become favorites among parents, teachers, and children alike, including classics such as The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, and The Snail and the Whale. This presentation features two of their newest creations: Tiddler and The Scarecrows’ Wedding. Once again, the studio brings these stories to life with its signature animation style and soothing rhyming narration—captivating young viewers while also entertaining adults with the talented voice cast that includes Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), and Domhnall Gleeson (About Time). The program will conclude with a live drawing session and Q&A with the directors.
Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Coming of Age, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts
Recommended Grades: K–4
Risa and the Wind Phone
Directed by Juan Cabral, Argentina, 94 min
In Spanish with English subtitles
MON MAY 4 12–2 PM PT | SFMOMA
An abandoned telephone booth calls out to 10-year-old Risa. After a tragic fire devastates their small town, residents take to calling the dead on an out-of-order telephone high atop a hill. But only Risa can hear the voices from the other side. Hoping to finally contact her mysterious father somewhere in this crowd of impatient spirits, she starts to take on the unfinished business of departed loved ones. Continuing a game of chess, locating life insurance policies, and finding a new home for a lost dog all become part of Risa’s daily to-do list. What starts as a simple set of tasks aided by a well-meaning neighbor, turns into a life-defining search for love and acceptance in this charming storybook romp from acclaimed director Juan Cabral.
Suggested Subjects: Coming of Age, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Latin American Studies, Mental Health, Spanish
Recommended Grades: 5–12
Program Note: This film contains themes of grief.
Space Cadet
Directed by Kid Koala, Canada, 86 min
FRI MAY 1 10 AM–12 PM PT | MARINA
Canadian DJ and multihyphenated artist Kid Koala brings his unique gift for storytelling to a new medium as he makes his directorial debut with this delightful, animated adaptation of his award-winning graphic novel. When young astronaut Celeste embarks on her first interstellar mission, she leaves behind her dedicated caretaker Robot to navigate a new unfamiliar loneliness. Like an empty nester, he struggles to cope, clinging tightly to memories of raising the child he once tended to daily. Drawing inspiration from silent era legends like Charlie Chaplin, Koala crafts a wordless experience that utilizes his mastery of music and sound to deftly convey emotion. Cleverly placed songs from artists such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O and Digable Planets’ Mariana “Ladybug” Vieira complement his own playful score. Told with an abundance of heart, Space Cadet celebrates friendship, kindness, and empathy, all while shooting for the stars with a thrilling adventure that spans the universe.
Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Coming of Age, English Language Arts, Mental Health, Science, Women and Gender Studies
Recommended Grades: 1–5
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
Directed by Ernie Bustamante, USA, 83 min
THU APR 30 10 AM–12 PM PT | MARINA
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon is a feature documentary about Sonia Manzano — known to millions as “Maria” from Sesame Street. The film follows Sonia’s remarkable journey, from a young girl in the South Bronx finding refuge in television, to becoming the first Latina on American TV in a regular role. Through 44 years on screen on Sesame Street, to her animated children’s series Alma’s Way, this film shows firsthand how one person paved the way for realistic and honest Latinx representation in TV and media. Featuring interviews with famous figures such as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor and musical theatre composer Steven Schwartz, original animation, and scripted scenes that blend humor and heart, this inspirational documentary invites viewers to learn once again from this beloved icon.
Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Career Path Training, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Ethnic Studies, Latinx Studies, Social Studies, Women and Gender Studies
Recommended Grades: 3–12
Program Note: This film contains brief profanity and mentions of domestic violence.
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
Total Running Time: 84 min
FRI MAY 1 12:15–2:15 PM PT | SFMOMA
This program of documentaries brings viewers inside pivotal moments of political activism and social change, where history unfolds through personal experiences. From reflections on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, to immigrant communities confronting ICE raids in Los Angeles through small acts of bravery, to current debates over identity and responsibility surrounding Palestine and Israel, each film reveals how national struggles permeate in intimate spaces. Together, these films serve to inform, inspire, and illuminate the courage that exists during times of conflict and change.
*Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.
The Baddest Speechwriter of All
Directed by Ben Proudfoot, Stephen Curry, USA, 29 min
Steph Curry’s directorial debut, co-directed with SFFILM alumni Ben Proudfoot, follows Clarence B. Jones, Martin Luther King Jr.’s speechwriter, blending storytelling with playful animated sequences to celebrate his life and impact.
La Tierra Del Valor (The Home of the Brave)
Directed by Cristina Costantini, USA, 23 min
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
Nezza (Vanessa Hernandez) defies orders at a Dodgers game, singing the US national anthem in Spanish, honoring the 1945 “El Pendón Estrellado,” and inspiring hope in her community.
Scenes From the Divide
Directed by Alison Klayman, USA, 32 min
In English and Russian with English subtitles
Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for New York City mayor exposes divisions within the city’s Jewish communities, reflecting broader national debates on Palestine.
Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Current Events, Latinx Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Music, Political Science, Religion, Social Justice, Social Studies, U.S History
Recommended Grades: 6–12
Program Note: This program contains profanity.
From Fact to Fiction
Total Running Time: 73 min
FRI MAY 1 10–11:45 AM | SFMOMA
Spanning continents, cultures, and generations, this moving collection of fiction, non-fiction, and animated short films explores the many ways we search for connection, belonging, and understanding in an increasingly changing world. From immigration hurdles and difficult choices to chance encounters between strangers and the quiet bonds that form across distance and time, these stories navigate questions of belonging, identity, and resilience. Whether through a teacher navigating an impossible decision, a father and daughter contemplating the meaning of home, or two lonely souls discovering new ways to understand each other, these films offer us a powerful glimpse into the ties that shape who we are and how we connect with one another.
*Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.
Can I Put You on Hold
(Directed by James Cutler, USA, 11 min)
In English and Thai with English subtitles
Matthew plans to reunite with his partner Dangmo, a Thai national, once her immigration to America is approved—but one question keeps standing in their way.
Dark Skin Bruises Differently
(Directed by Susan Wokoma, UK, 11 min)
When a student’s claim threatens her integrity, Ms. Lawson must choose between defending a misunderstood girl and protecting her own career.
highways take me anywhere I want
(Directed by María Luisa Santos, USA/Costa Rica, 8 min)
In Spanish with English subtitles
Against a backdrop of California highways and amidst the traces left behind by migrants, a father and daughter contemplate whether home is Cuba, Costa Rica, or elsewhere.
Tamashi
(Directed by Jess X. Snow, Ashima Shiraishi, USA/France, 13 min)
In Japanese and English with English subtitles
Alumni Ashima Shiraishi and Jess X. Snow synthesize movement, landscape, and poetry as Shiraishi and their father, a Butoh dancer, pay tribute to the lost water of the Payahuunadü valley.
Una Notte
(Directed by Rob Harris, UK, 19 min)
Strangers Luciano and Rory spend a day together in the English countryside, glimpsing through their bittersweet fleeting connection the possibilities of who they might become.
Whale 52 – Suite for Man, Boy, and Whale
(Directed by Daniel Neiden, USA, 11 min)
Drawing on the legend of the “loneliest whale,” a boy with selective mutism and an aging widower—bound by loss and sorrow—discover a magical pen and journal that allows them to hear each other’s unspoken cries and find healing.
Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Asian Studies, Coming of Age, Dance, Drama/Acting, Immigration, LGBTQ+ Studies, Mental Health, Social Studies
Recommended Grades: 6–12
Program Note: This program contains brief adult themes and vaping.
Shorts 5: Family Films
Total Running Time: 64 min
THU APR 23 10–11:45 AM PT | SFMOMA
FRI APR 24 11–12:45 PM PT | CASTRO
WED APR 29 10–11:45 AM PT | MARINA
MON MAY 4 10-11:45 AM PT | SFMOMA
From intergalactic cardboard adventures to magical whales, stubborn staircases, and unexpected animal mishaps, this delightful collection of short films celebrates imagination, resilience, and the connections that bring us together. Animation giant Bill Plympton (The Fan and the Flower, Festival 2006), Academy Award®-winning actor Renée Zellweger (making her directing debut), and a cohort of talented independent filmmakers blend inventive animation with thoughtful live-action tales that span cultures and generations. Filled with warmth, wonder, and a touch of mischief, this program invites children, parents, and curious viewers alike to see the world through playful and heartfelt perspectives.
*Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.
The Apricot
(Directed by Alex Z. Avila, USA/Mexico, 9 min)
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
A young boy is eager to prove himself to his Mexican American family while working a long day on his grandfather’s apricot farm.
Cardboard
(Directed by J.P. Vine, UK, 8 min)
A struggling single dad pig fears he’s failed his piglets after moving them into a rundown trailer park—until a cardboard box launches them on an intergalactic adventure.
Duet
(Directed by Léo Brunel, France, 1 min)
Two movers struggle to haul a grand piano up a stubborn staircase—only to discover a passion neither of them saw coming.
First Winter
(Directed by Schantelle Alonzo, USA, 5 min)
While experiencing his first winter in Chicago, Ángel, a young immigrant, reminisces about his time at home.
Little Things
(Directed by Noam Rignault Clement, France/Spain/USA, 6 min)
In English and French with English subtitles
Taking his mother’s advice to enjoy the little things in life, a 9-year-old boy in the charming French countryside embarks with a stolen garden gnome on an inquisitive quest to find just that.
A Pain in the Butt
(Directed by Elena Walf, Germany/Croatia, 5 min)
As a hedgehog prepares to hibernate, one of its quills lodges in a dog’s behind. Desperate for a solution, the animals embark on an unexpected journey.
Swim Sistas
(Directed by Catherine Joy White, UK, 11 min)
Four Black women, including Great Britain’s first Black female Olympian, explore healing, resilience, and their historical relationship to water through swimming.
THEY
(Directed by Renée Zellweger, UK, 8 min)
In a complaint-ridden town, a hopeful hero and his trusty dog hatch a plan to encourage a return to better days.
Whale 52 – Suite for Man, Boy, and Whale
(Directed by Daniel Neiden, USA, 11 min)
Drawing on the legend of the “loneliest whale,” a boy with selective mutism and an aging widower—bound by loss and sorrow—discover a magical pen and journal that allows them to hear each other’s unspoken cries and find healing.
Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Coming of Age, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Ethnic Studies, Immigration, LGBTQ+ Studies, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues
Recommended Grades: K–5
Program Note: This program contains brief profanity of the word “hell.”
Shorts 6: Youth Works
Total Running Time: 74 min
MON APR 27 12:30–2:15 PM PT | MARINA
THU APR 30 12:30–2:15 PM PT | SFMOMA
Young filmmakers from across the globe showcase their daring creativity and craft in this collection of films that address the complexity of growing up and the innocence of youth. Employing animation, narrative, and documentary, these shorts embrace emotion, curiosity, and risk taking to experience the fullness of life. Among the films are a vivid hand-drawn animation ode to ‘80s culture, a tale of effortlessly composed charm in the French countryside, a short demonstrating art as a form of healing after disaster, and a story expressing the power of never giving up on your dreams. Let us introduce you to the next generation of storytellers.
*Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.
Cindy Undead
(Directed by Mariella Gutiérrez, USA, 3 min)
Mysterious and sensational 80s supermodel Cindy Devereux reaches a breaking point when she can no longer keep herself sewn together.
Dandelion Child
(Directed by Isabella Montesi, USA, 6 min)
A daughter moves into her freshman college dorm, parting ways with her mother and recalling their precious years spent together.
Fishbowl
(Directed by Hana Taylor, USA, 8 min)
A young painter, eager to win the top prize for her aquatic painting, buys a fish for inspiration that might just help break her creative block.
Little Things
(Directed by Noam Rignault Clement, France/Spain/USA, 6 min)
In English and French with English subtitles
Taking his mother’s advice to enjoy the little things in life, a 9-year-old boy in the charming French countryside embarks with a stolen garden gnome on an inquisitive quest to find just that.
Out of the Blue
(Directed by Vivian Nguyen, USA, 3 min)
A lonely grocery store cashier daydreams of true love at the checkout counter.
Paper Boat
(Directed by Yeobin Park, South Korea, 10 min)
In Korean with English subtitles
Two siblings bond by floating paper boats down a tranquil stream as their family life begins to crack.
Rewinded
(Directed by Aaliyah Idrissa, USA, 7 min)
A Black woman who gave up on her science dreams as a teen gets a second chance when she unexpectedly time-travels to the ’90s to live one day with her younger self.
Rising Above the Ashes
(Directed by Cade Savage Schwartz, USA, 15 min)
In the aftermath of the devastating LA fires, community members and artists express their resilience and offer ways to heal together after disaster.
Sonder
(Directed by Lancey Quan, USA, 9 min)
Seven poetic stories of belonging and growing up, told through seven colors, encompass shifting perspectives and landscapes.
Tropical Fish
(Directed by Shirley Xie, China, 7 min)
In Mandarin with English subtitles
Young Xiao Su has one big wish, to see the tropical fish by the sea. With his best friend, the two go on an arduous journey to turn this dream into a reality.
Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Art/Media, Asian Studies, Career Path Training, Drama/Acting, LGBTQ+ Studies, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies
Recommended Grades: 6–12
Sports Shorts: Overcoming Barriers
Total Running Time: 67 min
TUE APR 28 10–11:45 AM PT | MARINA
From coastal Bay Area surf breaks and mountain trails to neighborhood courts in Indonesia, this inspiring collection of sports-themed short films celebrates the power of movement and exercise to inspire and bring people together. Across various cultures and generations, these short films highlight how access, community and determination can open the door for everyone; from first bike rides and youth races to Olympians finding healing through the water. Whether chasing competition, confidence, or connection, these stories remind us that the spirit of sports belongs to all those who are willing to step up to the starting line.
*Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.
Dipsea Generations
(Directed by Paddy O’Leary, USA, 31 min)
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
Bay Area youth take on the oldest trail race in the US, the iconic long-distance Dipsea Race and its unique handicap start, which makes it ripe for improving access to the sport.
Progression
(Directed by Cade Savage Schwartz, USA, 4 min)
A boy discovers the wonder of biking and embarks on a lifelong pursuit of mastery.
Shifting Courts
(Directed by David Fernández Graña, Spain/Indonesia, 10 min)
In Indonesian with English subtitles
In a coastal village in Bali, a group of children prepare for a pickleball tournament, finding connection and community as the island navigates the pressures of tourism.
Shoreline
(Directed by Paul Overstrom, USA, 11 min)
In English and Tagalog with English subtitles
Set in San Francisco, a young Filipina woman finds community and confidence in surfing after a change in her mother’s health.
Swim Sistas
(Directed by Catherine Joy White, UK, 11 min)
Four Black women, including Great Britain’s first Black female Olympian, explore healing, resilience, and their historical relationship to water through swimming.
Suggested Subjects: Asian Studies, Ethnic Studies, Latinx Studies, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues, Sports/Physical Education, Women and Gender Studies
Recommended Grades: 3–12
Program Note: This program contains brief profanity.
Schools At The Festival Online Programs
69th San Francisco International Film Festival
Screening link(s) will be sent to view the film at your convenience. Viewing window April 27-May 5.
Adam’s Apple
Directed by Amy Jenkins, USA, 99 min
Pre-recorded Q&A with registration
Spanning 8 years, Adam’s Apple is an intimate, collaborative documentary told through the dual perspectives of Adam, a transgender teen, and his mother, visual artist Amy Jenkins, that offers an authentic and tender counterpoint to the hostility facing trans youth today. Adam’s journey balances the milestones of gender transition with the rhythms of adolescence. As Adam asserts his identity at a young age and steps out into the world, his parents grapple with the challenges of raising a teen while learning to let go. Through a visually poetic approach, the film transforms a deeply personal family archive, collected over two decades, into a powerful, joyful testament to the beauty and difficulty of reckoning with profound change.
Suggested Subjects: Activism, Coming of Age, Journalism, LGBTQ+ Studies, Peer/Youth Issues
Recommended Grades: 8–12
Program Note: This film contains mild profanity and discussions of sexual health.
First They Came for My College
Directed by Patrick Bresnan, USA, 105 min
Pre-recorded Q&A with registration
Echoing the reality of schools across the country, Sarasota’s New College is caught in the middle of a war on “woke.” With an ambition to “reclaim” the liberal arts institution, Florida governor Ron DeSantis intends to do away with what he perceives as its liberal ideology and replace it with regressive doctrine in alignment with conservative tenets. A group of students band together in resistance, determined to prevent the state from fundamentally changing the school and its mission. With an agitated urgency, Patrick Xavier Bresnan’s essential documentary captures the students as they collaborate with their professors, attend board meetings, question New College’s leadership, and push back against a cultural war that aims to snuff out the very ideas they cherish and emulate. First They Came for My College is both a portrait of conservative overreach and a record of the fearless resistance against it.
Suggested Subjects: Activism, Current Events, Journalism, Peer/Youth Issues, U.S History
Recommended Grades: 9–12
Program Note: This film contains profanity.
Hello Maggie
Directed by Tony Tarantini, Canada/USA/Italy, 23 min
WED MAY 6 11–11:45 AM PT | FOR ONLINE Q&A
Hello Maggie is a short film based on the children’s book written by Shigeru Yabu. The story recounts his experience as a young boy being forcibly removed from his family’s home in San Francisco and sent to the Heart Mountain Internment Camp in Wyoming in 1942, one of ten camps that wrongfully imprisoned more than 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. While in the camp, Shigeru found a baby magpie that he kept as a pet. The bird brought comfort to him, his family, and friends as they endured three years in the camp. Inspired by this powerful story, a team of talented artists from around the world, including legendary animator and cartoonist Willie Ito (whose family was also sent to a camp during WWII) and director Tony Tarantini, created this touching short film. Their work helps ensure that this difficult chapter in Japanese American history is not forgotten and reminds us of the importance of hope and compassion, even during the most challenging times. This online program will feature a behind-the-scenes discussion and Q&A with Willie Ito and Tony Tarantini.
Recording of Q&A will also be sent to registered teachers.
Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Asian American Studies, English Language Arts, U.S History
Recommended Grades: 1–5
One In a Million
Directed by Itab Azzam, Jack MacInnes, UK, 102 min
In Arabic and German with English subtitles
Pre-recorded Q&A with registration
Change unfolds swiftly and powerfully in this intimate, decade-spanning portrait of Syrian refugee Israa and her family as they navigate life across multiple countries. In 2015, directors Itab Azzam and Jacob MacInnes discover the vivacious 11-year-old selling cigarettes on the teeming sidewalks of Izmir, Turkey, where she introduces them to her favorite food vendors and reveals that the family is trying to make their way to Germany. Not only does this journey prove challenging—they board a dinghy filled with dozens of others for a nighttime crossing to Greece—but many other difficulties await them when they finally arrive in Germany. Israa grows into a rebellious teen, her father Tarek fumes about Europe’s permissiveness, while mom Nisreen finds her own quiet liberation. The filmmakers rivetingly juxtapose messy and loving family moments against luminously staged talking-head interviews that further delineate the family members’ conflicts as well as their differing memories of their homeland.
Suggested Subjects: Arabic, Coming of Age, Current Events, German, Immigration, Journalism, Social Studies, World Studies
Recommended Grades: 7–12
Program Note: This program contains smoking and brief profanity.
Who Moves America
Directed by Yael Bridge, USA, 87 min
Pre-recorded Q&A with registration
Screening Note: Access to this online film is limited to Bay Area classes only.
UPS Teamsters face long hours, unsafe conditions, and relentless physical demands. This powerful film reveals the pressures on delivery drivers and logistics workers who keep cities—and the country—moving, highlighting the stakes behind everyday services often taken for granted. Through intimate portraits and on-the-ground reporting, the documentary showcases the power of collective action, capturing union leaders’ organizing efforts as they negotiate fair pay, safer working conditions, and job security for members of North America’s largest labor organization. By tracing the strategies, struggles, and solidarity of these workers, Who Moves America illuminates the human backbone of modern commerce and offers a vivid, urgent portrait of labor in motion—a story of resilience, organizing, and the fight to reclaim dignity on the job.
Suggested Subjects: Activism, Career Path Training, Current Events, Economics, Journalism, Political Science, U.S History
Recommended Grades: 9–12
Program Note: This program contains profanity.
From Fact to Fiction
Total Running Time: 74 min
Pre-recorded Q&A with registration
Spanning continents, cultures, and generations, this moving collection of fiction, non-fiction, and animated short films explores the many ways we search for connection, belonging, and understanding in an increasingly changing world. From immigration hurdles and difficult choices to chance encounters between strangers and the quiet bonds that form across distance and time, these stories navigate questions of belonging, identity, and resilience. Whether through a teacher navigating an impossible decision, a father and daughter contemplating the meaning of home, or two lonely souls discovering new ways to understand each other, these films offer us a powerful glimpse into the ties that shape who we are and how we connect with one another.
*Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.
Can I Put You on Hold
(Directed by James Cutler, USA, 11 min)
In English and Thai with English subtitles
Matthew plans to reunite with his partner Dangmo, a Thai national, once her immigration to America is approved—but one question keeps standing in their way.
Dark Skin Bruises Differently
(Directed by Susan Wokoma, UK, 11 min)
When a student’s claim threatens her integrity, Ms. Lawson must choose between defending a misunderstood girl and protecting her own career.
highways take me anywhere I want
(Directed by María Luisa Santos, USA/Costa Rica, 8 min)
In Spanish with English subtitles
Against a backdrop of California highways and amidst the traces left behind by migrants, a father and daughter contemplate whether home is Cuba, Costa Rica, or elsewhere.
Tamashi
(Directed by Jess X. Snow, Ashima Shiraishi, USA/France, 13 min)
In Japanese and English with English subtitles
Alumni Ashima Shiraishi and Jess X. Snow synthesize movement, landscape, and poetry as Shiraishi and their father, a Butoh dancer, pay tribute to the lost water of the Payahuunadü valley.
Una Notte
(Directed by Rob Harris, UK, 19 min)
Strangers Luciano and Rory spend a day together in the English countryside, glimpsing through their bittersweet fleeting connection the possibilities of who they might become.
Whale 52 – Suite for Man, Boy, and Whale
(Directed by Daniel Neiden, USA, 11 min)
Drawing on the legend of the “loneliest whale,” a boy with selective mutism and an aging widower—bound by loss and sorrow—discover a magical pen and journal that allows them to hear each other’s unspoken cries and find healing.
Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Asian Studies, Coming of Age, Dance, Drama/Acting, Immigration, LGBTQ+ Studies, Mental Health, Social Studies
Recommended Grades: 6–12
Program Note: This program contains brief adult themes and vaping.
Shorts 5: Family Films
Total Running Time: 64 min
WED MAY 6 9:30–10:15 AM PT | FOR ONLINE Q&A
Screening link(s) will be sent to view the program at your convenience. Viewing window April 27-May 5. Recording of Q&A will also be sent to registered teachers.
From intergalactic cardboard adventures to magical whales, stubborn staircases, and unexpected animal mishaps, this delightful collection of short films celebrates imagination, resilience, and the connections that bring us together. Animation giant Bill Plympton (The Fan and the Flower, Festival 2006), Academy Award®-winning actor Renée Zellweger (making her directing debut), and a cohort of talented independent filmmakers blend inventive animation with thoughtful live-action tales that span cultures and generations. Filled with warmth, wonder, and a touch of mischief, this program invites children, parents, and curious viewers alike to see the world through playful and heartfelt perspectives.
*Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.
The Apricot
(Directed by Alex Z. Avila, USA/Mexico, 9 min)
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
A young boy is eager to prove himself to his Mexican American family while working a long day on his grandfather’s apricot farm.
Cardboard
(Directed by J.P. Vine, UK, 8 min)
A struggling single dad pig fears he’s failed his piglets after moving them into a rundown trailer park—until a cardboard box launches them on an intergalactic adventure.
Duet
(Directed by Léo Brunel, France, 1 min)
Two movers struggle to haul a grand piano up a stubborn staircase—only to discover a passion neither of them saw coming.
First Winter
(Directed by Schantelle Alonzo, USA, 5 min)
While experiencing his first winter in Chicago, Ángel, a young immigrant, reminisces about his time at home.
Little Things
(Directed by Noam Rignault Clement, France/Spain/USA, 6 min)
In English and French with English subtitles
Taking his mother’s advice to enjoy the little things in life, a 9-year-old boy in the charming French countryside embarks with a stolen garden gnome on an inquisitive quest to find just that.
A Pain in the Butt
(Directed by Elena Walf, Germany/Croatia, 5 min)
As a hedgehog prepares to hibernate, one of its quills lodges in a dog’s behind. Desperate for a solution, the animals embark on an unexpected journey.
Swim Sistas
(Directed by Catherine Joy White, UK, 11 min)
Four Black women, including Great Britain’s first Black female Olympian, explore healing, resilience, and their historical relationship to water through swimming.
THEY
(Directed by Renée Zellweger, UK, 8 min)
In a complaint-ridden town, a hopeful hero and his trusty dog hatch a plan to encourage a return to better days.
Whale 52 – Suite for Man, Boy, and Whale
(Directed by Daniel Neiden, USA, 11 min)
Drawing on the legend of the “loneliest whale,” a boy with selective mutism and an aging widower—bound by loss and sorrow—discover a magical pen and journal that allows them to hear each other’s unspoken cries and find healing.
Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Coming of Age, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Ethnic Studies, Immigration, LGBTQ+ Studies, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues
Recommended Grades: K–5
Program Note: This program contains brief profanity of the word “hell.”
Shorts 6: Youth Works
Total Running Time: 74 min
WED MAY 6 12:30–1:15 PM PT | FOR ONLINE Q&A
Screening link(s) will be sent to view the program at your convenience. Viewing window April 27-May 5. Recording of Q&A will also be sent to registered teachers.
Young filmmakers from across the globe showcase their daring creativity and craft in this collection of films that address the complexity of growing up and the innocence of youth. Employing animation, narrative, and documentary, these shorts embrace emotion, curiosity, and risk taking to experience the fullness of life. Among the films are a vivid hand-drawn animation ode to ‘80s culture, a tale of effortlessly composed charm in the French countryside, a short demonstrating art as a form of healing after disaster, and a story expressing the power of never giving up on your dreams. Let us introduce you to the next generation of storytellers.
*Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.
Cindy Undead
(Directed by Mariella Gutiérrez, USA, 3 min)
Mysterious and sensational 80s supermodel Cindy Devereux reaches a breaking point when she can no longer keep herself sewn together.
Dandelion Child
(Directed by Isabella Montesi, USA, 6 min)
A daughter moves into her freshman college dorm, parting ways with her mother and recalling their precious years spent together.
Fishbowl
(Directed by Hana Taylor, USA, 8 min)
A young painter, eager to win the top prize for her aquatic painting, buys a fish for inspiration that might just help break her creative block.
Little Things
(Directed by Noam Rignault Clement, France/Spain/USA, 6 min)
In English and French with English subtitles
Taking his mother’s advice to enjoy the little things in life, a 9-year-old boy in the charming French countryside embarks with a stolen garden gnome on an inquisitive quest to find just that.
Out of the Blue
(Directed by Vivian Nguyen, USA, 3 min)
A lonely grocery store cashier daydreams of true love at the checkout counter.
Paper Boat
(Directed by Yeobin Park, South Korea, 10 min)
In Korean with English subtitles
Two siblings bond by floating paper boats down a tranquil stream as their family life begins to crack.
Rewinded
(Directed by Aaliyah Idrissa, USA, 7 min)
A Black woman who gave up on her science dreams as a teen gets a second chance when she unexpectedly time-travels to the ’90s to live one day with her younger self.
Rising Above the Ashes
(Directed by Cade Savage Schwartz, USA, 15 min)
In the aftermath of the devastating LA fires, community members and artists express their resilience and offer ways to heal together after disaster.
Sonder
(Directed by Lancey Quan, USA, 9 min)
Seven poetic stories of belonging and growing up, told through seven colors, encompass shifting perspectives and landscapes.
Tropical Fish
(Directed by Shirley Xie, China, 7 min)
In Mandarin with English subtitles
Young Xiao Su has one big wish, to see the tropical fish by the sea. With his best friend, the two go on an arduous journey to turn this dream into a reality.
Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Art/Media, Asian Studies, Career Path Training, Drama/Acting, LGBTQ+ Studies, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies
Recommended Grades: 6–12
Programs By Suggested Subjects and Themes
ACTIVISM
Adam’s Apple
First They Came for My College
Who Moves America
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story
Cookie Queens
Shorts 6: Youth Works
ARABIC
One In a Million
ART/MEDIA
The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: Star Wars: Maul Shadow Lord
Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story
From Fact to Fiction
Hello Maggie
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Magic Light Pictures: Tiddler and The Scarecrows’ Wedding
Shorts 5: Family Films
Shorts 6: Youth Works
Space Cadet
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
ASIAN STUDIES
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
From Fact to Fiction
Shorts 6: Youth Works
Sports Shorts: Overcoming Barriers
ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES
Hello Maggie
BIOLOGY
Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles
CAREER PATH TRAINING
The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: Star Wars: Maul Shadow Lord
Fork in the Road
Shorts 6: Youth Works
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
Who Moves America
COMING OF AGE
Adam’s Apple
From Fact to Fiction
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Magic Light Pictures: Tiddler and The Scarecrows’ Wedding
One In a Million
Risa and the Wind Phone
Shorts 5: Family Films
Space Cadet
COMPUTER SCIENCE
The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: Star Wars: Maul Shadow Lord
CULINARY ARTS
Fork in the Road
CURRENT EVENTS
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
First They Came for My College
Fork in the Road
One In a Million
Shorts 6: Youth Works
Who Moves America
DANCE
From Fact to Fiction
DRAMA/ACTING
From Fact to Fiction
Magic Light Pictures: Tiddler and The Scarecrows’ Wedding
Risa and the Wind Phone
Shorts 5: Family Films
Shorts 6: Youth Works
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
ECONOMICS
Cookie Queens
Fork in the Road
Who Moves America
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: Star Wars: Maul Shadow Lord
Hello Maggie
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Magic Light Pictures: Tiddler and The Scarecrows’ Wedding
Risa and the Wind Phone
Shorts 5: Family Films
Space Cadet
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles
Fork in the Road
ETHNIC STUDIES
Shorts 5: Family Films
Sports Shorts: Overcoming Barriers
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
FRENCH
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
GERMAN
One In a Million
IMMIGRATION
From Fact to Fiction
One In a Million
Shorts 5: Family Films
INDIGENOUS STUDIES
Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles
JOURNALISM
Adam’s Apple
Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story
First They Came for My College
Fork in the Road
One In a Million
Who Moves America
LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles
Risa and the Wind Phone
LATINX STUDIES
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
Shorts 5: Family Films
Sports Shorts: Overcoming Barriers
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
LGBTQ+ STUDIES
Adam’s Apple
From Fact to Fiction
Shorts 5: Family Films
Shorts 6: Youth Works
MATH
The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: Star Wars: Maul Shadow Lord
Cookie Queens
MENTAL HEALTH
From Fact to Fiction
Risa and the Wind Phone
Shorts 5: Family Films
Shorts 6: Youth Works
Space Cadet
Sports Shorts: Overcoming Barriers
MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
MUSIC
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
PEER/YOUTH ISSUES
Adam’s Apple
Cookie Queens
First They Came for My College
Shorts 5: Family Films
Shorts 6: Youth Works
Sports Shorts: Overcoming Barriers
PHILOSOPHY
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
PHOTOGRAPHY
Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story
POLITICAL SCIENCE
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
First They Came for My College
Who Moves America
RELIGION
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
SCIENCE
The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: Star Wars: Maul Shadow Lord
Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles
Space Cadet
SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
SOCIAL STUDIES
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story
From Fact to Fiction
One In a Million
Shorts 6: Youth Works
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
SPANISH
Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles
Risa and the Wind Phone
SPORTS/PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Sports Shorts: Overcoming Barriers
U.S HISTORY
The Baddest Speechwriter of All + La Tierra Del Valor + Scenes From the Divide
Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story
First They Came for My College
Hello Maggie
Who Moves America
WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
Cookie Queens
Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles
Give Me The Ball!
Space Cadet
Sports Shorts: Overcoming Barriers
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
WORLD STUDIES
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
One In a Million
Theater Locations
Castro Theatre – 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA
Marina Theatre – 2149 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA
Premier Theater at One Letterman – 1 Letterman Dr # B, San Francisco, CA
SFMOMA Phyllis Wattis Theater – 151 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA