Schools at the Festival

SFFILM Education is pleased to have teachers and their students join us for this year’s Schools at the Festival program. We like to encourage freedom in student essay responses across K-12 classrooms. Provided are a series of prompts suitable to give students some guidance, but please let your students know that they can also write about their own experience on their Schools at the Festival field trip without adhering strictly to the prompts. For students who wish to use a prompt, they are not required to answer every prompt listed but should select enough for a thoughtful and complete response.

Winning essays will be determined based on creativity, depth, enthusiasm, clarity, and grammar. Essays must be written in response to any of the in-person or online Schools at the Festival screenings. Students may choose one film program or submit separate essays for more than one program. Students need to follow the word count guidelines for their respective grades.

*Children in grades 1-12 who attend a public screening of a film included in the Schools at the Festival program are also eligible to participate. Parents: please be sure to fill in all of the required entry information when submitting.

We are excited to read about your students’ experiences back in the theaters.

Suggested Word Counts

Grades 1-5: 150-200 words
Grades 6-8: 300-350 words
Grades 9-12: 450-500 words

Essay Prompts

• What did you learn through this program (either from the film or the guest speaker(s)) that you didn’t know before the screening? How was it different learning about this topic through a film as opposed to a different medium? Did this experience inspire you to explore the topic even further?
• What questions did this program (either from the film or the guest speaker(s)) leave you with? How do these questions intersect with your class material? Did this experience reshape how you think about your class subjects (i.e. Math, History, Science)? Do you appreciate your class or class subject more? Why/Why not?
• Reflect on your career trajectory through this program (either from the film or the guest speaker(s)). What do you want to be when you grow up? Does the filmmaker’s journey or the film’s story change how you think about your own career ambitions or what you hope to pursue?
• Did this film or field trip experience inspire your own creativity or artistry? How do you like to express yourself creatively? How will this film or program impact the ways you will think about the arts or creativity in your everyday life?
• Select one film you saw in the program (if you saw a shorts program / if you saw multiple features). What did you like about that film? What made it stand out to you from all of the other films in the program? Are there any experiences in your own life that the story reminded you of? Do any of the character’s experiences in the selected film resonate with you? What lessons did you learn from the story and/or a character(s)?
• Write a critical film review of a program you saw today. What was something the filmmaker did that you think was successful or achieved something special to you? Write in detail why you liked/disliked this film. Consider reading a professional review of your favorite film from this last year to help guide your critical voice.

Deadlines

Submissions are due no later than May 10, 2023.
Submit essays online here.

Required Entry Information
To be eligible for consideration, all essays must include the following information:

• Student name
• Grade
• School
• Teacher name
• Teacher phone number
• Teacher email address

Prizes

Contest winners will be announced the week of May 22, 2023. Teachers will be notified directly if their students have won. The following prizes will be awarded:

Elementary School, Grades 1-5
Grand Prize: $250 cash prize
Runner-up (1): $175 cash prize

Middle School, Grades 6-8
Grand Prize: $400 cash prize
Runner-up (1): $250 cash prize

High School, Grades 9-12
Grand Prize: $600 cash prize
Runner-up (1): $350 cash prize

All winning essays will be published on www.sffilm.org. For questions, contact Keith Zwölfer at 415-561-5040 or kzwolfer@sffilm.org.

For questions, contact Keith Zwölfer at 415-561-5040 or kzwolfer@sffilm.org.

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.

2023 In-Person Program

Please submit all Schools at the Festival ticket orders online here. Act soon, programs fill up quickly!

1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed

Mon, Apr 24 at 10 am PT | SFMOMA
Directed by W. Kamau Bell (USA, 59 min)

Playful and enormously charming, W. Kamau Bell’s latest work profiles the joys and struggles of children growing up mixed-race. Beginning with his own family, Bell speaks with kids and parents throughout the Bay Area as they illuminate the unique experience of defining themselves in a world that seems to prefer hard lines and neat categories. Tender but never shying away from hard questions, 1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed is a timely exploration of identity and belonging that challenges our assumptions.

Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Asian American Studies, History, Latin American Studies, Mental Health, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies

Recommended Grades: 2–8

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Mon, Apr 24 at 12:15 pm PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (USA, 105 min)

Margaret Simon, the 11-year-old New Jersey tween experiencing the first pangs of adolescence comes to vivid life on the big screen in this fresh, funny adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic 1970 novel. Abby Ryder Fortson gives a star-making performance as young Margaret, coping not only with the onset of puberty but also grappling with her religious identity. Writer/director Kelly Fremon Crain (The Edge of 17) faithfully captures the book’s defining moments while also freshening the material with new touches. Brilliant in support of Forston are Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie as Margaret’s loving, complicated parents, and a heartwarming and hilarious Kathy Bates as her grandmother Sylvia. Margaret’s story of longing and self-discovery has resonated with generations of readers. With this luminous adaptation, she stands poised to repeat the feat and capture the hearts of filmgoers.

Suggested Subjects: Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Health, Peer/Youth Issues, Religion, Women and Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 5–12

Program Note: This film contains some adult themes.

Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia

FRI APR 21 10 AM PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Jean-Christophe Roger & Julien Chheng (France, 80 min)

In French with English Subtitles

Based on the beloved illustrated children book series, this animated adventure is a sequel to Ernest & Celestine (SFFILM, 2013). Ernest and Celestine, the bear and mouse best friend duo, are traveling back to Ernest’s country, Gibberitia, to fix his broken violin. This exotic land is home to the best musicians on earth and music constantly fills the air with joy. However, upon arriving, our two heroes discover that all forms of music have been banned there for many years. And for them, a life without music is unthinkable. Along with their friends and a mysterious masked outlaw, Ernest and Celestine must try their best to bring music and happiness back to the land of bears.

Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, French, Music, Social Studies

Recommended Grades: 2–8

Home is Somewhere Else

THU APR 13 12:30 PM PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Carlos Hagerman & Jorge Villalobos (Mexico, USA, 88 min)

In Spanish and English with English Subtitles

This “animentary” follows three personal stories about immigrant youth and their undocumented families to highlight the complexities and challenges they face today. Voiced by the actual children and their families, the stories are woven together by spoken word poet José Eduardo Aguilar, also known as Lalo “El Deportee,” the film’s host and MC whose vibrant “Spanglish” breaks codes, switches standards, and pushes the viewer to decipher his poems. Each story has its own unique visual animation style drawn by three different teams. The animation allows us to truly see and feel these characters’ worst nightmares, alongside their colorful hopes and dreams for a better future.

Suggested Subjects: Activism, Latin American Studies, Peer/Youth Issues, Political Science, Social Sciences, Social Studies, Spanish

Recommended Grades: 6–12

Program Note: This film contains profanity.

Judy Blume Forever

TUE APR 25 12:15 PM PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Davina Pardo & Leah Wolchok (USA, 97 min)

This documentary traces Judy Blume’s journey from childhood to storytelling pioneer who elevated the physical and emotional lives of kids and teens. Intimate conversations with the author take us on a journey to understand Blume’s profound impact on readers young and old alike, and how the banned writer continues to fight back against censorship today. This funny, touching, and radically honest documentary tells the story of the woman whose revolutionary books changed the way millions of readers understand adolescence and puberty, their sexuality, and what it means to grow up.

Suggested Subjects: Career Path Training, English Language Arts, Health, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies, Women and Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 7–12

Program Note: This film contains some adult themes and brief profanity.

King Coal

FRI APR 21 10 AM PT | CGV
Directed by Elaine McMillion Sheldon (USA, 78 min)

To outsiders, coal is a pollutant, and a major contributor to climate change. But inside the Appalachian region where miners have descended into the depths of mountains for generations, the mineral is something else: sustenance and a way of life on the brink of extinction. The daughter of a miner, documentarian Elaine McMillion Sheldon blends vérité and dreamy narration to weave a lyrical story in which coal has played an outsized role in the lives of these communities. Scenes of pageants and fairs devoted to coal, a miners’ memorial, two young girls learning about the industry that supports their families, forested mountains, coal barges floating downriver, and archival footage of coal’s boom years blend together to form a portrait of a fading culture but one that may find new life in the natural world that surrounds it.

Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Art/Media, Environmental Science, History, Journalism, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies, Women and Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 6–12

Mushka: Workshop with Andreas Deja

FRI APR 14 10 AM PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Andreas Deja (USA, 28 min)

Total Running Time: 75 min

Disney legend Andreas Deja began perfecting his mastery of hand-drawn animation as a boy in Germany. At 10, he first applied to work at Disney, and began his legendary career at the studio at 23 with The Black Cauldron (1985). Since then, with his immense talent with pencil and paper, he brought life to such iconic characters as Gaston, Jafar, Mickey Mouse, and Tigger. Always pushing himself and his craft, Andreas left Disney in 2011 to pursue personal projects. His animation blog, Deja View, receives millions of views and serves as an invaluable resource for aspiring animators. Now, as a first-time writer and director, Andreas presents Mushka, a beautiful and touching tale of a young girl raising a tiger cub in Russia. Andreas will also present behind-the-scenes artwork, answer questions, and lead students in a drawing activity with his latest creation. Be sure to bring paper and pencils to draw along.

Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Career Path Training, English Language Arts

Recommended Grades: 1–6

My So-Called High School Rank

MON APR 17 12:30 PM PT | CGV
Directed by Ricki Stern & Anne Sundberg (USA, 101 minutes)

My So-Called High School Rank goes deep into the lives of high school students in three radically disparate communities as they navigate the pressures around college while staging a musical, until seismic events upend their dreams and expectations. In 2019, students in Sacramento, CA were busy creating a new musical that drew from their own experiences as talented but very anxious students, all focused on getting into the same top schools. As word about the musical spread, schools around the country–including in Cupertino, CA, Ripley, WV, and the Bronx–reached out to stage it with their students. The film follows the journey of these students, the musical, and reveals the remarkable resilience that binds this generation across economic and racial divides.

Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Career Path Training, Drama/Acting, Peer/Youth Issues, Mental Health, Music, LGBTQ+ Studies, Social Sciences, Social Studies

Recommended Grades: 6–12

Program Note: This film contains brief profanity.

The Pod Generation

WED APR 19 12:15 PM PT | CGV
Directed by Sophie Barthes (Belgium, 109 min)

Rachel (Emilia Clarke) and Alvy (Chiwetel Ejioror) live a comfortable lifestyle in New York City in this satiric, sci-fi social commentary set in the near future. While Rachel has a corporate job at a company that makes AI assistants, Alvy works from their upscale apartment studying plants as a botanist. The couple want to have a child but pregnancy would impede Rachel’s prospects for promotion. Her employer has a solution to the dilemma in a new biotech breakthrough, a portable artificial womb in which the fetus can incubate. Experiencing impending parenthood at a remove tests the relationship between husband and wife as well as their connection to their “pod baby.” Writer/director Sophie Barthes presents a striking, darkly funny critique of the effects of capitalism and technology on daily life.

Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Computer Science, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, Women and Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 7–12

Program Note: This film contains adult themes, brief nudity, and brief profanity.

Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra

THU APR 20 11 AM PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Gary Rydstrom (USA, 25 min)

Total Running Time: 80 min

Using a magical guide named Sprite to lead the way, this gorgeously animated adventure flies through the instruments of the orchestra to explore the fundamental connections between music, sound, performance, creativity and technology. The multi-media concerto was created by Grammy award winning composer Mason Bates, in collaboration with Oscar-winning director and sound designer Gary Rydstrom, and animation director Jim Capobianco. Much like Peter and the Wolf and Fantasia had done for years before it, this exciting new work is sure to produce a whole new generation of musicians and music connoisseurs. The program will also incorporate interactive activities to further explore the themes.

Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Career Path Training, English Language Arts, Music

Recommended Grades: 1–6

Shape Island

TUE APR 25 10 AM PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Drew Hodges (USA)

Total Running Time: 80 min

In the delightful new series from Apple TV+, the best-selling books of dynamic duo Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen are brought to life with eye-catching stop motion and mischievous humor that will be equally appreciated by viewers both young and old. For the geometric residents of Shape Island, daily life comes with its own set of ups and downs. Serious Square, intrepid Circle and tricky Triangle seek adventures as they dig up some fun, search for answers and build on their friendships, all while learning how to navigate each other’s differences. This program will include a few select episodes of the series followed by a behind the scenes look with Jon and Mac as they talk about bringing their beloved stories to life. There will also be a drawing activity to explore shapes and characters. Be sure to bring paper and pencils to draw along.

Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Career Path Training, English Language Arts, Math

Recommended Grades: K–4

Stephen Curry: Underrated

FRI APR 14 12:15 PM PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Peter Nicks (USA, 110 min)

Award-winning filmmaker Peter Nicks (The Waiting Room, Festival 2012; The Force, Festival 2016; Homeroom, 2021) returns with another searing documentary about a Bay Area institution. This time his camera turns to the celebrated and singular iconography of NBA superstar Stephen Curry. Intertwining Curry’s emergence on the court at North Carolina’s Davidson College with thrilling footage of the 2021-22 Golden State Warriors season when the team won its fourth championship of the Curry era, Nicks deftly builds a portrait of a man who continually defies expectations. In addition to career-defining moments on and off court, Nicks also explores Curry’s academic ambitions and familial bonds. With unique access, heart-pounding edits, and electrifying footage, Underrated tells the remarkable story of a local legend.

Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Career Path Training, Health, Journalism, Peer/Youth Studies, Women and Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 6–12

Program Note: This film contains brief profanity.

What These Walls Won’t Hold + How We Get Free + Sol in the Garden

THU APRIL 13 10 AM PT | SFMOMA

Total Running Time: 94 min

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

How We Get Free
Directed by Geeta Gandbhir & Samantha Knowles (USA, 31 min)

Over the course of two years, How We Get Free follows the intrepid Elisabeth Epps as she works to abolish cash bail in Colorado and put an end to the criminalization of poverty. Epps is the founder and leader of the Colorado Freedom Fund, one of the over 100 community bail funds around the country, which was started to help incarcerated individuals who can’t afford their bail before trial. For Epps, this work is personal. She spent time in jail herself, bearing witness to the conditions she is so desperate to change. After years of grassroots activism, and on the heels of the 2020 racial reckoning, Epps is confronting a new challenge: calls from her community to run for State Representative.

Sol in the Garden
Directed by Emily Cohen Ibañez & Débora Souza Silva (USA, 21 min)

After 16 years of incarceration, Sol is released from prison, when she discovers that her freedom can be as challenging as living behind bars. Through a community gardening collective of formerly incarcerated horticulturalists in East Oakland, Sol strives to recover her humanity and sense of self.

What These Walls Won’t Hold
Directed by Adamu Chan (USA, 42 min)

Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic at San Quentin State Prison, What These Walls Won’t Hold, chronicles the organizing and relationships of people who came together beyond the separations created by incarceration, to respond to this crisis. Filmmaker Adamu Chan, who was incarcerated at San Quentin during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, documents his path through incarceration and beyond. The film is a meditation on how relationships–built on trust, shared liberatory struggle, and connections across broader abolitionist organizing work–can unfold into sites of resistance and radical change.

Suggested Subjects: Activism, African American Studies, Art/Media, Asian American Studies, Journalism, Latin American Studies, Mental Health, Political Science, Social Studies

Recommended Grades: 6–12

Program Note: This film contains brief profanity and adult themes.

From Fact to Fiction

WED APR 19 10 AM PT | CGV

Total Running Time: 73 min

This striking collection of shorts explore the imaginative and thought-provoking range that film as a medium can showcase. Topics traverse youth activism in Hawai‘i, intergenerational family bonds with a sprinkle of magic, a spider with a lunar dream, and an eternal Indigenous tale. It features narrative, documentary, and animated films using rotoscope, cut out animation, and autobiography to create a delightful assortment of some of the best that SFFILM Festival has to offer.

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

Blood, Sweat & Sparkles: The Young Activists Guide to Ending Period Poverty
Directed by Faviola Leyva, Aggie Ebrahimi Bazaz, Joel Serin-Christ (USA, 6 min)

Social change isn’t easy, but for middle schoolers fighting to end period poverty across Hawai‘i, it’s bloody worth it.

El Moño
Directed by Luis Fernando Puente & Lizde Arias (USA, 9 min)

In English and Spanish with English Subtitles

Andrea learns of generational family magic that helps her find lost objects in unexpected ways.

I Am Home
Directed by Kymon Greyhorse (USA, 3 min)

A retelling of the eternal tale of the ties that binds us all together.

Labor of Love
Directed by Richard O’Connor (USA, 3 min)

Mary shares memories of her grandmother, a formerly enslaved, life-saving midwife in North Carolina.

Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó (Grandma & Grandma)
Directed by Sean Wang (USA, 17 min)

Director Sean Wang’s ode to his two colorful grandmas is a captivating and bittersweet reflection of life.

Now I’m in the Kitchen
Directed by Yana Pan (USA, 5 min)

In English and Mandarin with English Subtitles

Filmmaker Yana Pan reflects on her mother and her independence while cooking her mom’s favorite dish.

Rest Stop
Directed by Crystal Kayiza (USA, 12 min)

A young Ugandan-American girl embarks on a soul-stirring bus ride with her immigrant mother.

Still Waters
Directed by Aurora Brachman (USA, 12 min)

A daughter’s quest for answers about her mother’s past unearths a memory with a lasting impact.

Swing to the Moon
Directed by Marie Bordessoule, Chloé Lauzu, Adriana Bouissié, Vincent Levrero, Nadine De Boer, Solenne Moreau and Elisa Drique (France, 6 min)

Living in the forest, a spider will do anything to reach her lunar dream.

 

Suggested Subjects: Activism, African American Studies, Art/Media, Asian American Studies, English Language Arts, Latin American Studies, Mental Health, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Peer/Youth Issues, Political Science, Social Studies, Spanish, Women and Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 6–12

Program Note: This film contains brief profanity and adult themes.

Shorts 4: Family Films

MON APR 17 10 AM PT | CGV
MON APR 17 11 AM PT | CGV
TUE APR 18 11 AM PT | CASTRO

Exciting possibilities burst forth on our festival screen as this lively collection of shorts by veteran and new filmmakers alike thrillingly demonstrates. A flock of rose-colored aquatic avians disrupt the military precision of a massive warship while an adventurous arachnid dreams of a lunar destination just out of web’s reach. A young sapling soaks up the wisdom passed on from the rustling leaves of its wise neighbor as lush cinematography captures Ecuador’s flora and fauna and the cozy streets of suburbia. Collected from many corners of the world, these true, not-so-true, and animated stories are sure to inspire laughter, curiosity, tears, and awe in the youngest filmgoers.

Total Running Time: 70 min

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

Code Rose
Directed by Taye Cimon, Pierre Coëz, Julie Groux, Sandra Leydier, Manuarii Morel, Romain Seisson (France, 5 min)

Hijinks ensue when flocks of flamingos disrupt operations on an aircraft carrier.

Dipsas Speaks
Directed by Craig Daniel Leon (Ecuador, 6 min)

Wildlife sounds a warning message of deforestation in their fragile Ecuadorian Amazon ecosystem.

El Moño
Directed by Luis Fernando Puente & Lizde Arias (USA, 9 min)

In English and Spanish with English Subtitles

Andrea learns of generational family magic that helps her find lost objects in unexpected ways.

Kintsugi
Directed by Cleto Acosta-McKillop (USA, 8 min)

When a flashy neighbor moves next door, a restaurant’s lucky cat is faced with insecurities.

Labor of Love
Directed by Richard O’Connor (USA, 3 min)

Mary shares memories of her grandmother, a formerly enslaved, life-saving midwife in North Carolina.

New Moon
Directed by Jeff Le Bars, Jérémie Balais (USA, 12 min)

Surrealist night shared by a mother and son filled with love, inspiration, and Aretha Franklin.

Pete
Directed by Bret Parker (USA, 7 min)

A true story about gender identity, Little League Baseball, and people who accept change.

Swing to the Moon
Directed by Marie Bordessoule, Chloé Lauzu, Adriana Bouissié, Vincent Levrero, Nadine De Boer, Solenne Moreau and Elisa Drique (France, 6 min)

Living in the forest, a spider will do anything to reach her lunar dream.

The Wind and the Trees
Directed by Todd Stewart (Canada, 9 min)

Deep in the boreal forest, a mature pine tree and a seedling begin a conversation.

With a Wool Ball
Directed by Belén Ricardes (Argentina, 5 min)

In Spanish with English Subtitles

Charming stop-motion musical of an Argentinian winter full of ponchos, animal friends, and warm stories.

Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Asian Studies, Art/Media, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Environmental Science, Latin American Studies, LGBTQ+ Studies, Music, Science, Spanish, Women and Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: K–6

Program Note: This program contains mild peril.

Shorts 5: Youth Works

FRI APR 21 12:30 PM PT | CGV

Young directors from as close as the Bay Area and as far away as Spain and Taiwan bring empathy, awareness, and specificity to storytelling. Encompassing emotive composition, breathtaking drone footage, and playfully sleek editing, this collection includes a diverse range of animation, narratives, and documentaries. Experimental movement, dark political humor, and tales varied enough to embrace classroom romance and reflections on growing up and interdependence mark this introduction to an up-and-coming group of cinematic voices carrying us one short at time into the next generation of filmmaking.

Total Running Time: 73 min

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

American Ball Game
Directed by Teja Mettu & Krish Mysoor (USA, 9 min)

With twisting dark humor, Dan uncomfortably tries to fit in with his friend’s white family.

The External-Internal Monologue of an Interdependent Insomniac
Directed by Julian Felix Aaronson (USA, 7 min)

Fraught with insecurities over sexuality, self-acceptance, and gender, a sleep-deprived teenager explains various smells.

Growing up with Memory Loss | A Gift for My 16th Birthday
Directed by Keertana Sreekumar (USA, 3 min)

A young artist with an impaired memory reflects on what it means to grow up.

Hop Heel Drop
Directed by Sania Bhatia (USA, 3 min)

Tap dancer Sydney Barnas shares her story of encouragement and passion for movement.

An Island in the Middle of the Sea
Directed by Alberto Montull (Spain, 5 min)

In Galician with English Subtitles

Students plan a surprise trip for their unwell teacher amongst the striking Galician landscapes.

My Sisters In The Stars: The Story of Lee Yong-soo
Directed by Ian Kim (USA, 10 min)

In Korean and English with English Subtitles

Meet one of the last surviving WWII era Japanese “comfort women” through this multimedia animation.

Our Days in Dongshi
Directed by Hsiang-Yu Li, Tse-Ling Huang, Po-Wen Yen, Hsin-Yi Hung (Taiwan, 10 min)

In Mandarin with English Subtitles

Connect with the charming children of Dongshi, Taiwan, a coastline township famous for its oysters.

Parental Orbit
Directed by Dara Carneol (USA, 9 min)

Described as a gruncle dance extravaganza, two family filmmakers discuss life and creativity.

Rational Functions
Directed by Esmé Nix (USA, 6 min)

A lonely girl finds connection in class through understanding math as tragic love stories.

Shopworn
Directed by Athena Cheris (USA, 6 min)

Stubbornness might be the downfall for an aging boxer unable to let go.

The Sound
Directed by Cole Willis (USA, 5 min)

Preparing for an upcoming performance, a young dancer begins to embrace her unrealized potential.

Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Art/Media, Asian Studies, Dance, History, LGBTQ+ Studies, Math, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues, Political Science, Social Studies, Women and Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 6–12

Program Note: This program contains mild peril and brief profanity.

2023 Online Program

Please submit all Schools at the Festival ticket orders online here. Act soon, programs fill up quickly!

1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed

Mon, Apr 24 at 10 AM PT | ONLINE (For Q&A Only)
Directed by W. Kamau Bell (USA, 59 min)

Screening link(s) will be sent to view film at your convenience.

Playful and enormously charming, W. Kamau Bell’s latest work profiles the joys and struggles of children growing up mixed-race. Beginning with his own family, Bell speaks with kids and parents throughout the Bay Area as they illuminate the unique experience of defining themselves in a world that seems to prefer hard lines and neat categories. Tender but never shying away from hard questions, 1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed is a timely exploration of identity and belonging that challenges our assumptions.

Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Asian American Studies, History, Latin American Studies, Mental Health, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies

Recommended Grades: 2–8

The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: Working on the StageCraft Set

FRI APR 28 12:30 PM PT | ONLINE FOR FULL PRESENTATION

Program Running Time: 90 min

What is it like to work on one of the most advanced virtual production sets in the world? Sr Virtual Production Technical Director Emil Chang will present a behind the scenes look at what a typical day looks like on set with ILM’s StageCraft, covering everything from gear and attire to working with different personalities. First used in 2016, the groundbreaking technology provides a continuous pipeline from initial exploration, scouting, and art direction, traditional and technical previsualization, lighting, and of course, real-time production filming itself, with the innovative StageCraft LED volumes. This presentation marks the 15th year of our collaborative educational series with Lucasfilm, demonstrating the intersection of art, science, and technology in the entertainment industry, all while making connections to current STEAM curriculum. Artists and leaders in the field share their expertise in an interactive multimedia presentation and participate in an in-depth discussion and Q&A.

Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Asian American Studies, Career Path Training, Computer Science, Math, Peer/Youth Issues, Science

Recommended Grades: 6–12

Blood, Sweat & Sparkles: The Young Activists Guide to Ending Period Poverty

FRI APR 28 10 AM PT | ONLINE FOR FULL PRESENTATION
Directed by Faviola Leyva, Aggie Ebrahimi Bazaz, Joel Serin-Christ (USA, 6 min)

Program Running Time: 40 min

Screening link(s) will be sent to view film at your convenience.

Can middle school students change the world? After three years of organizing and advocacy, a middle school activism club is celebrating. This school year, students all across Hawaii now have access to free menstrual products in their schools, in part because of ‘Ilima Intermediate School’s Activist Club and their mission to end period poverty. In this animated and spunky guide, these young activists and their teacher, Sarah “Mili” Milianta-Laffin, share their journey and offer a lesson to other would-be change-makers. Students will watch the short film and meet some of the subjects of the film and learn more about their path towards fighting period inequity and ensuring a healthy future for all.

Suggested Subjects: Activism, Health, LGBTQ+ Studies, Peer/Youth Issues, Political Science, Social Studies, Women/Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 5-12

My So-Called High School Rank

THU APR 27 12:30 PM PT | ONLINE (For Q&A Only)
Directed by Ricki Stern & Anne Sundberg (USA, 101 minutes)

Screening link(s) will be sent to view film at your convenience.

My So-Called High School Rank goes deep into the lives of high school students in three radically disparate communities as they navigate the pressures around college while staging a musical, until seismic events upend their dreams and expectations. In 2019, students in Sacramento, CA were busy creating a new musical that drew from their own experiences as talented but very anxious students, all focused on getting into the same top schools. As word about the musical spread, schools around the country–including in Cupertino, CA, Ripley, WV, and the Bronx–reached out to stage it with their students. The film follows the journey of these students, the musical, and reveals the remarkable resilience that binds this generation across economic and racial divides.

Suggested Subjects: Art/Media, Career Path Training, Drama/Acting, Peer/Youth Issues, Mental Health, Music, LGBTQ+ Studies, Social Sciences, Social Studies

Recommended Grades: 6–12

Program Note: This film contains brief profanity.

Shorts 4: Family Films

THU APR 27 10 AM PT | ONLINE (For Q&A Only)

Total Running Time: 70 min

Screening link(s) will be sent to view film(s) at your convenience.

Exciting possibilities burst forth on our festival screen as this lively collection of shorts by veteran and new filmmakers alike thrillingly demonstrate. A flock of rose-colored aquatic avians disrupt the military precision of a massive warship while an adventurous arachnid dreams of a lunar destination just out of web’s reach. A young sapling soaks up the wisdom passed on from the rustling leaves of its wise neighbor as lush cinematography captures Ecuador’s flora and fauna and the cozy streets of suburbia. Collected from many corners of the world, these true, not-so-true, and animated stories are sure to inspire laughter, curiosity, tears, and awe in the youngest filmgoers.

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

Code Rose

Directed by Taye Cimon, Pierre Coëz, Julie Groux, Sandra Leydier, Manuarii Morel, Romain Seisson (France, 5 min)

Hijinks ensue when flocks of flamingos disrupt operations on an aircraft carrier.

Dipsas Speaks

Craig Daniel Leon (Ecuador, 6 min)

Wildlife sounds a warning message of deforestation in their fragile Ecuadorian Amazon ecosystem.

El Moño

Directed by Luis Fernando Puente & Lizde Arias (USA, 9 min)

In English and Spanish with English Subtitles

Andrea learns of generational family magic that helps her find lost objects in unexpected ways.

Kintsugi

Directed by Cleto Acosta-McKillop (USA, 8 min)

When a flashy neighbor moves next door, a restaurant’s lucky cat is faced with insecurities.

Labor of Love
Directed by Richard O’Connor (USA, 3 min)

Mary shares memories of her grandmother, a formerly enslaved, life-saving midwife in North Carolina.

New Moon

Directed by Jeff Le Bars, Jérémie Balais (USA, 12 min)

Surrealist night shared by a mother and son filled with love, inspiration, and Aretha Franklin.

Pete

Directed by Bret Parker (USA, 7 min)

A true story about gender identity, Little League Baseball, and people who accept change.

Swing to the Moon

Directed by Marie Bordessoule, Chloé Lauzu, Adriana Bouissié, Vincent Levrero, Nadine De Boer, Solenne Moreau and Elisa Drique (France, 6 min)

Living in the forest, a spider will do anything to reach her lunar dream.

The Wind and the Trees

Directed by Todd Stewart (Canada, 9 min)

Deep in the boreal forest, a mature pine tree and a seedling begin a conversation.

With a Wool Ball

Directed by Belén Ricardes (Argentina, 5 min)

In Spanish with English Subtitles

Charming stop-motion musical of an Argentinian winter full of ponchos, animal friends, and warm stories.

Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Asian Studies, Art/Media, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Environmental Science, Latin American Studies, LGBTQ+ Studies, Music, Science, Spanish, Women and Gender Studies

Recommended Grades:K–6

Program Note: This program contains mild peril.

Shorts 5: Youth Works

Wed, Apr 26 at 12:30 PM PT | ONLINE (For Q&A Only)
Total Running Time: 73 min

Screening link(s) will be sent to view film(s) at your convenience.

Young directors from as close as the Bay Area and as far away as Spain and Taiwan bring empathy, awareness, and specificity to storytelling. Encompassing emotive composition, breathtaking drone footage, and playfully sleek editing, this collection includes a diverse range of animation, narratives, and documentaries. Experimental movement, dark political humor, and tales varied enough to embrace classroom romance and reflections on growing up and interdependence mark this introduction to an up-and-coming group of cinematic voices carrying us one short at time into the next generation of filmmaking.

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

American Ball Game
Directed by Teja Mettu & Krish Mysoor (USA, 9 min)
With twisting dark humor, Dan uncomfortably tries to fit in with his friend’s white family.

The External-Internal Monologue of an Interdependent Insomniac
Directed by Julian Felix Aaronson (USA, 7 min)
Fraught with insecurities over sexuality, self-acceptance, and gender, a sleep-deprived teenager explains various smells.

Growing up with Memory Loss | A Gift for My 16th Birthday
Directed by Keertana Sreekumar (USA, 3 min)
A young artist with an impaired memory reflects on what it means to grow up.

Hop Heel Drop
Directed by Sania Bhatia (USA, 3 min)
Tap dancer Sydney Barnas shares her story of encouragement and passion for movement.

An Island in the Middle of the Sea
Directed by Alberto Montull (Spain, 5 min)
In Galician with English Subtitles
Students plan a surprise trip for their unwell teacher amongst the striking Galician landscapes.

My Sisters In The Stars: The Story of Lee Yong-soo
Directed by Ian Kim (USA, 10 min)
In Korean and English with English Subtitles
Meet one of the last surviving WWII era Japanese “comfort women” through this multimedia animation.

Our Days in Dongshi
Directed by Hsiang-Yu Li, Tse-Ling Huang, Po-Wen Yen, Hsin-Yi Hung (Taiwan, 10 min)
In Chinese with English Subtitles
Connect with the charming children of Dongshi, Taiwan, a coastline township famous for its oysters.

Parental Orbit
Directed by Dara Carneol (USA, 9 min)
Described as a gruncle dance extravaganza, two family filmmakers discuss life and creativity.

Rational Functions
Directed by Esmé Nix (USA, 6 min)
A lonely girl finds connection in class through understanding math as tragic love stories.

Shopworn
Directed by Athena Cheris (USA, 6 min)
Stubbornness might be the downfall for an aging boxer unable to let go.

The Sound
Directed by Cole Willis (USA, 5 min)
Preparing for an upcoming performance, a young dancer begins to embrace her unrealized potential.

Suggested Subjects: African American Studies, Art/Media, Asian Studies, Dance, History, LGBTQ+ Studies, Math, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues, Political Science, Social Studies, Women and Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 6–12

Program Note: This program contains mild peril and brief profanity.

by Anisha Dwarka

Oblivious. This word had very little connection to me until I had come to watch Turning Red in the Castro Theatre on April 27th, 2022. For two years, I had been watching movies in my living room. It was an interesting experience as I look back on it. The movies that I had gotten to watch at home were beautiful pieces of art, but not until recently did I realize that watching a movie in your house is completely different from watching a movie in a theatre. Now you might be thinking how can they be different? It’s just the setting, but that’s just it. It’s like listening to music. All songs are unique. You’ve got happy, sad, relaxed, tense, and the list goes on. Yet, when you place those different songs in the appropriate setting, you can feel more emotion and connection. What do I mean by appropriate setting? I mean the place that means something to you. It’s the place that helps make the song special to you. When those associations occur it becomes a memory you can remember vividly and that is exactly how it felt to return to the Castro Theatre. Once I sat in the red theatre seats, this sort of longing inside of me was gone. Everything felt complete after the movie ended. As someone who makes films, listening to people react the same way as yourself was reviving. When you come to watch a movie at a theatre you usually come with someone who has something in common with you. They share the same desire as you, yet you also sit with strangers of varying ages and backgrounds sharing this desire. You sit on this emotional rollercoaster, with someone so alike yet so different from you, and at the end of that rollercoaster, there is a memory waiting at the exit. I think this is the beauty of watching a film in a theatre. Whilst this pandemic brought new lots of adaptation, I think something that changed my life was innovation and creativity. When watching movies at home, I had to create the ambiance. I had to dim the lights. I had to pop the popcorn. I had to organize the couch I sat on. This process was something I will never forget and will become more and more special as time passes by. We come into movie theaters ready to experience, but there is a process behind that experience. Over my quarantine pandemic days, I learned how to replicate a feeling I couldn’t access at the time. It might not have been perfect looking back, yet it was perfect at the moment.

by Jayna Dighe

In past history classes, I’ve read impactful stories about Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and John Lewis that have inspired me and caused me to appreciate the extent of what the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement have done for me as a young minority in America. The Black Panther party was always mentioned in my textbooks, but more in passing than in detail. They were described as acting in ways opposite of MLK’s teachings, violent and harsh in comparison to MLK’s nonviolent ways. I always imagined the Black Panthers tearing through the streets of Oakland, burning buildings and starting riots. I never gave second thought to this portrayal until I attended the SFFILM program American Justice on Trial + For Love and Legacy. This program was about Huey P. Newton, one of the leaders and founders of the Blank Panther party who was wrongfully convicted of first degree murder, which completely changed my perspective. After watching these two impactful films, I learned that the Black Panther party was more than just a group of angry people with guns. They were brave and fought hard for their rights just like MLK. They believed in their right to be able to defend themselves, which didn’t necessarily translate to constant violence and shootings. Through Huey’s trial, he exposed the injustice in the American court system. This trial was monumental, because the jury was led by the first black foreman ever to serve on a major murder trial. Huey strove to educate Americans about the history of injustice in the United States and to push for equality in the legal system. I also learned from Huey’s wife, as she recalled Huey’s immense strength in the face of extreme hardships and as she worked to ensure that he was remembered by his community. When I walked out of the theater, the main question that flooded my brain was this: Why didn’t I know about Huey before? Why do most people have a flawed idea of the Black Panther party? Why are MLK and Rosa Parks common names in history books but not Huey P. Newton? Even though the Black Panther party originated far from all the protests going on in Selma and Washington, D.C, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t as important or impactful. The Black Panthers should be remembered for their part of the Civil Rights Movement. I wonder what other historical stories are hidden or misremembered. These documentaries have demonstrated to me that what is written in history books is not necessarily the whole picture. In future classes, I will strive to ask more questions and do my own research about the other sides to historical narratives so that I can gain a better understanding of past events that shape the future of our country and our world.

by Maggie O’Shea

One foot after the other, curious steps. The bad side of town, air hot and still, corroded metal, smashed bonnets of cars. The sour, pungent smell of bleach, open windows thick with oil, wax and dust, plated with textured glass. Minutes elapsed, bars of billowing smoke from a lit cigarette on the floor. And then, instantly before us, was a theater. That day, I was definitely not interested in anything to do with storytelling, more engaged in my phone or video games. As soon as I saw the curved red arc, people gathering under it and stamping tickets, the warm, buttery smell of popcorn wafting through the two doors, I blinked, attention igniting. We got stamps on our hands and walked through to a black room, lights dimmed and families chattering. As soon as we sat, a voice began speaking and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

William Joyce was an extremely inspirational speaker. Throughout his teachings, I never knew how much time and effort it took to produce a short film, simply aware of the outcome. The second film he presented was introduced much like the first, until I understood the concept that he explained. “The Numberlys” was something that resonated so much with me, the feelings deep in my heart. Growing up, I had many friends and connections. Yet, throughout middle school, everything was new. I felt different, but not necessarily older. Everyone surrounding me wore certain clothes, had styled hair, and carried the same backpacks wearing similar jewelry. All of a sudden, it wasn’t about who you were anymore. It was about what you possessed, and then how others interpreted it. I felt like an outcast, not nearly what I used to be. Everyone was accepted and could present their passions and interests easily before, but here, the people were terrifying, and I had no idea how they would see me.

The Numberlys experienced something similar. Every number was the same, with no invention or idea of uniqueness. Understanding how they went about their day with not only law and order, but similarity, took a great deal of self comprehension. I felt as though I could connect with these poor numbers, stomping through everyday life in black and white. Gradually, the longer I stayed at school, the more I shifted. Suddenly, I stuck out. And each day, I was influenced to become like others. I accepted that in order to fit in, I had to show that I knew how to. I had friends, but that ongoing comparison towards others, especially as “groups” started to settle in, was soul crushing. Everyone was alike, and I didn’t like it. My favorite pair of jeans sat still in the back of my closet, replaced by black leggings that the others wore. Being compared to others is genuinely the only thing that ever truly crushed me.

So, when the Numberlys were introduced, I felt my body stand still, attention switched from my popcorn to the large screen. The film began as black and white, just like how I remembered my middle school experience. As the Numberlys delved into uniqueness and the act of being different, color began to approach. This resonates with me as my new-found high school experience. The comparison didn’t fade, but I understood that I had to show who I truly was and gain acceptance from myself, not anyone else. Fitting in was a difficult thing to do in the past and it brought out the worst in me. By constantly conforming, the Numberlys never found peace and contentment, instead, it was a lifetime struggle of being alike. I really felt this, as if I was putting a mask on who I was inside. Conformity is a very dangerous thing, it tackles your persona and who you project. It was as if I couldn’t create my own perceptions of myself, my senses were blurred and I could only use others’ assumptions or opinions as building blocks for my personality. I slowly faded into what society wanted me to be, similar to the Numberlys. While they did share a number with several other Numberlys, they couldn’t show each other who they really were inside, until the conformity was obliterated and a new standard fell into place.

Often, I find myself still lacking the color that Numberlys experienced at the end of the film, but I never fail to remember that the black and white is the easy option. Everyone can be like anyone else. But the color, that’s the part that can fulfill what I want and truly make me happy as a person who recognizes their own self-worth. Accepting myself is part of a journey that will lead me from black and white to new colors, and then happiness.