Schools at the Festival

by Tiffany Li

What did I like about the film? Well, I really loved the fact that they used a Chinese character as the main character and used actual traditions to reference it. As a Chinese Asian American, I can somewhat relate to Mei Mei, even if we have different beliefs. But because people don’t usually make movies or shows starring Chinese characters or Asian Americans in general, it’s extra unique. Especially, but not only because it’s from a bigger movie company. Though we only make up 5.6% of the US population, you would usually see at least two Asian Americans when you go out if not more, especially in Chinatown. I think that movie producers should include more Asian characters. The impact of movies on the public is much more than you think. Either way, I strongly believe that Asians should be included in more shows and movies. I also think that smaller movie producers that make movies or shows starring all cultures and people from all over the world should receive a lot more fame. Specifically, because many bigger producers don’t include many different types of people.

by Cleo Fowler

Have you ever just wanted to sit back and watch amazing people from around the world, in one of the coolest cities ever? SFFILM is an amazing experience with many cool documentaries, and movies. This was my first experience back in a movie theater and I will be telling you how I felt about it.

My teacher had told me that we would be going to The Castro Theater to watch a documentary about middle school students who had made a code for the international Space Station. The documentary was called Zero Gravity. My mind was blown. “How did these students do that?” “Wow!” On Tuesday, April 26, 2022 we walked into the grand Castro Theater. I was ecstatic! It had been two years since I had been in a movie theater! A few minutes after we sat down the documentary started…

As the documentary started, we were introduced to three kids. Makala, Avik, and Carole. It all started when it was announced that Campbell Middle school in San Jose, California, would be participating in a special coding program for the International Space Station. That was right down the road! They were informed that they would be coding satellites for the planet Mars. Half of the time we were in their classroom, and half the time we were in Makala, Avik, And Carol’s homes, and seeing what their personal lives were like.

Toward the end of the documentary it got a little heated. Some of their codes worked while others didn’t. They were working their butts off. Finally, after fixing the code, it worked. But they lost against another California team. Eventually the two teams met, and worked together. One win after the next, and finally the semifinals against Idaho. Idaho and California were similar, but California lost. They were awarded a paper that read: I Coded for the International Space Station! Carol was actually in the theater, watching her documentary. At the end she got on stage and answered questions. I could not believe it! It was almost like meeting an actor, but for a documentary.
Overall I thought that the experience was amazing, fun, and entertaining. (SFFILM, could we do more?) I hope you liked my essay!

by Alba Bailey Valera

The Trail Before Us is an amazing short film. I chose this short film to write about because I can relate to it from my own perspective. In the short film, the boys talk about how the trails of their land are a part of them and how when they bike through those majestic trails they feel something special. They are reclaiming and embracing their land that was threatened to be taken away from their ancestors years ago.

Asturias is a place in Northern Spain. It is where my ancestors are from. I feel connected to its landscapes, especially the beaches, so I can relate to the feelings expressed in the film. Asturias has existed for more than 100,000 years. There’s still cave paintings from a long time ago. A very special thing about Asturias is it has protected its traditions for a very long time. The Asturian people are very protective of their land and culture. For centuries, invaders tried to take over Asturias for its natural richness, such as gold and coal in the mountains and the rivers.

Another connection between the film and Asturias are the trails. The trails in Asturias go back to the Middle Ages, when the pilgrims were discovering different ways of traveling. In the short film those trails have also been there for a long time. The trails were there for their ancestors to go around riding their horses. In Asturias, those trails originated as a religious journey with a destination in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. Nowadays anyone can go on those trails even if you’re not religious since they are a spiritual journey for everyone.

In my case, what I really connect to when I am in Asturias are the beaches. I embrace them like the boys do when they go biking in their land. There is one beach in particular, Santa Maria del Mar. This beach is in the Bay of Biscay in the Northern part of Asturias. It has a very important place in my heart because that’s where I spent summers growing up since I was in my mom’s belly. I love its sand and warm waves that hit the shore very gently. Something very interesting about it is the sand. The sand is black. Why? you may wonder… Well that’s because of the coal mine right next to the beach where the miners would mine a long time ago. It gives me deja vu of all the stories my family would tell about the richness of Asturian roots. That is not all, there is also an upper level with grass that you can have picnics at. That’s where me and my family meet up including my uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. There are also outdoor restaurants where you can eat at or have a drink. I really enjoy playing in the rusty swings with my cousin and playing in the warm sand making sand castles with my family. There are so many feelings and memories I get when I arrive there. They flood my brain like the way the waves flood your feet.

Just like that amazing fresh feeling the boys get when they step outside of their house to go biking, Asturias has a very deep and special connection to me. I love the familiar feeling I get when I go to its beaches. It’s a sensational feeling that changes you internally and connects you with something special. A very similar feeling that happens when you go hiking on the Spanish trails that the pilgrims made, just like the trails the boys’ ancestors would use. It changed their life and made it better for the generations to come. Almost as if our ancestors are here to guide us through the trails ahead.

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.

2022 Online Program

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

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR IN-PERSON PROGRAM
 

Art & Science of Lucasfilm: Get in the Door

Q&A: Wed, May 4 at 12:30 pm PT | Online
90 min

This presentation marks the 14th year of our exciting collaborative educational series with Lucasfilm, a program that demonstrates 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 a behind-the-scenes, interactive multimedia presentation and participate in an in-depth discussion and Q&A. Featuring Get in the Door, a new documentary series developed by a core group of passionate employees from Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and ILMxLAB who recognize the entertainment industry’s barrier to entry and the lack of underrepresented groups within the studio. Students will meet some of the artists featured in the episodes and learn about their individual career journey, passion for their craft, and tips for how to get into the industry.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, Career Path Training, Math, Peer/Youth Issues, Science

Recommended Grades: 6 – 12

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Q&A: Thu, May 5 at 12:30 pm PT | Online
Directed by Joel Coen (USA, 105 min)

Starring Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand, this exciting Apple TV+ adaptation, directed by four-time Academy Award-winner Joel Coen, embraces the classic text and combines star-studded performances with striking and minimalistic black-and-white imagery. First performed in 1606, William Shakespeare’s Macbeth tells the tale of murder, madness, ambition and wrathful cunning in which a Scottish lord becomes convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland, nearly destroying the kingdom in the process.

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

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts

Recommended Grades: 9 – 12

Program Note: This film contains violence.

Frederick Douglass: In 5 Speeches

Q&A: Thu, May 5 at 10:00 am PT | Online
Directed by Julia Marchesi (USA, 60 min)

This documentary from HBO brings to life the words of our country’s most famous anti-slavery activist. Actors including Nicole Beharie (Miss Juneteenth) and Jonathan Majors (The Last Black Man in San Francisco), draw from five of Douglass’ legendary speeches, to represent a different moment in the tumultuous history of 19th century America as well as a different stage of Douglass’ long and celebrated life. After his escape from slavery at age 20, Frederick Douglass went on to become the most famous Black man in the nineteenth century, known for the power of his words. Entirely self-taught, Douglass was a powerful writer and master orator, crafting speeches that called out American hypocrisy and challenged the nation to live up to its founding principles. Inspired by David Blight’s Pulitzer Prize winning biography, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom and executive produced by scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the film reminds us how Frederick Douglass’ words about racial injustice still resonate deeply today.

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

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Activism, African American Studies, History, Social Studies

Recommended Grades: 6 – 12

Program Note: This film contains historical imagery of violence.

Zero Gravity

Q&A: Tue, May 3 at 12:30 pm PT | Online
Directed by Thomas Verrette (USA, 74 min)

This documentary is a powerful and inspirational story about education, science, and the next generation that follows a diverse group of middle school students who compete in a nationwide competition to code satellites aboard the International Space Station. Seen through the wondrous eyes
of three young innovators and their first-time coach, they each embark on an intimate and personal journey to the final frontier as their team grows from amateur coders to represent California in the ISS Finals Tournament — the culmination of a summer-long adventure that sees their incredible accomplishment performed by astronauts in orbit.

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

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts

Recommended Grades: 3 – 12

Program Note: This film contains profanity.

Shorts 6: Family Films

Q&A: Tue, May 3 at 10:00 am PT | Online
71 min

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

Providing a little something for everyone, this captivating collection of animated, documentary, and narrative shorts spans the globe. Taking us from the moon’s surface to the sacred lands of the Navajo Nation, while finding moments of deep connection in unexpected ways.

Battery Daddy
Seung-bae Jeon (South Korea, 6 min)
In Korean with English subtitles
What’s inside that flashlight and tv remote could save the day in very unexpected ways.

Dream Carriers
Esmeralda Hernandez (USA, 7 min)
Framed through the migration of monarch butterflies, a college bound Chicana reflects on the generations of women before her.

Intervals
Mitchelle Tamariz (France, 3 min)
In French with English subtitles
Scornful looks from coworkers are not enough to squash the joy a baker achieves from baking a cake.

Mama Has a Mustache
Sally Rubin (USA, 10 min)
Whimsical animation about identity and family outside the traditional gender binary, seen through children’s eyes.

Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat
William Joyce (UK, 13 min)
A man with a head full of dreams is unsuccessfully beaten down by the mind numbing factory where he works.

The Ocean Duck
Huda Razzak (USA, 7 min)
An ancient tale comes to life, as a young woman visits her ailing grandmother in the hospital during a magical flood.

‘Ohana and ‘Āina: Connecting Family, Farming, and Freedom
Jade Onaka & Joel Serin-Christ (USA, 6 min)
An inspiring young activist explores her family’s history to learn about sustainable farming practices in Hawaii.

Space Race
Shane Dioneda (USA, 6 min)
Aspirations of glory on the surface of the moon are spoiled by a worthy competitor out for the same prize.

The Trails Before Us
Fritz Bitsoie (USA, 13 min)
In English and Navajo with English subtitles
By revitalizing trails on his grandparents’ land, a young Diné mountain biker and a new generation of riders honor the connection to their land, community, and culture.

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

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Activism, Arts/Media, English Language Arts, Environmental Science, Latin American Studies, LGBTQ+ Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies, Women/Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: K – 6

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.

2022 In-Person Program

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

American Justice on Trial + For Love & Legacy

Mon, May 2 at 12:30 pm PT | SFMOMA
60 min

American Justice on Trial:
Directed by Andrew Abrahams & Herb U. Ferrette, II (USA, 40 min)

This gripping documentary revisits the 1968 Huey Newton trial, one of the most important moments in American judicial history. When Black Panther Party cofounder Huey Newton was arrested for the murder of an Oakland policeman, the trial was bound to be covered by all the major outlets and cause social unrest. What led to his two years in prison is a fascinating trial where racial issues were front and center from the criminal defense to the jury composition. The foreman who headed the jury gives rare insight into what happened during deliberations and how they saved Newton from the death sentence.

For Love and Legacy:
Directed by A.K. Sandhu (USA, 20 min)

Sculptor Dana King’s hands and activist Fredrika Newton’s memories come together to build a new monument—a bust of Black Panther Party (BPP) leader Huey P. Newton for the Oakland community that he loved and shaped. As the sculpture takes form, more than just a face is revealed. From the project’s conception through its community unveiling, these two women take us on a journey to reclaim erased histories—personal and collective—and to rededicate them to the future.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Activism, African American Studies, Arts/Media, Journalism, History, Political Science, Women/Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 6 – 12

Program Note: This shorts program contains brief profanity and historical imagery of violence.

Disney+ Sketchbook

Fri, Apr 29 at 11:00 am PT | Castro Theatre
90 min

In the new instructional documentary series Disney+ Sketchbook, Disney+ viewers receive an intimate glimpse into the lives of talented artists and animators. Each episode focuses on a single artist teaching us how to draw a single iconic character from a Walt Disney Animation Studios film. As we learn the steps to drawing these characters, we also discover that the artists themselves each have unique stories to tell about how they joined Disney and their chosen character. This workshop will include two full episodes featuring artists Gabby Capali and Eric Goldberg. A Q&A with the artists and the directors behind the production will follow. Gabby and Eric will finish with a live drawing activity featuring some of their favorite characters.

Episode 1
Directed by Jason Sterman (USA, 21 min)

Gabby Capili’s path to Disney Animation began at a very young age when she saw her first Disney’s film in a theater with her father, The Emperor’s New Groove. As Gabby teaches us how to draw her favorite character from the film, “Kuzco,” she also shares the importance of following your instincts and being free to letting life guide you where you belong.

Episode 3
Directed by Leanne Dare (USA, 21 min)

Legendary Disney animator Eric Goldberg guides us through the steps of drawing his most iconic character creation, “The Genie” from Aladdin while sharing along the way levels to which Robin Williams impacted the character and its animation.

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

Recommended Grades: K – 8

Be sure to bring paper and pencils with you to draw along.

Gagarine

Thu, Apr 21 at 10:00 am PT | SFMOMA
Thu, Apr 21 at 12:30 pm PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Fanny Liatard & Jérémy Trouilh (France, 96 min)

Youri, 16, has lived all his life in Gagarine Cité, a vast red brick housing project on the outskirts of Paris. From the heights of his apartment, he dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when plans to demolish his community’s home are leaked, Youri joins the resistance. With his friends Diana and Houssam, he embarks on a mission to save Gagarine, transforming the estate into his own “starship” – before it disappears into space forever. The film was shot on the cusp of the actual demolition of the Cité Gagarine housing project in collaboration with its residents in Ivry-sur-Seine.

This film is in French with English subtitles.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, French, Peer/Youth Issues, Science, Social Studies

Recommended Grades: 9 – 12

Program Note: This film contains profanity.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Fri, Apr 22 at 11:00 am PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp (USA, 90 min)

Poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, this feature expansion of the beloved web series features the titular mollusk (voiced by Jenny Slate) looking after his Nana Connie (Isabella Rossellini) and ruminating on his home life and missing family. Filmed by a mostly off-camera director (the film’s real-life director Dean Fleischer-Camp), Marcel discusses his garden, musical tastes, and various hobbies, and both are shocked when the resulting videos go viral online. When Lesley Stahl from 60 Minutes wants to do a story on Marcel, our young hero worries to his Nana, “What if everything changes?” A comic delight from start to finish.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Sciences

Recommended Grades: 4 – 12

Program Note: This film contains brief profanity.

Mija

Fri, Apr 29 at 12:30 pm PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Isabel Castro (USA, 88 min)

This intimate coming-of-age story follows young Mexican American Doris Muñoz who works as a music manager for artist Cuco, her biggest client.
When the two part ways, the ambitious Muñoz seeks fresh talent and discovers singer-songwriter Jacks Haupt. This new beginning reconnects her with her love for music, but Muñoz is often torn between her pursuit of a career as an artist and her obligations in caring for her undocumented immigrant family. Directed by first-time Mexican American filmmaker Isabel Castro, Mija pairs dreamy cinematography with a whimsical soundtrack of Latinx alternative music as it tells a touching story about a first-generation daughter’s burdens and shines a light on issues surrounding immigration.

In English and Spanish with English Subtitles

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Career Path Training, Latin American Studies, Music, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies, Spanish, Women/Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 8 – 12

Program Note: This film contains profanity.

Over/Under

Mon, May 2 at 10:00 am PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Sophia Silver (USA, 88 min)

Violet and Stella spend idyllic summers at camp and the beach. As time passes, personalities and bodies evolve in this thoughtful and elegiac indie drama about the everlasting bond of female friendship. Following the girls’ formative years from ages 9 through 13, we observe intimate details of their lives together and apart on vacations in New England and at home in California. At times, they struggle with body image, peer pressure, social awkwardness, and parental bonds. Yet at the end of the day, the girls have each other to lean on. Based on writer Sianni Rosenstock and director/co-writer Sophia Silver’s own childhood bond, this charming tale of sisterhood conjures up memories of contemporary classics Beaches and Now and Then.

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

Recommended Grades: 6 – 12

Program Note: This film contains some adult themes.

TikTok, Boom

Fri, Apr 29 at 10:00 am PT | SFMOMA
Directed by Shalini Kantayya (USA, 90 min)

For those under 30, TikTok is the most popular platform for creating personalized content. The most popular “influencers” make more money on it than on YouTube. As with most online social networks, however, there is a darker mechanism behind the cute videos, and this documentary deftly explores both sides of the social media sensation. Director Shalini Kantayya (Coded Bias, Doc Stories 2020) presents a wonderfully balanced and holistic view of TikTok, from content creators censored by the app when they discuss potentially incendiary topics to journalists who have investigated the Chinese parent company’s controversial data-mining techniques to creators like Spencer X, a beatboxer who finds community, purpose, and for now, at least, a career in his exceedingly popular videos.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Computer Science, Journalism, Mental Health, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Sciences, Student Activism, World/Current Affairs

Recommended Grades: 6 – 12

Program Note: This film contains brief profanity.

Turning Red

Wed, Apr 27 at 10:00 am PT | Castro Theatre
Directed by Domee Shi (100 min, USA)

Disney+’s and Pixar’s Turning Red introduces Mei Lee (voice of Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying with her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager. And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS), she “poofs” into a giant red panda! Directed by Academy Award® winner Domee Shi (Pixar short Bao) and produced by Lindsey Collins.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, Asian Studies, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, Peer/Youth Issues, Women/Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 4 – 12

Zero Gravity

Tue, Apr 26 at 10:00 am PT | Castro Theatre
Directed by Pippa Ehrlich & James Reed
Directed by Thomas Verrette (USA, 74 min)

This documentary is a powerful and inspirational story about education, science, and the next generation that follows a diverse group of middle school students who compete in a nationwide competition to code satellites aboard the International Space Station. Seen through the wondrous eyes of three young innovators and their first-time coach, they each embark on an intimate and personal journey to the final frontier as their team grows from amateur coders to represent California in the ISS Finals Tournament — the culmination of a summer-long adventure that sees their incredible accomplishment performed by astronauts in orbit.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Career Path Training, Computer Science, History, Math, Peer/Youth Issues, Science, Social Studies, Women/Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 3 – 12

From Fact to Fiction

Thu, Apr 28 at 10:00 am PT | Castro Theatre
75 min

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

Collected from around the world, this compilation of short films explores such topics as the cultural traditions of African American beauty salons, personal exploration of identity, challenging family dynamics, and finding ways to connect to the natural world around us. It features narrative, documentary and animated films using traditional hand-drawn stop-motion, and CG techniques to bring their characters to life. This collection gives students the perfect smorgasbord of all the SFFILM Festival has to offer.

Babybangz
Juliana Kasumu (USA, 11 min)
In a New Orleans salon, Anastasia cultivates freedom for Black women and their hair.

Blue Veil
Shireen Alihaji (USA, 5 min)
Amina asserts her Muslim American identity as she reflects on post-9/11 Islamophobia and her parents’ migration story.

Half-Day
Morgan Matthews (USA, 17 min)
A boy learns about his estranged father through a visit to his stepbrother’s home.

Hannah’s Biography
Patricia Lee (USA, 12 min)
A spunky recently divorced grandmother takes a stab at stand up comedy

Intervals
Mitchelle Tamariz (France, 3 min)
In French with English subtitles
Scornful looks from coworkers are not enough to squash the joy a baker achieves from baking a cake.

My Duduś
Tom Krawczyk (USA, 8 min)
A Polish mother quells her empty nest syndrome by caring for an abandoned baby squirrel.

Space Race
Shane Dioneda (USA, 6 min)
Aspirations of glory on the surface of the moon are spoiled by a worthy competitor out for the same prize.

The Trails Before Us
In English and Navajo with English subtitles
By revitalizing trails on his grandparents’ land, a young Diné mountain biker and a new generation of riders honor the connection to their land, community, and culture.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: African American Studies, Arts/Media, Environmental Science, Middle Eastern Studies, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies, Women/Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: 6 – 12

Program Note: This film contains brief profanity.

Shorts 6: Family Films

Fri, Apr 22 at 10:00 am PT | Castro Theatre
Mon, Apr 25 at 10:00 am PT | Castro Theatre
71 min

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

Providing a little something for everyone, this captivating collection of animated, documentary, and narrative shorts spans the globe. Taking us from the moon’s surface to the sacred lands of the Navajo Nation, while finding moments of deep connection in unexpected ways.

Battery Daddy
Seung-bae Jeon (South Korea, 6 min)
In Korean with English subtitles
What’s inside that flashlight and tv remote could save the day in very unexpected ways.

Dream Carriers
Esmeralda Hernandez (USA, 7 min)
Framed through the migration of monarch butterflies, a college bound Chicana reflects on the generations of women before her.

Intervals
Mitchelle Tamariz (France, 3 min)
In French with English subtitles
Scornful looks from coworkers are not enough to squash the joy a baker achieves from baking a cake.

Mama Has a Mustache
Sally Rubin (USA, 10 min)
Whimsical animation about identity and family outside the traditional gender binary, seen through children’s eyes.

Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat
William Joyce (UK, 13 min)
A man with a head full of dreams is unsuccessfully beaten down by the mind numbing factory where he works.

The Ocean Duck
Huda Razzak (USA, 7 min)
An ancient tale comes to life, as a young woman visits her ailing grandmother in the hospital during a magical flood.

‘Ohana and ‘Āina: Connecting Family, Farming, and Freedom
Jade Onaka & Joel Serin-Christ (USA, 6 min)
An inspiring young activist explores her family’s history to learn about sustainable farming practices in Hawaii.

Space Race
Shane Dioneda (USA, 6 min)
Aspirations of glory on the surface of the moon are spoiled by a worthy competitor out for the same prize.

The Trails Before Us
Fritz Bitsoie (USA, 13 min)
In English and Navajo with English subtitles
By revitalizing trails on his grandparents’ land, a young Diné mountain biker and a new generation of riders honor the connection to their land, community, and culture.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Activism, Arts/Media, English Language Arts, Environmental Science, Latin American Studies, LGBTQ+ Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies, Women/Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: K – 6

Shorts 7: Youth Works

Thu, Apr 28 at 12:30 pm PT | Castro Theatre
67 min

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

With resilience, determination, and consideration, young filmmakers breathe life into filmmaking’s future. Through cerebral period pieces, zany parallel futures, and deeply personal and innovative recollections of growing up, this mix of animation, narrative, and documentary introduces a bold yet nuanced approach to storytelling.

Avi: From The North
Avi Maksagak (Canada, 5 min)
In Korean with English subtitles
Filmmaker Avi Maksagak weaves poetry with cinematic images in this tribute to home and community in the North.

Beth
Ava Bounds (UK, 12 min)
In 1898, Yorkshire, England, an asylum patient fights to return home when her hopes are twisted.

Freshman Year
Bea Hammam (USA, 6 min)
In freshman year of high school, Mia must navigate historically strained friendships and family dynamics.

Honeybee
Emilio Reyes (USA, 3 min)
After a terrifying and traumatic day, Alejandro listens to his daughter’s story of the honeybee.

Incursion
Noah Lillywhite & Kai Wiley (USA, 8 min)
Wrestling with the frustrating work day grind, Matthew turns to the futuristic intelligent AI “E.V.E.” to escape.

Moments
Hurshida Sherkulova, Evgeniya Papina, & Surayyo Tashpulatova (Uzbekistan, 7 min)
In Uzbek with English Subtitles
Three filmmakers point their cameras at the living breathing city of Bukhara that looks back out onto them.

Performance Anxiety
Shaina Ocampo, USA, 5 min
Facing the ridicule of bullies and other peers, a teenager outdoes detractors in a charming animated story.

Pho
Ethan Chu, USA, 12 min
Over generations, a man rekindles connection to his grandmother and their Vietnamese culture.

Think Like A Filmmaker
Eli Berliner (USA, 5 min)
An artist interview becomes reflexive as we learn more about the director’s relationship to his father and film subject.

Unzipped
Jenna Miller (USA, 4 min)
Determined to pursue a new style, a teenager designs and sews a dress, defying tradition.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts, LGBTQ+ Studies,Mental Health, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies

Recommended Grades: 6 – 12

Program Note: This shorts program contains mild peril.

2022 Online Program

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

Art & Science of Lucasfilm: Get in the Door

Q&A: Wed, May 4 at 12:30 pm PT | Online
90 min

Lucasfilm Guests Expected to Attend: Harrison Parker, Casey Straka, Dan Rosales, Dane Larocque, Sean Phillips, April Rhee

This presentation marks the 14th year of our exciting collaborative educational series with Lucasfilm, a program that demonstrates 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 a behind-the-scenes, interactive multimedia presentation and participate in an in-depth discussion and Q&A. Featuring Get in the Door, a new documentary series developed by a core group of passionate employees from Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and ILMxLAB who recognize the entertainment industry’s barrier to entry and the lack of underrepresented groups within the studio. Students will meet some of the artists featured in the episodes and learn about their individual career journey, passion for their craft, and tips for how to get into the industry.

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, Career Path Training, Math, Peer/Youth Issues, Science

Recommended Grades: 6 – 12

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Q&A: Thu, May 5 at 12:30 pm PT | Online
Directed by Joel Coen (USA, 105 min)

Starring Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand, this exciting Apple TV+ adaptation, directed by four-time Academy Award-winner Joel Coen, embraces the classic text and combines star-studded performances with striking and minimalistic black-and-white imagery. First performed in 1606, William Shakespeare’s Macbeth tells the tale of murder, madness, ambition and wrathful cunning in which a Scottish lord becomes convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland, nearly destroying the kingdom in the process.

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

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts

Recommended Grades: 9 – 12

Program Note: This film contains violence.

Frederick Douglass: In 5 Speeches

Q&A: Thu, May 5 at 10:00 am PT | Online
Directed by Julia Marchesi (USA, 60 min)

This documentary from HBO brings to life the words of our country’s most famous anti-slavery activist. Actors including Nicole Beharie (Miss Juneteenth) and Jonathan Majors (The Last Black Man in San Francisco), draw from five of Douglass’ legendary speeches, to represent a different moment in the tumultuous history of 19th century America as well as a different stage of Douglass’ long and celebrated life. After his escape from slavery at age 20, Frederick Douglass went on to become the most famous Black man in the nineteenth century, known for the power of his words. Entirely self-taught, Douglass was a powerful writer and master orator, crafting speeches that called out American hypocrisy and challenged the nation to live up to its founding principles. Inspired by David Blight’s Pulitzer Prize winning biography, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom and executive produced by scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the film reminds us how Frederick Douglass’ words about racial injustice still resonate deeply today.

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

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Activism, African American Studies, History, Social Studies

Recommended Grades: 6 – 12

Program Note: This film contains historical imagery of violence.

Zero Gravity

Q&A: Tue, May 3 at 12:30 pm PT | Online
Directed by Thomas Verrette (USA, 74 min)

This documentary is a powerful and inspirational story about education, science, and the next generation that follows a diverse group of middle school students who compete in a nationwide competition to code satellites aboard the International Space Station. Seen through the wondrous eyes of three young innovators and their first-time coach, they each embark on an intimate and personal journey to the final frontier as their team grows from amateur coders to represent California in the ISS Finals Tournament — the culmination of a summer-long adventure that sees their incredible accomplishment performed by astronauts in orbit.

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

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Arts/Media, Drama/Acting, English Language Arts

Recommended Grades: 3 – 12

Program Note: This film contains profanity.

Shorts 6: Family Films

Q&A: Tue, May 3 at 10:00 am PT | Online
71 min

Titles are listed alphabetically rather than in order of play.

Providing a little something for everyone, this captivating collection of animated, documentary, and narrative shorts spans the globe. Taking us from the moon’s surface to the sacred lands of the Navajo Nation, while finding moments of deep connection in unexpected ways.

Battery Daddy
Seung-bae Jeon (South Korea, 6 min)
In Korean with English subtitles
What’s inside that flashlight and tv remote could save the day in very unexpected ways.

Dream Carriers
Esmeralda Hernandez (USA, 7 min)
Framed through the migration of monarch butterflies, a college bound Chicana reflects on the generations of women before her.

Intervals
Mitchelle Tamariz (France, 3 min)
In French with English subtitles
Scornful looks from coworkers are not enough to squash the joy a baker achieves from baking a cake.

Mama Has a Mustache
Sally Rubin (USA, 10 min)
Whimsical animation about identity and family outside the traditional gender binary, seen through children’s eyes.

Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat
William Joyce (UK, 13 min)
A man with a head full of dreams is unsuccessfully beaten down by the mind numbing factory where he works.

The Ocean Duck
Huda Razzak (USA, 7 min)
An ancient tale comes to life, as a young woman visits her ailing grandmother in the hospital during a magical flood.

‘Ohana and ‘Āina: Connecting Family, Farming, and Freedom
Jade Onaka & Joel Serin-Christ (USA, 6 min)
An inspiring young activist explores her family’s history to learn about sustainable farming practices in Hawaii.

Space Race
Shane Dioneda (USA, 6 min)
Aspirations of glory on the surface of the moon are spoiled by a worthy competitor out for the same prize.

The Trails Before Us
Fritz Bitsoie (USA, 13 min)
In English and Navajo with English subtitles
By revitalizing trails on his grandparents’ land, a young Diné mountain biker and a new generation of riders honor the connection to their land, community, and culture.

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

Suggested Subjects/Themes: Activism, Arts/Media, English Language Arts, Environmental Science, Latin American Studies, LGBTQ+ Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Peer/Youth Issues, Social Studies, Women/Gender Studies

Recommended Grades: K – 6