Tom Piraino & Barbara McWilliams
Celebrating its 29th anniversary, FilmSlam® is the Cleveland International Film Festival’s media literacy program and mini-festival of films for students. FilmSlam® aims to educate students about evaluating and critiquing the messages they perceive while viewing films. Film can be less intimidating than many other art forms because of its prominent role in American culture. Therefore, it is a logical conduit through which social messages (such as the importance of the prevention of domestic violence and the eradication of discrimination) can be sent to young audiences.
FilmSlam® serves as an effective program to provide students with deep learning opportunities that go beyond the acquisition of basic skills. These include: the ability to foster thought-provoking discussion, analysis, and awareness of media communication forms and genres; critical thinking; curiosity; and social emotional growth.
USA
Directed By Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
Running Time: 109 Minutes
The sensational winner of the Grand Jury Prize for documentary at this year's Sundance Film Festival, BOYS STATE is a wildly entertaining and continually revealing immersion into a week-long annual program in which a thousand Texas high school seniors gather... {more}
USA, BOTSWANA
Directed By Louise Hogarth
Running Time: 81 Minutes
When Botswana banned elephant poaching in 2014, something incredible happened: the news of the safe haven spread among herds, prompting a mass elephant migration into Botswana from neighboring countries. Now, with nearly 60% of the world’s elephants residing in Botswana,... {more}
USA, GERMANY, JAPAN, ARGENTINA, AUSTRIA, UNITED KINGDOM
Directed By Martha Shane, Ian Cheney
Running Time: 81 Minutes
Here’s a fun fact: Did you know that “emoji” is a Japanese word that means “picture character?” This definition might give you a hint as to what the film is about. That’s right… emojis. Over the past two decades, emojis... {more}
USA
Directed By Deia Schlosberg
Running Time: 95 Minutes
Of all the plastic that has ever existed, more than half was produced in the last 15 years. Of that, 91% has never been recycled. It’s no secret that we have a major plastic problem. What is less known is... {more}
USA
Directed By Linda Goldstein Knowlton
Running Time: 86 Minutes
CLOSED CAPTIONING AVAILABLE Don’t expect to see the Radical Monarchs— a scout troop comprising young girls of color in Oakland, California—selling cookies. These troopers earn their badges by learning about social justice movements, from the Black Panthers to Black Lives Matter,... {more}
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