This year the repertoire of the Kaunas International Film Festival included several films as the part of the new education project “Learning from Films”. During the festival viewers had the possibility the famous film “A Separation” by Asghar Farhadi from Iran and Swedish directors‘ Babak Najafi piece about adolescence, isolation and poverty “Sebbe”. As well groups of pupils were offered special sessions of thematically relevant films such as “Hands Up”, “Against All Odds”, “The Graveyard Keeper’s Daughter” and “Dresses, Mothers and Daughters”.

The educational project, first of this kind in Lithuania, will extend to two years and will be held in Kaunas. During the project activities pupils will watch films, learn to analyze and interpret them and, with the help of professionals, try to make films themselves. The project inculdes possibility to attend lectures in cinemas to get themselves acquainted with the history of film.

“Learning from Films” will offer about thirty specially selected pieces, introducing subjects and problems actual to children and teenagers. The sessions will be followed by discussions moderated by professionals. The teachers as well will be able to continue the discussions back in class as they will be presented with methodical information gathered by the organizers.

The film sessions of “Learning from Films” will be complemented by free creative film workshops supervised by various film professionals. Special events will be held for teachers and young film professionals wanting to deepen their knowledge about film education and pedagogy.

The special film sessions for pupils and their teachers and other project activities will start at the beginning of the year 2012.

To found out more about „Learning from Films” check out the website www.mokausiiskino.lt, write an email to jurate@kinofestivalis.lt or call this number: +370 613 18771.

The project “Learning from Films” is initiated and brought to you by film centre “Skalvija” (Vilnius), film theatre “Pasaka” (Vilnius), film company “Čiobreliai”, film centre “Garsas” (Panevėžys), public enterprises “Visos mūzos” (Kaunas) and “Kultūrinių projektų centras” (regional).

The project is sustained by the Ministry of Education and Science of the republic of Lithuania and partially financed form the European Social Fund.