Four thousand schoolchildren enjoyed the screenings of the Lanzarote International Film Festival last week, which has just premiered its twenty-fourth edition. The youngest on the island are always the first viewers of the Lanzarote International Film Festival (FICL), which has just premiered its twenty-fourth edition, sponsored by the Cabildo of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, presided over by Oswaldo Betancort.
A total of 3,959 students from seventeen educational centers on the island met at the Víctor Fernández Gopar El Salinero theater to witness a selection of 25 short films with content specially chosen for each age group.
On this occasion, the educational centers CEIP Nieves Toledo, CEIP Adolfo Topham, CEIP La Destila, CEIP Antonio Zerolo, CEIP Capellanía del Yágabo, CEIP Titerroy, CEIP Benito Méndez Tarajano, CEO Playa Blanca, CEO Argana Alta, CPE Santa María de los Volcanes, IES San Bartolomé, La Fundación Canaria Flora Acoge, Arenas Internacional, IES Playa Honda, IES Las Maretas, IES Blas Cabrera Felipe and PFAE Cabildo de Lanzarote participated.
The Minister of Culture, Jesús Machín Tavío, expressed that "cinema is a first-rate educational tool that serves to guide thought to reflection on issues of importance in today's society, so with this activity we managed to involve the youngest in a festival established on the regional and national cultural agenda."
Diversity of themes
Behind each chosen short film lies a theme on which it was necessary to reflect and dialogue. Topics such as friendship, environmental protection and climate change, war, artificial intelligence, immigration, cooperation, self-esteem, new technologies, diversity, overcoming obstacles, etc. were addressed.
The experience was commented on by the teacher and actress Miren Edurne Vázquez, who introduced each work with a small performance that encourages critical thinking. "The greatest joy of the Festival is that every year the interest of the educational community in attending the screenings increases."
In addition, the FICL invites the island's students to present their own works in the 'School Short Film Contest', which accepts applications until Wednesday, May 10 and will present the awards at a gala that will take place in the Theater Hall of the Multicines Atlántida, on Sunday, May 19. Those interested can register through the website of the Lanzarote International Film Festival.