The youngest on the island are always the first spectators of the Lanzarote International Film Festival (FICL), which has just premiered its twenty-third edition, according to the Cabildo. Last week, a total of four thousand students from fourteen educational centers on the island met at the Víctor Fernández Gopar ‘El Salinero’ theater to "witness a selection of short films with content chosen for each age group."
"Cinema is an educational tool that serves as a driver for reflection on important issues”
The councilor, Alberto Aguiar, expressed that “cinema is a first-rate educational tool that serves as a driver to introduce the call for reflection on important issues.” “With this activity we managed to involve the youngest in a festival established on the national cultural agenda,” Aguiar concluded.
"Behind each chosen short film lies a theme that needs to be discussed," they collect. Thus, "My name is fear addresses emotional intelligence"; "In the name of the plants, the preservation of the environment"; "As simple as this, self-esteem in the face of prevailing beauty standards"; "La valise rouge, the fight for freedom"; "La chamade, the search for new emotions and knowledge" and "I am Poem, gender identity", they highlight.
"The experience was commented on by the teacher and actress Miren Edurne Vázquez, who introduced each film with a small performance that encouraged critical thinking," they collect.
"The interest of the educational community in attending the screenings is increasing"
The greatest joy of the Festival is that every year "the interest of the educational community in attending the screenings increases," they make clear. On this occasion, the infant and primary centers "Benito Méndez Tarajano" participate; "Adolfo Topham"; "Guenia; "Antonio Zerolo"; "Costa Teguise"; "Titerroy"; "Virgen de los Volcanes"; "Nieves Toledo" and "Los Geranios"; the "CEO Argana Alta" and "Playa Blanca"; the "Capellanía del Yágabo" School; the "IES Zonzamas" and the "Escuela de Arte Pancho Lasso", they enumerate.
They confirm "the success of this pedagogical experience" that "begins in the screening room and ends in the classrooms", with "meaningful learning activities".
On the other hand, the FICL invites the island's students to present their own works in the "School Short Film Contest", which accepts applications until Wednesday, April 26 and will present the awards at a gala on Sunday, May 7. Those interested can register through the website: www.festivaldecinedelanzarote.com.
This film event is organized by Fisme Producciones and the Culture area of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, with the sponsorship of the entities CACT Lanzarote, Canary Island Films, Instituto Canario de Desarrollo Cultural and Arrecife City Council. The Lanzarote companies Arrecife Gran Hotel and CICAR collaborate with the Festival, they add.