Background programmes
For several years now, the Slovenian Art Cinema Association has been trying to raise the level of film literacy, providing the Film Elementary School – a five-year educational project running from 2017 to 2021 – to film education professionals across Slovenia: through a programme of professional training prepared with numerous partners, they travel to cinemas, cultural centres and schools, all over Slovenia.
Through these professional training, they raise awareness of the importance of film and film education in formal education and strengthen the competences of elementary school professionals, film education professionals and students in programmes covering films and audio-visual activities. This is important since the film culture is not only about watching films, but it is also aimed at reflecting films and thus articulating reflections and answers.
The activities of the Film Elementary School are carried out in connection with the institutional elementary school programmes, since in the future the optional subject Film Education is coming to elementary schools, and these training will empower educators to carry out the course. The project is coordinated by Petra Gajžler, a film educator. The response to it is more than excellent: 850 educators from all regions are involved already in 2019.
The second part of the programme is led by Slovenian Cinematheque, which prepares the project Understanding the Film. This is also a five-year educational project aimed at educators and school teachers but in this case secondary school teachers.
See also