Inspiring a love of film is an essential part of the Windsor International Film Festival’s mandate and later this month, students from Catholic schools across Windsor-Essex will be immersed in the many rich and varied learning experiences that the festival has to offer.

High school students from the WECDSB will attend two screenings on Oct. 28 and 30 which curriculum consultant Daniela Koppeser hopes will give them new outlooks on the world they inhabit.

“For some students, these films will provide them with the opportunity to see themselves, but also to learn about the perspectives of others,” said Koppeser, who is also a member of WIFF’s education committee. “These films will help our students appreciate great story telling, plus they get the whole film festival experience.”

On Oct. 28, students from English and Social Sciences classes will see Folk Tales, described as “a moving experience of friendship, resilience and the journey of discovering one’s own identity.” 

“It’s a coming of age film about independence and self confidence with Norse mythology woven throughout,” Koppeser said.

Thanks to a grant from the Solcz Family Foundation, there will be no cost to the students. The foundation is the lead supporter of WIFF’s Healthy Minds Youth Education Series, whose mandate is to provide children and youth in Windsor-Essex with transformative arts experiences but also to address the root causes of mental health challenges by encouraging meaningful conversation, and creating a shared sense of belonging through the power of film.

Students who attend the film will be provided with a nutritional meal and then enjoy a Q&A with WIFF staff following the screening.

On Oct. 30, leadership students, basketball academy students and self-identified Indigenous students will attend a screening of Saints and Warriors, which tells “the inspiring story of young Indigenous athletes whose passion for basketball drives them to grow as teammates and leaders.”

“It’s about how the Indigenous athletes in the film use sport to honour and celebrate their identity, their culture and traditions,” said Koppeser, who added that costs for sending students to this film will be covered by the board’s Indigenous Education department. “It’s also about resilience, and sport as a way to heal.”

Koppeser said Patrick Shannon, who directed the film, will be there for a Q&A panel with the students following the screening.

The mandate of the WIFF’s education committee is to promote Canadian as well as independent local films, and as a member, Koppeser is part of a panel that prescreens and selects films to be shown to students at the festival. Part of their mandate is to make connections to Ontario’s curriculum, so Koppeser is also part of a group that creates curriculum resources based on the selected films that educators can use in the classroom after their students have viewed them.

“It’s really to inspire a love of film and story telling,” she said.