Cinema is both wonderful entertainment and one of the most accessible artforms. It has the power to unify, educate, and inspire. Through films, audiences connect not only with other cultures and stories, but also gain new perspectives on their own lives and communities.
New York City’s established cinemas currently offer very little, if any, educational programming that focuses on film as an artform or as a resource for intellectual and cultural enrichment. UWSCC’s inclusion of a strong Education & Engagement department gives the organization the opportunity to play a leading role in this area, engaging new and more diverse audiences.
The following programs represent the initiatives we hope to pursue for schools, families, adults, and community-focused outreach, all modeled after successful cinema centers across the country and the world.
Schools Programming
Objectives:
- Accessible Engagement: Offer accessible screenings and programs to public and private schools across NYC, providing students with opportunities they might not otherwise have.
- Inspire New Audiences: Cultivate the next generation of cinephiles by welcoming young and diverse audiences for a collective viewing experience in a cinema.
- Educational Impact: Position film as a valuable tool for teachers, connecting to curricular goals and fostering empathy and cultural awareness.
Suggested Programs:
- Student Screenings with Q&As, aligned with the cinema’s programming: Schools bring students on field trips to see recent indie, international, and classic films, and meet with filmmakers, exposing them to different cultures and perspectives.
- Film Workshops targeting mainly Title 1 Schools: Project-based, hands-on workshops allowing students to explore film techniques and storytelling through viewings and discussions
- Curriculum-Aligned Screenings: Customized film slates integrated into various academic subjects (selected in partnership with teachers)
- Language Classes: Films in original languages, with subtitles or without for immersion classes
- ELA (English Language Arts): Adaptations of literary works
- Social Studies: Films exploring specific historical periods or social issues.
- Science and Technology: Films that illustrate scientific principles in the curriculum (see also Science on Screen, below)
- College Outreach: Programs for college students and professors to attend screenings, participate in master classes, engage in juries and festivals, with potential for internships in curation and marketing
- Possible Partnership with the NYC Department of Education: Collaborate with the DOE and Mayor’s Office to promote film literacy and the educational value of cinema
POTENTIAL Partnerships:
- Local: Work with NYC organizations such as the New York International Children’s Film Festival, the New York African Film Festival, the African Diaspora International Film Festival, and the New York Latino Film Festival, to expand their youth programming uptown.
- National: Work with U.S. arthouse cinemas with strong educational programs (such as the Jacob Burns Film Center, Coolidge Theatre, Belcourt Theatre) to share experiences and resources.
- International: Work with global institutions to foster cross-cultural film literacy for young audiences. Examples: Spanish and Latin-American film bodies such as IMCINE and Cineteca Nacional in Mexico, French and Francophone film bodies like the CNC and the Cinematheque (with film offerings from North and West Africa and the French Caribbeans).
Youth and Family-Friendly Programs
- Public Programming:
- Weekend family screenings featuring both classic and contemporary films from the US and around the world. Possible partnerships: Children’s Museum and International Children’s Film Festival
- Special programs in a relaxed setting for parents and families with specific needs:
- Weekday screenings with dimmed sound for parents on parental leave where they can bring their sleeping babies;
- Screenings for toddlers with soft sound and lighting, allowing young viewers to move freely;
- Family-friendly screenings with lowered sound levels for children and teens with sensory sensitivities to loud noise;
- Afterschool Programs: Afterschool film clubs and filmmaking workshops for uptown kids and teens.
- Youth Engagement: Involve high school and college students as volunteers, enabling them to learn about cinema and gain hands-on experience within a theater environment.
- Science Literacy: Popularize science through films and develop a Science on Screen program with classic, cult, and documentary films introduced by leading voices in science, technology, and medicine.
Adult Education Programs
- Multi-Week Classes with deep dives into film history, genres, movements, national cinemas, directors, and stars
- One-Night Seminars that pair with select screenings, providing audiences with curated insights into specific films or filmmakers
- Senior Film Club: Weekly matinee screenings followed by discussions, in partnership with local retirement communities
Community Programs
- Filmmaker Open Mic Nights: Monthly screenings of short films (under 15 minutes) created by community members, providing a platform for local emerging voices
- Docent Program for senior citizens to participate as trained hosts, introducing the films at public screenings
- Space available for meetings and presentations by community groups
- Rentals for birthday parties, corporate events, family get-togethers, industry events, Oscar screenings, premieres etc.
- Restaurant space available for receptions before or after events