Sesiones educativas

Cinema is a powerful educational tool for exploring and reflecting on the world we live in and its ongoing challenges. In the setting of a darkened film theatre, with all their attention focused on the big screen, children and teenagers can connect directly and without distraction to cultures, situations and issues far removed from their everyday lives. The cinematic experience not only entertains but also enriches their knowledge and sparks curiosity about social, environmental, historical and technological issues.

In today’s context, where young people have portable screens offering unfiltered and unverified “realities” and audiovisual content that shape their beliefs, it is more important than ever to foster a culture of critical thinking. Such a culture encourages the questioning of the flood of unrestricted information they encounter.

With this in mind, Muestra de Cine de Lanzarote incorporated an educational programme aimed at public schools in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura almost from its inception. The programme involves the screening of a carefully selected film designed to provoke reflection on the festival’s annual theme. Each screening is followed by a guided debate led by a moderator, facilitating dialogue and encouraging students to confront and share their perspectives and opinions.

To date, the experience has been extraordinary, with all participating schools returning year after year. The student groups involved in this activity consistently demonstrate that common sense, empathy, creativity and sensitivity prevail over the dystopian narrative of a youth without a future. Cinema has proven to be an ideal vehicle for fostering learning and the development of critical thinking skills. All of this takes place in a cultural centre and cinema that have been essential to the cultural formation of multiple generations on the island.

Elena develops multiple facets in the field of contemporary art, with a special interest in its educational, political and social aspects. She co-founded the project, Memorias Celuloides, National Network of Domestic Cinema; Medusa Mediation, a collective for community learning through art; and Mucho Más Mayo. Moreover, she was the production coordinator of the parallel events of the Manifesta 8 biennial, where she also curated the section of Institutional Projects. She has participated in the design and coordination of several national and European granted projects.