HOW TO REGISTER FOR MVFF EDUCATION SCREENINGS:
Check out the list of MVFF Education film programs, and select the in-theater and/or online film screening(s) you would like your class(es) to attend or view.
- Click on the REGISTER NOW button, and fill out the form to let us know your film selections and how many students will take part.
- You may choose more than one film, but you must fill out a separate registration form for each one.
- Once we receive your registration(s), we will contact you to confirm the details of your order, finalize any in-theater screening times, and assist with any additional details or questions.
FANCY DANCE
Director Erica Tremblay | US 2022 | 90 min | Grades 10-12
Key Themes: History, Indigenous Culture, Social Studies, Women’s Studies
IN THEATER ONLY: Friday, October 13 • 10:00am-12pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
Erica Tremblay’s moving debut, set on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma, focuses on Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson), a teenager whose mom has vanished, and her Aunt Jax (Lily Gladstone, The Unknown Country, MVFF45). With Jax’s custody of her niece under threat, the pair hit the road to search for their missing relative, and participate in a nearby powwow. The hasty trip doesn’t sit well with local government officials or with Roki’s grandfather (Shea Whigham), who sets off in pursuit to disrupt their plans. With a sure hand and a light touch, Tremblay shines a light into the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women while telling a moving story of adolescence and maternal bonds. Highlighted by the two leads’ effortless charisma and a keen eye for the backroads and byways of rural America, Fancy Dance is grounded in cultural specificity and beautifully rounded characters.
Note: This film contains profanity and references to drug dealing, sex work, and violence against women.
The screening will include a live Q&A with director Erica Tremblay
VIEW TRAILER
FARMING WHILE BLACK
Director Mark Decena | US 2023 | 90 min | Grades 6-12
Key Themes: Black Studies, Agriculture, Environment, Activism, Social Justice
IN THEATER: Wednesday, October 11 • 10am-12pm | David Brower Center • Berkeley
ONLINE: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
In 1910, Black farmers owned 14% of all American farmland. Over the intervening decades, that number fell to 2%, the result of racism, discrimination, and dispossession. Director Mark Decena adapts Leah Penniman’s 2018 book into a visually eloquent documentary that chronicles Penniman and two other Black farmers’ efforts to reclaim their agricultural heritage. Collectively, their work has a major impact, as each is a leader in sustainable agriculture and food justice movements. Decena outlines their contributions to regenerative agricultural practices, his watchful camera following the trio as they grow food, build community, advocate for themselves, repair the wounds of the past, and create a prosperous future. A rich guide to a world of activists, storytellers, healers, and change-makers, Farming While Black manifests alternate visions of humanity’s relationship to the land.
The in-theater screening will include a live Q&A with director Mark Decena and other guests to be announced.
FRYBREAD FACE AND ME
Director Billy Luther | US 2023 | 80 min | Grades 5-12 | In English and Navajo with English subtitles
Key Themes: Indigenous Culture, Coming of Age, Social Studies
IN THEATER: Monday, October 9 • 10:00am-12:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
Director Billy Luther’s wistfully funny debut spins the tender coming-of-age tale of 11-year-old Benny. Sent from his San Diego home to live with his grandmother on the Navajo reservation in the summer of 1990, he soon bonds with his cousin Dawn, AKA “Frybread Face.” Framed as a fond remembrance narrated by the adult Benny, the film depicts an initially rocky relationship that blossoms into friendship in a drama that lives at the inviting crossroads of American pop culture and Navajo tradition. Luther’s take on the familiar arc of a city kid uncovering his true heritage—complete with amusingly prickly family dynamics—thrives on low-key warmth. Produced by the visionary Taika Waititi, this genuine charmer and its affectionate insights slyly reminds us how important kin can be in a child’s self-discovery.
Note: This film contains some mild profanity.
The in-theater screening will include a live Q&A with director Billy Luther.
I AM HOPE
Director ShakaJamal | US 2023 | 64 min | Grades 4-12
Key Themes: Black Culture, Health, SEL
IN THEATER: Friday, October 13 • 10:30am-12:30pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael – SOLD OUT
ONLINE: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
Through fly-on-the-wall footage and insightful interviews, director ShakaJamal chronicles the effort to create a first-of-its-kind yoga and mindfulness program for Oakland Unified School District middle schools. Aimed at expanding students’ awareness and refining their goals, the program has been a unique success, and I Am Hope offers a poignant portrait of the day-to-day struggles of diverse grade-schoolers united in their desire to pursue big dreams. As both director and interview subject, ShakaJamal’s presence is felt in front of and behind the camera, not only in terms of where he chooses to focus his lens but also in his discussions of the program’s origins and hopes for its future. “I’m passionate about your goals because you’re going to be the ones leading,” says the filmmaker to one of his students, and that passion is plain to see in this heartfelt profile of a special program.
Shown with
FOUNDER GIRLS
Director Contessa Gayles | US 2023 | 26 min
In this kaleidoscopic ode to girlhood, a group of young campers find freedom, sisterhood and themselves, at a historically Black summer camp.
The in-theater screening will include a live Q&A with director ShakaJamal Redmond and other guests to be announced.
MUSTACHE
Director Imran J. Kahn | US 2023 | 83 min | Grades 8-12
Key Themes: South Asian Culture, Coming of Age
IN THEATER ONLY: Friday, October 6 • 12:00-2:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
It’s never easy being a teen, regardless of where or when you grew up. This is the central truth underlying writer-director Imran J. Khan’s confident feature debut, a humorous look at the Pakistani-American immigrant experience. Set in Silicon Valley in the 1990s, Mustache follows the travails of 13-year-old Ilyas (Atharva Verma), already struggling with his Muslim identity when he’s forced to switch from private school to public. Suddenly Ilyas is faced with a whole new social hierarchy, a whole new circle of friends, and a wholly unwelcome bit of hair on his upper lip. In addition to the talented young lead, Mustache also boasts a solid ensemble including Alicia Silverstone, Hasan Minhaj, and Rizwan Manji. Finding the universality in a specific cultural experience can sometimes be challenging, but Khan has created a film that speaks to our collective insecurities while also acknowledging the many ways these experiences make us stronger.
The screening will include a live Q&A with director Imran J. Khan.
ONE WITH THE WHALE
Directors Pete Chelkowski & Jim Wickens | US 2023 | 80 min | Grades 6-12
Key Themes: Indigenous Culture, Environment, Activism, Coming of Age, Social Studies, Media
IN THEATER: Tuesday, October 10 • 12:15-2:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
Modern technology confronts ancient ritual in this profound and moving documentary. Teenager Chris Apassingok and his Yupik family live in Gambell, Alaska, a tiny village on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. Life there differs vastly from the rest of the US – for one, hunting whales holds the key to the islanders’ survival. Conflict emerges after Chris kills a whale that will feed Gambell’s townspeople for months – and news of the successful hunt reaches the outside world. Facebook trolls and animal-rights activists attack from afar, captured in Pete Chelkowski and environmental journalist Jim Wickens’ captivating film that delves into environmental issues, cultural and generational challenges, and cyberspace hysteria. Fueled by breathtaking shots of stunning Alaskan vistas, footage of Chris’ daily life, and electrifying action scenes, One with the Whale brilliantly elucidates the various cultural pressures on one community’s way of life.
Note: This film contains profanity and abusive language in the social media messages sent to the film’s protagonist.
The screening will include a live Q&A with director Pete Chelkowski and film subject Nalu Apassingok.
VIEW TRAILER
PERIODICAL
Director Lina Lyte Plioplyte | US 2022 | 101 min | Grades 9-12
Key Themes: Women’s Studies, Biology, Science, Health
IN THEATER: Tuesday, October 10 • 12:00-2:00pm | Roxie Theater • San Francisco
ONLINE: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
Eye-opening, energizing, and empowering, Periodical tells a much-overlooked story of the human body by exploring the science, politics, and mystery of the menstrual cycle. Gloria Steinem, Megan Rapinoe, Naomi Watts, and Anna Konkle add some star power to the roster of people sharing their experiences, from doctors and educators working hard to shine a light into this shadowy corner of women’s health to journalists and activists righting the wrongs of cultural misrepresentation and unfair taxation. Brimming with vital information about menstruation, reproduction, menopause, and the burgeoning field of menstrual rights, this is a rousing call to action for every person—including women, men, and trans people of all ages—to raise our voices for education and fair treatment for all. Periodical is not to be missed … period.
Note: This film contains some profanity and references to sexual activity.
The screening will include a live Q&A with director Lina Lyte Plioplyte.
ROSA AND THE STONE TROLL
Director Karla Holmbäck | Denmark 2023 | 75 min | Grades 1-5 | In English
Key Themes: Animation, Storytelling, SEL
IN THEATER: Thursday, October 12 • 10:00-11:45am | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
Swoop into Summerland, a magical forest where adventure awaits a timid fairy who’s about to discover her first true friend—and the courage she never knew she had. Good-hearted Rosa joyfully tends wildflowers with her magic wand, but she longs for companionship. When she meets Silk, a curious, fearless butterfly, the two become inseparable. But soon Rosa and Silk, along with some pie-loving mice, a shimmering Elf King, a wise old owl, and a wisecracking troll, uncover a perilous mystery that leads to a dangerous confrontation with an evil Stone Troll. Rosa must find a way to put her fears aside and save the day. With friendship as her guiding light, she surprises even herself by opening her heart to all the possibilities within and around her. This sweet delight features lush animation, giggly humor, and a heartwarming message for us all.
Both in-theater screenings will include a live presentation by The Beetle Lady!
SIROCCO AND THE KINGDOM OF THE WINDS
Director Benoît Chieux | France/Belgium 2023 | 80 min | Grades 4-9 | In French with English subtitles
Key Themes: Animation, Storytelling, SEL
IN THEATER: Wednesday, October 11 • 12:30-2:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
Echoes of everything from Little Nemo in Slumberland to The Wizard of Oz to Howl’s Moving Castle help keep this fantastical animation airborne. When an author of children’s books babysits her friend’s two young daughters for the weekend, she’s just pulled a writing all-nighter and needs a nap. Unsupervised, the girls promptly tumble into trouble—somehow entering the world of their minder’s fictional creations. There, Carmen and Juliette must flee a mean mayor and his Goodie Gobblers, helped by ethereal singing star Selma. They’re all wary of the great sorcerer Sirocco, whose moods are literally stormy…but he may also be the key to these kiddies—who’ve magically transformed into kitties!—getting home. Charming and surreal, this whimsy in vivid colors finds our wee heroines coping with various bizarre perils as if naturally suited to it after all. As Selma says, “Adventure is like riding a bike—you never forget.”
SHORTS: BACK TO THE ROOTS
Total program 85 min | Grades 7-12
Key Themes: History, Visual Arts, Music, LatinX Culture, Asian American Culture, Psychology, LGBTQIA+, SEL
IN THEATER:
Wednesday, October 11 • 10:00am-12:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
Wednesday, October 11 • 10:30am-12:30pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
Bravely delving deep into the roots of their lives, this documentary shorts program with strong Bay Area ties follows the exceptional stories of individuals who are learning what defines them, while refining the motivation they need to thrive.
Tracing History
Jalena Keane-Lee |US 2023 | 13 min
A Chinese American filmmaker and her mother contemplate loss, legacy, and the stories that get left out of history while visiting sites where their Chinese ancestors labored to build the transcontinental railroad six generations ago.
Strawberry Picker
Eugenia Renteria | US 2023 | 20 min)
From a little boy growing up in labor camps to a world-class artist, San Francisco print maker and social activist Juan R. Fuentes reflects on generations of struggle and resilience in the Chicano art community.
Swimming the Rock
Nicolas Collins, Alex Zajicek | US 2023 | 7 min
Joshua Kerns overcomes his grief by taking the plunge and swimming to shore from Alcatraz. Shot around the San Francisco waterfront, Swimming the Rock follows one man’s determination to fulfill his grandmother’s last wish.
Between Earth & Sky
Andrew Nadkarni | US 2023 | 25 min
For her entire professional life, renowned ecologist Nalini Nadkarni pioneered climbing techniques to study “what grows back” after an ecological disturbance in the rainforest canopy. Now, after surviving a life-threatening fall from a tree, she must turn her research question onto herself in order to understand the effects of disturbance and recovery throughout her life.
From the Shadow of a Mountain
Alex Massey | US 2022 | 6 min
Markelle Taylor started running as a way to turn his life around. Today, he runs free in America’s oldest trail race, the Dipsea, on a mountain which was once unreachable.
No More Longing
Connor Lee O’Keefe | US 2023 | 16 min
Seven years after moving from Brazil to California to pursue his love of music and four years after starting testosterone, Jaime Jobim searches for his new voice.
Note: One of the films in this program contains descriptions of trauma and sexual abuse.
The in-theater screening will include a live Q&A with directors Eugenia Renteria and Nicolas Collins
SHORTS: BLACK GIRLS FILM CAMP
Total program 67 min | Grades 5-12
Key Themes: Filmmaking, Media Studies, Black Culture, Women’s Studies
ONLINE ONLY: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
Black Girls Film Camp is a nonprofit organization that provides a free 16-week filmmaking experience for high school-age Black girls across the country each year. Over 200 Black girls across the country applied for the 2023 camp, and 10 finalists were selected to direct and develop their own short films. This virtual screening of their work demonstrates how this program has developed a liberated space for Black girls to create and share their stories through film and how it is changing the film industry landscape by centering the experiences and voices of Black girls.
A Thin Line Between Black and White
Addison Belhomme | US 2023 | 7 min
A young Black activist faces her worst nightmare when her uncle brings an unexpected guest to dinner and they are forced to have a tense conversation.
Your Own People
Taylor Brooks | US 2023 | 6 min
A Black suburban teen learns a valuable lesson about self-worth when a new neighbor challenges her ideas around Black identity.
Desquamated
Terryn Pinder | US 2023 | 7 min
Desquamated follows the story of a young scientist who learns the consequences of tampering with her appearance.
Full Circle
Jaida Cox | US 2023 | 7 min
A young teen loses herself after moving to a new school and must look within to rediscover her uniqueness.
The All Aroundz
Avery Kelley | US 2023 | 7 min
Two 40-year-old frenemies are forced by love to work together to save their childhood home: their old double dutch center.
Advanced
Gabriella Stafford | US 2023 | 7 min
A short documentary that examines the exclusionary practices that impact Black girls in the gifted education system.
How Did You Get Here?
Hannah Merriweather | US 2023 | 7 min
A story about a Black teen girl named Rose who struggles with an eating disorder and has to choose whether she will confront the root of her problems and find true healing, or tell a lie.
Five Angry Black Girls
Lanaa Dantzler | US 2023 | 7 min
A teen rebel finds herself in detention and learns the key to true freedom.
Uncensored
Jaela Ellis | US 2023 | 7 min
A Black teen is met with countless overwhelming micro-aggressions at her majority-white school, which lead her to a journey of self-acceptance.
Identity
Kalina Thomas | US 2023 | 5 min
A Black teen with anxiety finds comfort about her secret identity from a podcast that leads her to face her fear of rejection from her family and embrace her truth.
SHORTS: MONSTERS, MOVIES & THE MOON
Total program 83 min | Grades 4-9
Key Themes: Animation, Black Culture, African Culture, Film History, Storytelling, SEL
IN THEATER:
Tuesday, October 10 • 10:00am-12:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
*ADDED SCREENING* Tuesday, October 10 • 9:30am-11:30am | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
Take a wild ride from Oakland to Zimbabwe in this fun and fanciful collection of stories filled with crazy monsters, classic movies, and magical trips to the moon.
Note: Operation Frankenstein will not be included in the online screening of this program.
Weirdos
Paul Hollingsworth | US 2023 | 6 min
Could Jasmine and her middle school frenemies be humanity’s best chance at stopping a monster invasion?
Operation Frankenstein
José María Fernández de Vega | Spain 2022| 11 min
A trio of mischievous siblings discover part of a mannequin in a dumpster and see it as a perfect opportunity to build their very own Frankenstein monster.
Note: Operation Frankenstein will not be included in the online screening of this program.
The Lake Merritt Monster
Benjamin Mulholland | US 2022 | 16 min
When Ollie’s mother is attacked by a monster hiding in the depths of Lake Merritt, he sets out on a mission to find her—discovering instead a hidden network of monster hunters tasked with protecting Oakland from its own dark underbelly.
A Life in Technicolor
Alex Ramirez | US 2022 | 19 min
Alone in her apartment during the pandemic, Natalie turns to her favorite classic movies to keep her company. When her life in color gradually begins to turn to black-and-white, she takes a magical tour through film history, recreating a dazzling array of classic movie scenes.
Gugu naGogo
Taku Mbudzi | Australia 2022 | 20 min
When a lunar eclipse interferes with their magical late-night letter exchanges, 12-year-old aspiring astronomer Gugu must find a new way to reconnect with her beloved grandmother in Zimbabwe.
New Moon
Jeff Le Bars & Jérémie Balais | US 2022 | 11 min
Young Jay Jay and his mother Edie enjoy a warm summer night listening to the sounds of Aretha Franklin from the radio under the light of the new moon. Together, they embark on a magical journey to rediscover lost dreams and nurture new hopes.
The in-theater screening will include a live Q&A with directors Eugenia Renteria and Nicolas Collins
SHORTS: ¡VIVA EL CINE INFANTIL!
Total program 78 min | Grades 1-6 | In Spanish with English subtitles
Key Themes: Animation, LatinX Culture, Storytelling, SEL
IN THEATER:
Friday, October 6 • 10:00-11:45am | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael • SOLD OUT
Friday, October 6 • 10:30-12:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
Thursday, October 12 • 12:00-2:00pm | Roxie Theater • San Francisco • SOLD OUT
ONLINE: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
As part of MVFF’s ¡Viva el cine! programming, we invite younger viewers to join in our annual celebration of Spanish-language and LatinX films, stories, and storytellers with this festive collection of kid-centric animated and narrative short films.
El Moño
Luis Fernando Puente & Lizde Arias | US 2022 | 8 min
After her favorite sock goes missing, Andrea learns some family magic that helps her find lost objects in the most unexpected way.
Cleo & Nina
Manrique Cortés Castro | Costa Rica 2021 | 2 min
This animated documentary brings to life a phone call between five-year-old Sara and her grandmother Nina with a story about Nina’s childhood pet pig and an itchy dress.
The Dance (El baile)
Pedro Pablo Vega Reyes, Colombia 2021, 15 min
Andrés gets invited to the school dance by the girl he likes, but there’s one problem: his shoe has a hole in it. With only a day left, Andrés must find a way to fix his shoe and impress his crush.
Mist (Niebla)
Leonardo Romero Zarza | Colombia 2020 | 10 min
When Nicolas and his family move from the city to a new house next to a forest, his perception of his new environment starts to change when he begins to have mysterious encounters with native animals.
The Piñata
Verónica Ramírez | Mexico 2021 | 13 min
Seven-year-old Lorena is determined to win the school’s piñata contest and its coveted grand prize: a new bicycle.
With a Wool Ball (Con un ovillo de lana)
Belén Ricardes| Argentina 2022 | 5 min
Told through stop-motion animation made from wool, a girl from the northwestern hills of Argentina spends the cold winters in a hut, knitting ponchos made of wool for her friends, the native animals that live around her.
Under the Same Sky
Ana Laura Calderón | Mexico 2023 | 15 min
Andrea and Marina become fast friends while playing on the rooftops of their adjacent buildings during the pandemic in Mexico City.
La Calesita
Augusto Schillaci | Argentina 2022| 10 min
An animated tribute to the beloved Argentinian merry-go-round operators who have dedicated their lives to providing fun and happiness to children and their communities.
Note: La Calesita will not be included in the online screening of this program.
The in-theater screening will include a live Zoom Q&A with directors Verónica Ramírez (The Piñata), Luis Puente & Lizde Arias (El Moño), and Ana Laura Calderón (Under the Same Sky).
SHORTS: YOUTH WORKS
Total program 93 min | Grades 8-12 | In English, French, and Korean with English subtitles
Key Themes: Filmmaking, Media Studies, Animation, Documentary
IN THEATER: Monday, October 9 • 10:30am-12:30pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 16-22 | Available to schools anywhere in the U.S.
This year’s collection of peer-reviewed, youth-produced short films showcases an international cohort of storytellers who span genres from animation to documentary, comedy, horror, and drama. It’s an inspiring display of emerging young talent from as close to home as San Rafael and San Francisco and as far afield as Australia, Belgium, and Belarus.
Clownin’
Samantha Jimenez Garcia | US 2023 | 6 min
It’s hard out there for a clown—and even harder for those aspiring to become one.
David’s Doodles
Michelle Tang | US 2023 | 5 min
An autistic teenage cartoonist shares his work, his creative process, and his greatest weakness: drawing realistically.
Daisies
Ana Testas | US 2023 | 6 min
After weeks secretly watching the beautiful but peculiar sisters who live across the street, Oliver and Thomas decide it’s time to make an introduction.
Bestiary
Paul Van der Stegen | France 2023 | 13 min
A trio of mean girls choose a new target for their vicious bullying, sparking intense rivalries and violent impulses that threaten to spin out of control.
Bloody River
Polina Bai | Belarus 2023 | 1 min
A moment of ice-cold horror.
Goose Town
Gaspard Choquet | US 2023 | 9 min
An urban teenager finds solace from his chaotic home life in a fictional cowboy outlaw persona, but risks taking the cosplay one step too far.
Mountain Man
Otis Monteny | Belgium 2023 | 5 min
In this sharp animation, a mountain man battles an antagonist made of stone amidst a harsh winter landscape. Good thing he’s a skilled skier
binary.
Milan Mackenzie Wood & Maddie Barbiee | US 2023 | 14 min
In this intimate look into the life of a young transgender person inspired by androgynous rockstars, a teen struggles to understand who they really while facing conflict with those around them.
Burnout
Jonathon Charlie Copson-Pacal | Australia 2023 | 4 min
A clever mix of animation, music, and poetic narration illustrates the childlike creativity that fuels our ideas, and how quickly that can sour if expended in large bursts too fast.
My Sisters in the Stars: The Story of Lee Yong-soo
Ian Kim | US 2023 | 10 min
This powerful documentary chronicles the painful history and current activism of a former Korean “comfort woman” who was abducted at age 14 by the Japanese Army during WWII and forced into sexual slavery.
Better Late Than Never
Estevan Evaristo Garcia | US 2022 | 1 min
In skeletal stop-motion, two cousins at a Day of the Dead celebration impatiently await their Tia Carmen who is late with the food.
Room
Ian Dani Kim | US 2022 | 9 min
Struggling with depression and social anxiety, a teen locks himself in his imaginary room as his life plays out around him. Told through remarkable miniatures, the film follows his post-pandemic journey as he tries to escape from his psychological lockdown.
Yesterday, Again
Noah Shin | US 2022 | 10 min
In CG animation, a former pilot reflects on his past and how his memories shape his choices.
Note: This program contains some profanity and references to teen suicide and teen alcohol/drug use.
The in-theater screening will include a live Q&A with youth filmmakers to be announced.