Held from April 14-23, this year’s Reel to Real Film Festival for Youth is online and available across British Columbia! The line-up of Feature films champion diversity and inclusivity and address the impact of social media, racism, and discrimination. Many topics that are youth are just starting to understand and ideas that are a key part of society.
Bringing the best films for all ages from around the world, this yearโs festival can be enjoyed in homes and classroomsย across British Columbia!ย Access for an entire household is only $40.
Two films are Canadian Premieres:ย The Lesson, directed by Elena Horn (Germany),ย is about students in Germany confronting the countryโs ugly past;ย My Name is Baghdad, directed by Caru Alves de Souza (Brazil), shines a light on the inequities caused by gender-based violence, discrimination, and sexism.
The Festival is showingย 18ย feature films andย 45ย shorts from overย 35ย countries and Indigenous nations. Five feature films will compete for the prestigious Edith Lando Peace Prize, decided by R2Rโsย Senior Youth Juryย (ages 13-18). The Peace prize comes with a cash award of $500, awarded to the film that best โuses the language of cinema to further the goals of peace and justice.โ R2Rโsย Junior Youth Juryย (ages 9-13) will adjudicate the NFB Award for Best Animation. All short films are eligible for the โMost Innovativeโ and โMost Inspirationalโ film awards in their age category.
There are also Elementary and High School programs, complete with Film Study Guides. Students across B.C are invited to attend the popular school programs: Reel Focus & Feature Focus for Elementary, and Talent Lab & YFS for High School. Available province-wide, these programs come with study guides and resources to help teachers integrate our programs into the school curriculum, touching on issues of social justice, history, and Indigenous appreciation. School group access is only $60 for the early bird registration until April 7th. It will be $75 for school group access after that.
Watch the trailer to see what’s coming. Don’t miss this amazing event. It is a great opportunity to introduce your children to new concepts and a great starting point for meaningful conversations.
Planning a birthday party in the Lower Mainland comes with one big unknown: the weather. Around here, itโs not unusual for a sunny morning to turn into a soggy afternoonโno matter the season. But a little rain doesnโt have to ruin the celebration. Thankfully, the region has great indoor party spots that keep the fun…
As spring unfolds in Whistler, families have the perfect opportunity to create unforgettable memories during the Whistler Childrenโs Festival from May 16-18.