Transforming Classrooms: Delhi's Schools Embrace the Power of Film at SCIFF

Lights, Camera, Education: 3,000 Schools Join the School Cinema International Film Festival

The School Cinema International Film Festival (SCIFF), hosted by the LXL Foundation is India’s largest children’s film festival. Recently the 7th edition of SCIFF was organized in Delhi, this festival was screened at nearly 3,000 schools and engaged over 1 million students. This year’s event featured over 80 films in more than 15 languages from over 20 countries and highlighted diverse themes such as mental health, social justice, security, and environmental awareness. These carefully curated films addressed contemporary issues relevant to students.

SCIFF was previously known as the International Kids Film Festival (IKFF). This PAN India film festival has seen participation from over 8 million students across more than 30,000 schools, including over 25,000 government schools. SCIFF event had three components WATCH, LEARN, and FILM PRODUCTION. The WATCH segment showcased films submitted by global filmmakers for school screenings, while the LEARN segment offered workshops led by industry experts to teach students the art of filmmaking.

Syed Sultan Ahmed, the Festival Director of SCIFF 2024, mentioned that the impressive turnout and positive feedback reflected the importance of such festivals in education. As the festival grows each year, it is evident that integrating film into the curriculum has become a necessity rather than a luxury.

The festival's jury included a distinguished group of international experts: Aya Al-Blouchi, Programmer for the Ajyal Film Festival in Qatar; Pauline Mazenod, Head of Film Acquisitions from France; Dhimant Vyas, Animator and Professor at the Industrial Design Centre, IIT Powai in Mumbai; Isabelle Morin, Author, Screenwriter, and Composer; Nina Sabnani, Animator and Educator; Sayani Gupta, Indian Actress; and Pinkey Singh, Principal of Royale Concorde International.

Editor’s Note: 

SCIFF is a revolutionary step in the modern education system that integrates film pedagogy into the learning process, combining entertainment with education to create an interactive environment for children which engages them to learn deeply about the subject. The School Cinema International Film Festival recently organized its 7th edition of SCIFF with participation from 3000 schools in Delhi, this event not only enhances learning by its unique three segments but also develops creativity and critical thinking in young students. Skoobuzz anticipates that this festival will bring a positive influence on students and broaden their educational landscape.