Education MATTERS By Ryan G. Van Cleave THIS PAST APRIL, the Sarasota Film Festival provided the ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� We enjoyed seeing actresses Diane Lane and Aisha Tyler. IMG Academy had a visit from former NBA star Kenny Anderson. And we all were wowed by the “Sea and Be Scene” block party at J.D. Hamel Park. But here’s the thing that too few know — SFF has a lot more going on than just these jam-packed, Hollywoodinfused nine days in April. Thanks to their energetic Education Department, SFF is hard at work throughout the entire year. Here are just a few of their more successful efforts. The Moonlight Movie Series ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� atmosphere of a regular movie theater? No problem, because �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 74 SCENE | JULY 2017 screen. Starting in October and going until June, they host about one of these events per month in such locations as Ed Smith Stadium, Nathan Benderson Park, and the local beaches, with each event averaging 800 viewers. Shakira Refos, Director of Education and Community Engagement, says that “it’s a great way for families to ���������������������������������������������������� the kids have a hard time sitting that long in a theater. Who doesn’t want to watch movies under the stars?” The �������������������������������������������������������� though they did show Jaws on Lido Key which was a great success, notes Refos. They’re already in conversations with Realize Bradenton and the Newtown community to expand the location offerings for this coming year. So watch for the list of venues for the Moonlight Movie Series come October. The movies are free, though you should bring your own chairs and blankets. And don’t forget the snacks (but if you do, 2,000+ Number of students who participated in Kid VIP trips in 2016. they sometimes provide free popcorn!). Classroom Critic SFF knows that future ������������������������������������������������������������ to be encouraged, so they’ve created school curricula ���������������������������������������������������������� topics suitable for a lesson in geography, history, or media studies. “It connects with the programming the schools already provide,” says Refos. “We match their themes that ������������������������������������������������������ then we create workshops to bring into the K-12 classroom.” For the younger students, they might examine gender stereotypes in media. The older students might engage in a creative writing or storytelling activity. The teachers — Refos calls them workshop docents — primarily come from area schools like New College, whose students help out with SFF in various ways throughout the year. “We’ve reached nearly 500 students this past year alone,” says Refos about the Classroom Critic program, which often has two or three sessions built into a single workshop experience. It’s not just the students who are learning, either. One of the New College workshop docents, who thought she was primarily interested in gender studies, found an equal passion for teaching — on the town SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL’S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
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