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FilmMatters Catalogue

FilmMatters is pleased to provide free detailed lesson plans for each of the films screened in the programme.  These study guides provide a direct link between the subject matter of a film and the Ontario school curriculum.  They serve as a gateway to further discussion, discourse and learning.

FilmMatters, is the Foundation’s educational outreach programme for elementary – secondary school students and teachers.  We offer films free of charge to schools across the GTA.  FilmMatters gives teachers a unique opportunity to utilize film as a powerful teaching tool and to engage students in the study of important and relevant issues such as racial and cultural sensitivity, diversity and citizenship.

Whether encouraging them to learn from history or introducing them to inspirational figures who are making a difference in today’s world, FilmMatters seeks to motivate students to become active participants in “tikkun olam,” making the world a better place. The films used in the FilmMatters programme are accompanied with resource packages that teachers can utilise in the classroom both before and after the screening.

FilmMatters has been delivering diversity, anti-racism and active citizenship education through film since 2007. We offer schools the opportunity to attend free screenings of films that deal with issues of cultural, racial and religious diversity.

Our mandate is to build bridges between diverse communities using film as a means of encouraging dialogue. The films chosen for our programme can be applied across the curriculum, from English through to History and other Humanities subjects. Each of our screenings is followed by a guest speaker with expertise in the issues raised in the film and teachers are provided with detailed lesson plans to use in their classrooms.

We are now able to offer FilmMatters Online, providing free in-class access to select FilmMatters programmes (films and study guides).

FilmMatters in-theatre programme is open to all public, separate, private and supplementary schools across the GTA.

FilmMatters has successfully worked with elementary, middle and secondary schools within the: Toronto  District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Peel Region School Board and York Region School Board.

FilmMatters Online is accessible to all educators across Canada.

FilmMatters offers turn-key programming for teachers by providing relevant and meaningful films, detailed lesson plan study guides and informative guest speakers.

FilmMatters in-theatre programming takes place at Innis Town Hall on the University of Toronto downtown campus (one block south of the St. George subway station).

FilmMatters Online films and study guides can be accessed at any time. See the catalogue bellow to find study guides and links to watch where available.

Email to join the mailing list for updates on all FilmMatters programming: filmmatters@tjff.ca.

ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL

A Bag of Marbles

110 min, French (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 5 – 8

Themes:
Coming of Age, Heroism, Family Ties, France During the Occupation

Belle and Sebastian

104 min, French/German (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 4 – 8

Themes:
Coming of Age, Heroism, Secrets & Lies, French Resistance, Relationship Between Humans & Animals

 

Blue Like Me

110 min, English

Study Guide

Link to Watch

Grade 5 – 8

Themes:
Identity, Intersectionality, Religion, Feminism, Tikkun Olam

The Boys of Terezín

52 min, English

Study Guide

Link to Watch

Grade 7 – 12

Themes:
Holocaust, Overcoming Adversity, Healing Power of Art, Music and Literature

The Crossing

74 min, English / German / Swiss German / French (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Screening Info

Grade 5 – 8

Themes:
Refugees, Coming of Age, Family

Deaf Jam

70 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 7 – 12

Themes:
Deaf Culture, Self Expression, Cultural Identities

Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger

103 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 7 – 9

Themes:
Peer Pressure, Adolescence, Bullying, Sexuality, Parent-Child

A Jewish Girl in Shanghai

80 min, Mandarin (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 4 – 6

Themes:
WWII, Second Sino-Japanese War, Friendship, Religious & Cultural Diversity

My Father's Secrets

74 min, French (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Screening Info

Grade 7 – 9

Themes:
Holocaust, Coming of Age, Generational Trauma, Father-Son Relationships

Run Boy Run

108 min, German/Polish/Russian (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Link to Watch

Grade 7 – 10

Themes:
Holocaust, Overcoming Disability, Religious Identity

Secrets of War

96 min, Dutch (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Link to Watch

Grade 7 – 9

Themes:
Friendship, Coming of Age, Heroism, Secrets and Lies, Dutch Resistance

Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog

93 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 5 – 8

Themes:
Holocaust, Coming of Age, Relationship Between Humans & Animals

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

119 min, English/German/Swiss German/French (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 5 – 8

Themes:
Refugees, Anti-Semitism and WWII, Family

The Zigzag Kid

95 min, Dutch/French/English (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 5 – 7

Themes:
Coming of Age, Family Relationships, Illusion vs. Reality

HIGH SCHOOL

7 Days of Remembrance... and Hope

64 min, English

Study Guide

Link to Watch

Grade 9 – 12

Themes:
Holocaust, Activism, Citizenship

Anne and the Reverend

49 min, French (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Link to Watch

Grade 9 – 12

Themes:
Learning from the Past, Heroes, Stereotypes

Arranged

90 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 9 – 12

Themes:
Religion in a Secular Society, Family, Child/Parent Relationships, Love and Marriage, Jewish/Muslim Relations

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea

99 min, Hebrew/Arabic/French (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 9 – 12

Themes:
Arab-Israeli Conflict, Terrorism, War, Coming of Age, Overcoming Stereotypes

The Boys of Terezín

52 min, English

Study Guide

Link to Watch

Grade 7 – 12

Themes:
Holocaust, Overcoming Adversity, Healing Power of Art, Music and Literature

The Children of Chance

95 min, French/Yiddish (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 9 – 12

Themes:
Coming of Age, WWII, Coping with Sickness

Crossroads

77 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 9 – 12

Themes:
Identity, Overcoming Adversity, Inspirational Teachers

Deaf Jam

70 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 7 – 12

Themes:
Deaf Culture, Self Expression, Cultural Identities

Heart of Stone

60 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 11 – 12

Themes:
Gangs, Conflict Resolution, Black-Jewish Relations

Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger

103 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 7 – 9

Themes:
Peer Pressure, Adolescence, Bullying, Sexuality, Parent-Child

Joachim Prinz: I Shall Not Be Silent

57 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 11 – 12

Themes:
Holocaust, Black-Jewish Relations, Civil Rights Movement

The Last Survivor

56 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 9 – 12

Themes:
Genocide, Activism, Citizenship

Louder Than A Bomb

99 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 9 – 12

Themes:

My Father's Secrets

74 min, French (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Screening Info

Grade 7 – 9

Themes:
Holocaust, Coming of Age, Generational Trauma, Father-Son Relationships

Off and Running

72 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 11 – 12

Themes:
Identity, Transracial Adoption, Gay Marriage

Once in a Lifetime

105 min, French (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 10 – 12

Themes:
Diversity, Holocaust, French Society, Inspirational Teachers

Orthodox Stance

83 min, English/Hebrew/Spanish/
Russian (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 9 – 12

Themes:
Boxing and Religion, Bridging Between Cultures, The American Dream

Run Boy Run

108 min, German/Polish/Russian (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Link to Watch

Grade 7 – 10

Themes:
Holocaust, Overcoming Disability, Religious Identity

Scaffolding

90 min, Hebrew (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 10 – 12

Themes:
Father-Son Relationships, Inspirational Teachers, Coming of Age, Character and Identity, Education

Secrets of War

96 min, Dutch (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Link to Watch

Grade 7 – 9

Themes:
Friendship, Coming of Age, Heroism, Secrets and Lies, Dutch Resistance

Voices Unbound

90 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 9 – 12

Themes:
Personal Biographies, Overcoming Adversity, Inspirational Teachers

We Must Remember

32 min, English

Study Guide

Contact filmmatters@tjff.ca to arrange a screening

Grade 10 – 12

Themes:
Holocaust, Student Activism, Civics

Zrubavel

73 min, Hebrew (w/e.s.t.)

Study Guide

Link to Watch

Grade 11 – 12

Themes:
Racism, Ethiopian Jewry, Generational Conflict

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