FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DRIFF EDU 2020 brings a cinematic experience to high school students through online programming
DURHAM REGION, ON, October 21, 2020 - The Durham Region International Film Festival (DRIFF) is helping educators who are teaching both virtual and in-person classes by engaging, informing and inspiring students through film. On November 4, 5 and 6, DRIFF EDU will provide students with rich and varied film experiences that will challenge them to think critically about three current issues.
“DRIFF EDU is all about high-quality, accessible programming for students. Featuring topics that speak to the next generation, these curated films offer teachers engaging and relevant media to share and discuss,” says Carla Sinclair, DRIFF Chair. “In these challenging times where restrictions are the norm, DRIFF EDU opens a door to the world through film with the click of a button.”
This year’s themes include: Isolation and Coping Strategies, The Black Experience and The Environment and Sustainable Food.
The Isolation and Coping Strategies program allows students to explore the highs and lows of what it means to be a social media “celebrity” in Behind the Handle, and to follow a famous vlogger’s battle with depression in I Hope They Remember My Name. The Cayman Island film, The Great Disconnect, is an engaging and thoughtful exploration of the many ways we unintentionally isolate ourselves, how that affects our happiness, and what concrete actions can improve our situation.
The Black Experience is a showcase of five short films that deal with racial pride, inequality and misperceptions. Ice Breakers follows a gifted African-Canadian hockey player who discovers the buried history of the contributions by Black athletes to modern hockey. In We Can’t Breathe, a young couple clashes in the wake of a racially charged murder committed by a police officer. This program also includes the film Be(lie)f, and an exclusive interview with its writer and lead actor, Quentin Lee Murphy.
In the Environment and Sustainable Food showcase, students experience four short films from the United States, Canada and Russia. The Food We Eat examines a NY chef’s journey to Trinidad where his love of food and cooking leads him to discover the plight of sea turtles and results in his quest for sustainable seafood solutions. In Saving Grayling, agencies put their differences aside to embark on an innovative scientific project to save the Arctic Grayling from the looming threat of endangered status. Included in this program is a warm and uplifting interview with the passionate visionaries responsible for the community garden project featured in the film, This Garden is Yours.
A key feature of each DRIFF EDU showcase is the pre-recorded interview with a speaker responsible for one of that program’s films. Each interview is designed to engage the students in critical thought about the topic, and to send them away with something to think about that can enrich their lives.
A festival pass can be purchased for $60 per class to gain access to all three programs. Single program tickets can also be purchased for $25 per class. Tickets, festival passes and program information are available now at driff.ca.
About The Durham Region International Film Festival
DRIFF is a local non-profit proudly dedicated to promoting arts, culture, education, and community involvement in Durham Region.
For more information, media contact and interview requests please contact Laurie Turner at info@driff.ca. To learn more about the festival, visit: https://www.driff.ca/ or follow social media channels. Find DRIFF on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CatchTheDRIFF/ or via Twitter and Instagram accounts @catchthedriff. For volunteer opportunities, email Phil La Rosa at volunteer@driff.ca.