Archive · 13 Nov 2025
Kolkata Film Festival Sparks Creativity and Learning in Students
Imagine a big movie party, but instead of just watching, kids are learning how to tell their own stories!
At the Kolkata International Film Festival, students are not just watching over 100 movies from different countries.
They're talking about what the movies mean, like how a film called 'Elham' shows finding beauty even when things are hard.
Some students, like Arsia, love movies that show real struggles and help us understand others better.
Others, like Saujatya, learned a lot from famous directors and see movies as a mix of art and learning.
A student named Hriday even made his own short movie with his teacher's help!
Teachers say that using phones to make movies makes it easy for kids to be creative and work together.
It's like the festival is teaching them to be storytellers, not just movie watchers, and helping them see the world in new ways.
The 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) is engaging high school students not just as viewers but also as budding creators.
Students are exploring films for their educational value, empathy-building narratives, and as sources of imagination and inspiration.
Some students are actively participating in film-making, creating short films with mentorship and accessible technology like smartphones.
Educators and consultants emphasize cinema's role in developing student creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and a broader worldview.
The festival and accessible technology are enabling students to move from passively consuming stories to actively telling them.
- Who
- High school students, educators, and film industry professionals participating in the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF).
- What
- Students are actively engaging with films, discussing their themes, and some are even creating their own short films, using cinema as a tool for learning, self-expression, and developing creativity.
- When
- During the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF).
- Where
- Kolkata, with specific mentions of schools like MCKV and Heritage Academy High School.
- Why
- To foster creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and a deeper understanding of storytelling, real-life issues, and global perspectives among students through cinema.
Students Embracing Cinema
Film as a Pedagogical Tool
Student Engagement with Cinema
Students Embracing Cinema
Students like Souhardya Paul and Arsia Mukherjee are actively engaging with films at KIFF, finding inspiration, entertainment, and lessons in empathy and storytelling.
Film as a Pedagogical Tool
Educators like Neville Reay and Shekhar Niyogi see cinema as a vital tool for learning, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a broader understanding of the world.
Film Creation by Students
Students Embracing Cinema
Students like Hriday Khandelwal are moving beyond passive viewing to actively creating their own films, utilizing accessible technology like smartphones and editing apps.
Film as a Pedagogical Tool
Teachers and consultants encourage film-making for students, recognizing its potential to develop self-expression, teamwork, a sense of purpose, and macro-level thinking.
- Event
- 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF)
- Participants
- High school students from various schools like MCKV, Heritage Academy High School, and Sri Sri Academy
- Student Perspectives
- Students view films as a source of entertainment, education, empathy, imagination, and a tool for understanding real-life complexities, history, identity, and morality.
- Student Film-making
- Some students are actively involved in creating short films, inspired by mentorship and accessible technology.
- Educator Insights
- Teachers and consultants highlight cinema's role in active learning, creativity, self-expression, teamwork, and developing global perspectives and critical thinking.
- Accessible Technology
- Smartphones and editing apps have made film-making more accessible to students.
