The eighth edition of the School Cinema International Film Festival (SCIFF) is set to reach an unprecedented scale this year, with international films being screened across more than 41,000 schools in India between November 14 and November 30, 2025.
The initiative includes 40,000 government schools and 1,000 private institutions, aiming to promote global cultural understanding and character education through the medium of cinema.
Festival Overview
Organized as part of the School Cinema educational movement, the festival combines art, education, and emotional learning to help students engage with life values and global perspectives.
This year’s edition of SCIFF will feature award-winning films from over 30 countries, covering themes such as empathy, diversity, climate change, inclusion, and digital responsibility.
“Our mission is to make learning engaging and meaningful by using cinema as a teaching tool. Films can bridge cultural gaps and spark critical thinking among young minds,” said a spokesperson from LXL Ideas, the organization behind School Cinema.
Scale and Participation
The 2025 festival marks one of the largest educational film outreach programs ever organized in India.
Screenings will be conducted in collaboration with state education departments, school boards, and private education networks, ensuring participation from both urban and rural schools.
The screenings will be held in classrooms, auditoriums, and digital learning platforms, with access to translated or subtitled versions for regional language inclusivity.
Each participating school will receive a curated film package aligned with age-appropriate learning goals, ensuring engagement from students of all grade levels.
Global and Educational Focus
The festival will showcase short and feature-length films selected from leading international children’s and educational film festivals.
The curated lineup includes stories that inspire reflection on:
Kindness and empathy
Cultural diversity and coexistence
Sustainability and environmental awareness
Cyber safety and emotional well-being
The films will be accompanied by interactive classroom discussions and activity booklets, enabling teachers to integrate cinematic learning into the academic framework.
Cinema as a Learning Tool
Launched in 2008, School Cinema was conceptualized as a film-based learning module designed to impart life skills and value education to students.
Over the years, it has evolved into a full-fledged educational movement adopted by schools across India and abroad. The initiative has received multiple recognitions from the UNESCO MGIEP and national education boards for its contribution to social and emotional learning (SEL) in school curriculums.
“Children learn best through stories. Films can help them relate abstract values to real-life experiences,” said one of the participating educators from Mumbai.
Empowering Teachers and Students
Alongside the screenings, the festival will host teacher training workshops and panel discussions featuring educationists, filmmakers, and psychologists. These sessions will explore how storytelling and media literacy can strengthen classroom pedagogy.
Students will also have the opportunity to submit their own short films for the Student Filmmaker Showcase, an initiative that encourages creativity and digital expression.
Festival Dates and Access
📅 Dates: November 14 to November 30, 2025
🏫 Schools Covered: 41,000+ (40,000 government and 1,000 private)
🌍 Films From: 30+ countries
🎬 Themes: Education, empathy, climate action, digital well-being
Participating schools will be able to stream the films through the School Cinema digital platform or host physical screenings under the guidance of trained facilitators.
Conclusion
The School Cinema International Film Festival 2025 represents a unique blend of art and education, using the power of film to nurture emotional intelligence and global awareness among students.
By reaching more than 41,000 schools, the festival continues its mission to make education more empathetic, engaging, and inclusive, proving that cinema can be one of the most effective tools for transformative learning.
FAQs
Q1. What is the School Cinema International Film Festival?
A: It’s an educational film festival designed to teach life skills and values through global cinema for school students.
Q2. When will the 2025 edition take place?
A: From November 14 to November 30, 2025.
Q3. How many schools are participating?
A: Over 41,000 schools, including 40,000 government and 1,000 private institutions.
Q4. What themes will the films cover?
A: Empathy, sustainability, diversity, and digital well-being.
Q5. Who organizes the festival?
A: The festival is organized by School Cinema, an initiative of LXL Ideas
Published on : 12th November
Published by : SMITA
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Source Credit : Edited by Puniti Pandey | NDTV | Education & Culture Desk.