Each year, VIFF welcomes thousands of secondary students to experience exceptional international and Canadian cinema at the festival. This year, thanks to generous support from the Far Star Impact Fund, we are now offering films for high schools throughout the 2024-25 school year, bringing back some of the top sold-out favorites from past VIFF Ignite programs. Thes Ignite films are available in cinema and can also be streamed at school for limited dates, all completely free for schools.
From stories of tradition and history to films that capture impactful events as they’re unfolding, great world cinema challenges and expands our perspectives, promotes inquiry, develops critical thinking skills, and ignites imaginations. Be they set around the world, or right here in Canada, this year’s selected films for the Ignite High School program present memorable stories that connect youth with powerful themes and human experiences shaping our contemporary world, our identities, and our planet.
Supported by
Cinema In-Person & Online
All Ignite films screen in-theatre, while some are also available on our VIFF Connect streaming platform.
Exclusive Dialogue with Filmmakers and Subject Experts
After most Ignite screenings, there will be a live Q&A with filmmakers or subject experts connected to the film, where students have the opportunity to ask questions about careers in filmmaking, what inspired them to tell this story, how the film was really made, and more.
Educational Film Resources & Curriculum Ties
Prior to the screenings, teachers will receive film resource guides. Written with the curriculum in mind, these guides are designed to inspire in-depth exploration and facilitate discussion that connects the cinema and the classroom.
