By Marcia Migdal, Special to JTNews
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the American Jewish Committee’s FILMTalks! program held each year at the Seattle Jewish Film Festival. This milestone celebrates the success of the past four years while expanding to a year round program.
Since the program’s inception four years ago, more than 2,000 students from more than 20 public, private and parochial high schools have gathered to talk about issues involving cultural, religious and ethnic diversity
FILMTalks! is a free day-long diversity education workshop for high school students in the greater Seattle area that uses the medium of film to promote dialog and motivate students to help reduce prejudice and build respect for diversity in local schools and communities. Each year, students gather together to view a film which deals with intolerance and bigotry. Following the movie, students participate in group discussions and activities, which reinforce the theme of personal responsibility in the battle against prejudice and discrimination.
Year after year, students come away moved and empowered to make a difference in their community. Part of this process is achieved though recording a written promise they make to themselves in an “action card,” which is later mailed to them reminding them of their commitment.
Success can also be measured by the exceptional facilitators who each year volunteer their time to moderate the discussion groups. Facilitators at last year’s FILMTalks! represented 13 community organizations in addition to the AJC and individual volunteers. Among the facilitators were the executive director of the Seattle Anti-Defamation League and the executive director of the Northwest Coalition for Human Dignity.
FILMTalks! is made possible in large part through the sponsorship of Ken Alhadeff, owner of the Majestic Bay Theatres and a long-time Seattle philanthropist. When asked about his support for the program, he responded, “For the better part of 100 years, film has been a critical key to communication. The movies make us laugh and cry and learn. The Majestic Bay Theatres is proud to help support the Seattle Jewish Film Festival’s efforts to expand all of our horizons.”
Due to the success of FILMTalks!, the AJC has decided to expand the program in two respects. The first extension is to bring the program out to schools, where students can work with the materials for an extended period of time. This year, two Seattle high schools, John Marshall and Ingraham, have piloted this expanded version called FILMTalks! on Campus. The program combines the FILMTalks! format with activities from the AJC’s national Hands Across the Campus program.
Students have the opportunity to delve more in-depth into the question of personal responsibility to confront intolerance and foster respect for diversity. A major component of this expanded version is the Special Leadership Project, wherein students develop and implement pro-active projects designed to reduce prejudice or enhance community. Already, the feedback from this year’s pilot program has been overwhelmingly positive.
As one student from Ingraham High School said of the FILMTalks! on Campus, “Racism and discrimination happens everyday, people just ignore it or don’t care. After watching the film and having the discussion, it makes me want to go out there and make a difference.”
Following this year’s pilot year, five to 10 high schools will be invited to participate in the program during the 2002–2003 school year.
The second area of expansion of the FILMTalks! program is the development and presentation of “Community FILMTalks!”, a parallel version of the high school program, intended for the community at large. This event will take place during the Seattle Jewish Film Festival on Tuesday evening, April 23, at 7 p.m. at the Cinerama Theatre.
The evening will unfold in three parts. First, the intense and captivating film about a Czech couple who risk their lives during the Holocaust to save a Jewish man in, “Divided We Fall.” Second, a community forum, attended and co-presented by local organizations, and moderated by Bill Grace, director of The Center for Ethical Leadership. Third, an inner dialog where participants will be asked to record thoughts on how they can make a difference by standing up to intolerance and to celebrate diversity.
For more information about FILMTalks! please contact Shmuel Rubenstein of the AJC, at 206-622-6315 or [email protected]
Marcia Migdal is the diversity coordinator of the Edmonds School District and is a FILMTalks! volunteer.