Education Screenings
Designed with the goal of fostering media literacy and greater cultural understanding among local middle and high school students, the Nashville Film Festival Education Program brings together filmmakers, educators, and students to engage in meaningful dialogue that explores the art of cinematic storytelling and considers how films can acknowledge, embrace and support diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences.
NashFilm’s Education Screening Program provides Metro Nashville Public Middle and High School students with access to independent films and interactive discussions with filmmakers, all at no cost to schools, teachers, or students.
Our mission is to inspire students through world-class cinema, encouraging them to engage actively with cultural themes, think critically, and view film as an active medium for learning and self-reflection.
In 2021, NashFilm partnered with the Nashville Public Library to offer virtual education screenings, complete with study guides for teachers to integrate into lesson plans. By 2022, the program expanded to include special events, educational materials, and activities aligned with Tennessee Board of Education Curriculum Standards, specifically designed to close opportunity gaps for students of color and those from under-resourced schools.
Through these screenings, students explore the art of filmmaking, the creative process, and the power of storytelling, fostering an appreciation for diverse identities, beliefs, and values.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Develop critical thinking skills
- Collaborate effectively in groups
- Formulate and explore meaningful questions
- Analyze how filmmakers address key issues
- Understand the political and cultural power of storytelling
This program empowers students to connect art with the world around them, cultivating thoughtful, engaged, and empathetic individuals.
NashFilm x Frist Art Museum Summer Film Camp
In the summer of 2025, Frist Art Museum and the Nashville Film Festival are hosting the second annual Summer Film Camp, giving teens a chance to work with new friends and experienced teaching artists to turn an idea into a finished film—in one week!
Working in small production teams, campers develop a concept, script, storyboards, and production plan. After that, the teams shoot their films using professional gear provided by Contrast Visuals and create a polished edit using Final Cut Pro on Apple MacBooks.
The films will then be screened during the Teens Take the Frist! event at the Frist Art Museum and during the 56th Nashville Film Festival.
Watch the short films below made by campers during the 2024 NashFilm x Frist Art Museum Summer Film Camp!