Welcome to the San Diego International Film Festival’s
FOCUS on Impact
Educational Program
The Power of Film: Helping to Prepare Future Leaders
Through the power of Arts Education, San Diego County high school and community college teachers are given the tools to explore social impact topics such as environmental sustainability, animal extinction, food scarcity, cultural identity, climate change, ocean pollution, LGBTQAI+ acceptance, immigration, diversity, and inclusion and many more. These and so many other timely topics are annually submitted to the San Diego Intl Film Festival by filmmakers around the world, and the best are curated for the FOCUS on Impact Education Program.
Film is a singularly powerful medium that allows us to see what it is like to walk in another person’s shoes and therefore see an issue from a deeply connected point of view. After participating in this program, 85% of the students said they felt more empathetic and informed.
The Festival and the FOCUS on Impact program is the springboard for films that elevate perspectives on significant social impact issues that affect our communities and our world. Creating this awareness, and the power to make a difference, is something that stays with these young people as they move into adulthood.
— Tonya Mantooth, CEO/Artistic Director
Contributions in the form of donations, sponsorships, as well as the proceeds generated from the film festival events play a significant role in facilitating the expansion of our education program and fostering the development of local communities. Your generous support helps us to advance our mission of empowering our future leaders to make a positive impact on society.
FOCUS on Impact Film Library
Unlimited Access to Perspectives on Social Impact Topics
In the Fall of 2024, we will launch the new FOCUS on Impact Film Library. This will give high school and college teachers unlimited access to social issue short films appropriate for their students so they can schedule them throughout the school year when it is most convenient and timely for them.
Each short film is accompanied by a pre-recorded interview with the filmmakers, which provides insights into their process and initiates discussions with students. Additionally, high school teachers will have access to a teacher’s guide available in the library.
This program prepares future leaders with global perspectives through film, curriculum and conversation and with this expansion we have the ability to reach over 50,000 high school and college students in San Diego.
This program is provided at no cost. If you are an educator and interested in becoming a part of our program, please sign-up below.
To view our current list of films CLICK HERE
Student Art Competition & Exhibit
The Power of Film Portrayed by Art Students
While film is the art of cinematic storytelling, art students are being challenged to storytelling through artwork.
The FOCUS on Impact Student Art Competition & Exhibit will challenge students to create artwork designed to raise awareness of social issues such as inclusion, equality, cultural identity, climate change, pollution (ocean, land, thermal, plastic, soil), homelessness, PTSD (military veterans), human trafficking and LGBTQAI+.
This opportunity will highlight the creative and critical thinking skills developed by students in visual arts program.
This pilot program will showcase the innovative and analytical abilities of students who have pursued visual arts education.
Special Thanks To our EDUCATION Partners