Education Program

Our Mission

To educate and inspire youth in the Bay Area and beyond to take an active part in protecting our vital ocean ecosystems and encourage youth participation in the arts and documentary film making.

Program Overview

Each year SFOFF hosts a free program for middle and high school students featuring exciting and inspirational ocean-themed films. Students participate in live Q&A sessions with filmmakers and marine scientists. Our 2009 program attracted more than 800 students, and our new expanded five-day program in 2010 will allow us to bring this free film event to even more students.

Download the 2010 Student Program Lineup

Download Classroom Questions Surrounding the 2010 Student Program

Download NOAA, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries Questions

Learn more about KQED's entries in the Film Festival:

Seahorse Sleuths

The Farallon Islands: California's Galapagos

sample of schools that have participated

Claire Lilienthal School
St. Brigid’s School
Galileo High School
Convent of the Sacred Heart
San Francisco Waldorf School
San Francisco Day School
Bellarmine College Preparatory
Gilroy High School
Woodside Priory School
Marina Middle School
Francisco Middle School
Oakland High School
Branson School
Aptos High School
Salinas High School
Sierra High School
University High School

Calling for Student Film Entries

A unique aspect of our education program is our desire to screen ocean-themed films produced by the students themselves. Our 2009 festival featured two terrific student-produced films, and we hope to have more in 2010.

Rave Reviews for the student program

“Thank you for providing a venue for the student films. If we want these kids to be a part of changing the world we must give them the voice and opportunity to do so. By giving them a chance to speak to a wider audience we give them the confidence to take a place in the conversation and we validate their point of view. Thank you for taking that risk.”
~Jeff R. Manker, Gilroy High School

“Thank you for including us this year and I hope you will think of us in the future. My students will be making short films this year as part of their senior projects. I’ll forward any of the projects that look promising”
~Patrick Adams, Bellarmine College Preparatory.

“The Ocean Film Festival was the best afternoon we had all year!”
~ 2007 Education Program student participant

Our Vision

Extending our mission to many more students through road shows in the Bay Area and beyond, also producing a live, televised simulcast of our two-day festival, providing a “live experience” of our film screenings and Q&A sessions with film makers and scientists in real time.
Creating a competition and awards program for best student films – serving to inspire budding documentary film makers.
Establish SFOFF as a working forum for Bay Area film and environmental studies programs. SFOFF will provide an opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds and schools to gather and learn from each other as well as from experts from around the world.

For More Information

Due to great demand and limited seating in the SFOFF education program be sure to reserve your seating for your school soon by contacting our education program coordinators Bob and Diane Brockob or by calling (415) 447-7992. Admission is by reserved-in-advance voucher only. Student film entries must be submitted by October 31, 2009.