AusCivics Film Festivals FAQs
1. What is AusCivics?
A national campaign particularly directed to youth and students, but also with a broad aim to inform and engage every single Australian on their choice to value the importance of the Australian Constitution, Australian democracy and the Australian way of life.
2. What are the AusCivics Film Festivals?
A national festival program spanning out across Australia progressively, reaching out to all towns and communities. A series of local trials commenced in September 2010 in preparation for the national roll out in 2011, with the program to be continuous each year. The 2011 festivals feature several short films as well as the award winning feature film “Broken Hill”. Each film featured in the festival will be supported by online education resources linking stories and concepts in the film/s with the 5 Pillars of Australian Democracy and national/state civics curriculum. The core idea is that films provide "windows to the mind" leading to discussion of relevant civic principles.
3. Why film festivals?
The AusCivics Film Festivals are built around feature films and other youth oriented media, aiming to make civics and the Australian Constitution 'cool by association'. AusCivics reaches Aussies "where they live‟ in the film, video, games, and texting oriented world of today.
4. How do these festivals relate to civics education?
Clips from the films being screened at the 2011 film festivals and other films will be used as part of an extensive online education resource library, constantly being updated by the AusCivics team to help educators and students relate to constitutional and democratic themes such as law and order and the pillars of Australian democracy. (More about the curriculum below.)
5. Where are the locations that these festivals will be held?
AusCivics is pleased to be partnering with members of the Independent Cinemas Association of Australia (ICAA) to provide a national roster of venues. The AusCivics team will help schools and community groups arrange session/s at their nearest ICAA location. If you are in a remote area or there is not a location currently confirmed within your area you may make a request or suggest a venue location or help bring an AusCivics Film Festival session to your area.
1. Who created these education resources?
The national education project associated with the AusCivics Film Festivals is written, produced and progressively updated by trained educators, structured around the "Five Pillars of Australian Democracy" and the established curriculums of each state and territory.
2. How do these education resources fit into state/national curriculum?
Every educator will need to follow their prescribed curriculum guidelines. AusCivics provides education resources that are consistent with relevant state / national curriculum guidelines. At the launch of the first of the trial AusCivics Film Festivals in Broken Hill September 11, 2010 a series of online resource materials were uploaded to the AusCivics website. AusCivics is a ten year project and regularly throughout that period new civics resources will be developed and added to the free online AusCivics resource library.
3. Who is this curriculum-related material supported and authorised by?
The available and continuing education resources have been and are being developed in association with local governments and relevant educational authorities consistent with established curriculum guidelines. The patron of the project is Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia. AusCivics project partners include the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and a number of universities.
4. Do we have to pay for these education resources?
The AusCivics Film Festival entry fee is being used to support the provision of an extensive free online education resource library. To increase the range of resources, while reducing distribution costs and environmental costs AusCivics is launching all national resource projects primarily online. AusCivics online resources will remain free and accessible to all teachers, students, families and schools across Australia.
5. Do students have to go to a festival session in order to use these education resources?
No, the education resources are intended to be usable to all students and teachers who wish to participate, not only those who attend the film festivals. However a lot more educational value will be achieved by visiting a film festival and this is highly recommended as a great civics education experience.
6. How can our school get a copy of the festival films?
DVDs will be available after each annual festival season.
7. What ages / grades is this festival and supporting material targeted for?
Upper primary grades 5-6 and and high school students grades 7-12.
8. What will be at the AusCivics Film Festivals?
In 2011, the AusCivics Film Festival sessions will be an intensive but very enjoyable two hour experience, including a short introduction of the role of the Governor-General by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia; “The Australian Way”, a short feature film with famous Australians from all walks of life as well as ordinary Australians who talk about the urgency of civic engagement, including voting, but especially showing the relevance between our everyday experiences and the Australian Constitution; an introduction to the upcoming AusCivics youth channel "YABA", by Luke Arnold, the star of the movie, Broken Hill (YABA is coming online in 2011); and of course the great Aussie film Broken Hill which has been featured in dozens of film festivals around the world, won 13 awards including 'best feature' and is available on the big screen in Australia exclusively through the AusCivics Film Festivals.