Film screening for New Hanover County public schools seeks to teach students about the Holocaust

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington Jewish Film Festival hosted special showings for local middle and high schools.

Over 1,000 students and staff from New Hanover County Schools gathered at the Wilson Center to watch the film “Fanny’s Journey.”

Schools are attempting to get more creative when teaching students about important historical events, and some children learn more effectively through interactive learning or off-campus field trips.

Fanny’s Journey teaches students about the Holocaust and its impact. Based on a true story, the film depicts events surrounding World War II from the perspectives of children.

Following the screening, students were shown a Zoom interview with the real-life Fanny, providing students valuable insight at a time when the Holocaust is typically taught in schools.

Debbie Smith, the president and festival chair of the Wilmington Jewish Film Festival, explained what makes watching a movie in a theatre so special.

“In this day of age, we could pipe the film into the classroom, and it would work. Except, there is something really magical about being in a theatre and being there with all the energy that you see with the film,” said Smith. “And it’s a heart-thumping type of film so that energy feeds off the kids and it really makes it magical being together watching this film.”

The official Jewish Film Festival was last April, but they hope to have more special showings in order to educate as many young students as possible.

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