Call for BC Educators: Pre-register for Rated Y

White text saying "Rated Y for Youth, Pre-registration is now open" is overlaid on an image of a buffalo herd on green grass.

Calling all BC educators! Rated Y for Youth is back for its 16th edition. Curated with the intention of facilitating media literacy through compelling local and international documentaries, this program provides an opportunity for high school students and youth to foster an appreciation for cinema while engaging in dialogues on a broad range of social issues.

DOXA Festival takes place from May 1-11, 2025, and the Rated Y for Youth matinee screenings are tentatively scheduled between May 5-9. Previous selections have included incredible Canadian films like Singing Back the Buffalo (2024) and Someone Like Me (2021), as well as DOXA-exclusive Canadian premieres for films like Coming Around (2023) and The First Step (2021).

This year, students will experience thought-provoking independent films that explore nuanced connections between neurodiversity and Indigenous spirituality, heritage, and identity, as well as the urgent work of cultural reclamation, displacement, and resistance within the unique language of meme culture. Each Rated Y film will include a complementary Study Guide to inspire thoughtful classroom conversations and challenge students and youth to critically analyze both their media and the world around them. Each screening features a live discussion with filmmakers and community members.

Although our festival venues are subject to change each year, previously our youth screenings have been held at SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, The Cinematheque, and the VIFF Centre as matinee screenings. These venues are all easily reached via public transit and all offer accessible seating and washrooms. Dates, venue locations, and film titles will be confirmed by early April and we are happy to notify you if you express interest before the program is announced.

If you are an educator of middle or high school students in British Columbia and would like more information or to pre-register, email boxoffice[at]doxafestival.ca. We encourage early inquiries for bookings, as these screenings are popular and availability is limited.