All of DFF’s activities and programs pursue a common goal: the communication of film culture and film aesthetics, the training of the senses, the encounter with cinematic works. The DFF introduces children, young people and adults to film as an art form and cultural asset and sensitizes them to the impact of the moving image, whether in exhibitions, in the cinema, in the museum’s educational workshops, at festivals or in projects. We see film education as a natural part of cultural education.

Strengthening skills and competencies and inspiring young people in particular for the art form of film is a central starting point of film aesthetic education. The DFF’s spectrum of interlinked programs ranges from museum education, model projects such as the MiniFilmclub, the Multimedia Guide or Blickwechsel Jetzt! to LUCAS – International Festival for Young Film Fans, the statewide SchulKinoWochen Hessen and intercultural film education.

The DFF sees itself as a place of cultural exchange, where film, its history, and its impact can be experienced and understood. Through its diverse educational offerings, the DFF aims to provide its visitors with new approaches to the subject. At the heart of the concept for the permanent exhibition are therefore the many functional models and interactive stations that make complex interrelationships tangible in the truest sense of the word. In addition to traditional museum education, the DFF offers advanced training for teachers and supports teachers in designing and implementing educational film projects. These range from individual workshops to project days and weeks, developed and implemented together with teachers.

A number of special projects help bring film education out of the museum and into schools and other educational institutions, both in Frankfurt and throughout the state of Hesse. We also reach groups that are less likely to visit museums.

The annual Hessian School Cinema Weeks, which we organize together with the statewide VISION KINO initiative, are an important multiplier in this regard. The DFF also has close ties with schools and is a partner in various projects in Frankfurt and throughout Hesse.

Cultural education makes it possible for children to participate in culture, to get to know art and cultural institutions, and to develop their creativity. As part of cultural education, film education contributes to developing basic ways of perceiving and expressing in early childhood. The DFF is actively involved in the nationwide network for cultural education in early childhood, which was founded in February 2020. Its goal is to bring together actors from the arts, culture, education, science and politics in order to facilitate structural changes and make cultural education in early childhood a matter of course in Germany.

The model project KIKI – Kinder & Kino & der BEP (Children & Cinema & the BEP) is dedicated to strengthening participation through cultural (film) education. It is based on the educational plan for children from 0 to 10 years in Hesse (BEP).

We want the trip to DFF to be a highlight for all students, and offer school classes a variety of activities in addition to tours and workshops. During Film Analysis at the cinema, students discuss short films they have just seen with a film educator. They learn how films are made, the means the medium uses to tell stories, and the power of suggestive images. The BRIT FILMS and Cinéfête film series combine film with language learning. Every year at the DFF and other cinemas in Frankfurt, thousands of students watch age-appropriate English and French films in the original language with German subtitles. The combination of language and film opens new approaches to language and increases motivation in class.

Introducing the art of film to children and young people throughout Hesse and strengthening the cinema as a cultural venue throughout the year – these are the goals of the DFF’s pilot project, FILMmobil: FILMbildung mobil in Hessen, funded by the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts (HMWK). Thanks to the support of the HMWK’s Kulturkoffer, a workshop format of FILMmobil has already been established in recent years during the annual SchulKinoWochen Hessen (School Cinema Weeks Hessen), which enables pupils:inside to engage intensively with films.

In addition, the new children’s and youth film series “Film & Dialog” sends exceptional films from past programs of “LUCAS – International Film Festival for Young Film Fans” to cinemas throughout Hesse, along with film discussions and activities.
Children are filmed with a tablet

The film series gives young moviegoers the opportunity to get a glimpse of the wider world and non-commercial cinema. In addition, themed project weeks such as “Silent Film & Music”, “Film Analysis” or “Practical Filming” can be booked.

The project is based on active participation in the region and sees itself as a platform for film education. Cultural actors and filmmakers from the region are invited to participate, to network and to enliven the offer with their experiences.

We call on all educators, whether in schools or non-school institutions, to inform the project office of their wishes and needs for film education.

“Film & Dialog” enables young cinema-goers outside of Frankfurt and in rural areas to gain insight into international non-commercial filmmaking. We also offer specific courses such as “Stummfilm & Musik”, “Filmanalyse” or “Praktisches Filmen”.

The project relies on active participation in the region and sees itself as a platform for film mediation. We invite professionals from the cultural sector and filmmakers to add to the project with their experiences and we would love to hear from pedagogues at schools or extracurricular institutions about their wishes and needs for teaching film.

When people think of film, they usually think of current productions. Perhaps they also remember some films from their youth. But the history of film goes back much further than just the second half of the 20th century. We see it as one of our main tasks to raise awareness of the prehistory and early history of film, and to keep early cinematic traditions alive. Occasionally, we organize magic lantern shows in our cinema, which bring historical images to life in fascinating ways. In a unique, enchanted atmosphere, magic lantern storytellers present short and long, sentimental and comic stories, accompanied by music.

For preschool children, we recommend Laterna Magica as an alternative to visiting the permanent exhibition.

In 2012, as a result of the project SpielFilmPioniere, the DFF presented a historical silent film performance with music, sounds and narrative voices created by students of different ages.

The combination of academic film studies with the practical work of a film heritage institution: this was the idea when the DFF and the Goethe University Frankfurt launched the master’s program “Film Culture: Archiving, Programming, Presentation” in 2013. Over four semesters, students are trained in theory and practice for professional careers in film and media culture institutions. The course covers a wide range of topics, from archiving films to presenting them in cinemas, at festivals, in museums or on digital platforms.