In 2013 the historic nonprofit Avalon Theatre launched Cinema Classroom at the Avalon in consultation with a number of local educators, who provided guidance about the structure and content of the program. This highly regarded educational offering has grown over the years and has now served over 16,000 students who come from public, charter, and private schools from every ward of Washington, DC.

A free program for 6th-12th graders, Cinema Classroom at the Avalon engages students in critical issues through screenings and expert-guided discussions. Carefully curated films that focus on pressing human rights and social justice issues are shown in the Avalon’s historic theater and are hosted by subject-matter experts who guide students through engaging post-film discussions. Introductions that promote visual literacy by highlighting various film techniques are provided before each of the films offered during the school year. Curriculum guides linked to DCPS standards are sent to teachers in advance of each screening. Since its beginning, public and private funding has allowed for bus transportation to be provided at no cost.

Cinema Classroom at the Avalon and student film education remain central to the Avalon’s mission as a nonprofit film center. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Avalon has continued to provide free Cinema Classroom at the Avalon programming to schools through virtual offerings.

View the current films available and register for a program.