Cinema as a Cultural Bridge: Students Explore Identity and Interculturality at CulCo Lab Workshop
On February 26, 2025, the Cultural Relations and Comparative Arts Lab (CulCo Lab) at the University of Thessaly, in collaboration with the REBOOT project, hosted an inspiring educational workshop titled “Cinema and Interculturality: Languages, Identities, Stories”. Held in Volos, Greece, the event welcomed 70 secondary school students aged 12 to 18 into an immersive cinematic experience focused on how film can illuminate issues of migration, cultural identity, and intercultural dialogue.
The workshop was led by a team of researchers from the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP): Associate Professor Eirini Sifaki (University of Thessaly), Dimitra Thliverou (PhD Candidate), and Stella-Maria Davia (PhD Candidate). Through a curated selection of film excerpts from European, Arab, Asian, and Latin American cinema, students embarked on a journey across cultural landscapes. The discussions centered around themes such as migration, multiculturalism, cultural conflict, and the complexities of identity formation. A major point of engagement was the role of language, specifically subtitling and dubbing, in shaping a viewer’s emotional and intellectual connection to a story. Students explored how translation choices can subtly alter meaning, tone, and cultural nuance, offering a deeper appreciation of language as a vehicle for empathy and understanding.
The participants responded with enthusiasm and curiosity, actively contributing to discussions and expressing a desire to further engage with global cinema. Their reflections underscored the importance of fostering media literacy in young audiences and the power of cinema to promote empathy and intercultural awareness.
This workshop is part of REBOOT’s broader mission to connect new generations with European film, support educational outreach, and inspire intercultural dialogue.
The workshop was led by a team of researchers from the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP): Associate Professor Eirini Sifaki (University of Thessaly), Dimitra Thliverou (PhD Candidate), and Stella-Maria Davia (PhD Candidate). Through a curated selection of film excerpts from European, Arab, Asian, and Latin American cinema, students embarked on a journey across cultural landscapes. The discussions centered around themes such as migration, multiculturalism, cultural conflict, and the complexities of identity formation. A major point of engagement was the role of language, specifically subtitling and dubbing, in shaping a viewer’s emotional and intellectual connection to a story. Students explored how translation choices can subtly alter meaning, tone, and cultural nuance, offering a deeper appreciation of language as a vehicle for empathy and understanding.
The participants responded with enthusiasm and curiosity, actively contributing to discussions and expressing a desire to further engage with global cinema. Their reflections underscored the importance of fostering media literacy in young audiences and the power of cinema to promote empathy and intercultural awareness.
This workshop is part of REBOOT’s broader mission to connect new generations with European film, support educational outreach, and inspire intercultural dialogue.
