National Film Board of Canada Focuses on Education to Boost Visibility
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is strategically refocusing its efforts on educators and their needs, recognizing teachers as a key gateway to reaching audiences. This initiative aims to highlight the NFB’s extensive catalog of over 7,000 films, including 1,400 with readily available pedagogical guides, for use in classrooms and potentially at home.
A Return to Educational Roots
Anne-Claire Lefaivre, Director General of Programming and Audience Engagement at the NFB, emphasizes the importance of supporting schools with the NFB’s consistently high-quality films. The NFB historically engaged in specifically educational production during the 1960s and 70s, and is now revisiting that approach as a means of increasing its profile in a crowded content landscape dominated by streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video.
Extensive Educational Resources Available
The NFB’s website features 350 curated educational film selections, categorized by age group and subject matter. Topics range from mental health and human rights to Canadian Black communities, poetry, jazz, scientific phenomena, and historical events like World War I. Each film is accompanied by a teacher-created guide, and “mini-lessons” – often based on short film excerpts under five minutes – are designed to fill approximately 75 minutes of class time. The NFB estimates an average of 3 million views annually from educational users, with 35% originating from Quebec.
Indigenous Stories Take Center Stage
Films focusing on Indigenous experiences are particularly popular in educational settings. We Were Children, a documentary about residential schools, is the NFB’s most-viewed film overall. Reel Injun, which examines the portrayal of Indigenous people in American films, and Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, documenting the Oka Crisis, are also frequently used. The NFB boasts one of the world’s largest online collections of Indigenous films, created by Indigenous filmmakers.
Latest Films and Ongoing Support
The NFB produces 40 new films each year, and continues to develop resources for educators. Recent examples include the five-part series Étoile du Nord, blending science and Indigenous spirituality, and La fille au béret rouge, an animated film for French language learners. The NFB is also working on a new search tool to improve navigation of its extensive catalog, acknowledging that finding relevant content can currently be challenging.
A Collaborative Approach to Content Development
The NFB actively collaborates with educators, like Mélanie Dubois, a pedagogical advisor, and retired teacher Pierre Doyon, to evaluate and refine its educational resources. These partnerships ensure the materials are relevant, effective, and aligned with curriculum requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of films does the NFB offer for educators? The NFB offers a wide range of documentaries, animated films, and other cinematic works covering diverse subjects and age groups.
Are the educational resources free to use? Yes, the films and accompanying pedagogical guides are freely available on the NFB website.
How can I uncover films relevant to my curriculum? The NFB website allows you to search by age group, subject matter, and keywords. A new search tool is currently in development.
Does the NFB offer support for teachers using their films? The NFB collaborates with educators to develop and refine its educational resources, and provides ongoing support through its website and outreach programs.
Where can I find more information about the NFB’s educational offerings? Visit the NFB’s website at https://www.onf.ca/
Did you grasp? The NFB was founded in 1939 and played a crucial role in shaping Canadian identity through film.
