‘CINANIMA Goes to Schools’ is an annual programme that brings auteur animated films to children and young people through a selection of films of high artistic and production quality, now part of the new Pequeno Golfinho International Competition.
Promoting film literacy amongst children and young people is part of our mission and involves, amongst other initiatives, the creation of animated film programmes designed specifically for different levels of education. This selection is made by the CINANIMA Schools Selection Jury, taking into account the children’s ages and their varying levels of experience with cinema.
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This year, we are offering four film programmes, one for each stage of education: pre-school, primary, middle school and secondary school. Each programme features a selection of short films that enables pupils to discover different techniques, styles and ways of telling stories through animated films.
‘CINANIMA Goes to Schools’ is provided free of charge to schools in Portugal, to some schools in CPLP countries, to Portuguese schools in Europe and to cultural associations of the Portuguese diaspora.
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In 2025, the programme was delivered in 505 schools, reaching 96,438 pupils of all age groups in person.
Registration for the 2026 edition will open shortly.
For more information, contact us via email at [email protected]
A brilliant initiative of a very high standard. It enabled the students to broaden their cultural and artistic knowledge and learn a little more about film techniques. Our library was transformed into a proper cinema, with rows marked by letters and numbered seats. The pupils learnt about maths. It also contributed to their personal and social development in terms of respect for themselves and others, as demonstrated by the silence and attention they showed. The messages conveyed by the films were very meaningful, and the students’ comments were appropriate – in other words, they ‘got the point’. The students immersed themselves in the fantasy and watched the films with great interest and concentration. Well done, and keep up the good work.
Dina Maria Miranda,
Agrupamento de Escolas Sebastião da Gama – Setúbal
“The screening of the short films included in the ‘CINANIMA Goes to Schools’ programme proved to be a very positive and enriching experience for the students. Throughout the sessions, the students remained attentive, interested and engaged, showing curiosity and sensitivity towards the stories presented. The films prompted important reflections on themes such as the importance of water and environmental conservation, identity, diversity and inclusion, enabling links to be made with the ongoing project on Natural Heritage – the River Paiva. The students expressed their enjoyment of the short films, identifying with the characters and the messages conveyed, which contributed to greater emotional and educational engagement. Overall, this activity reinforced an appreciation for animated films as an educational tool, promoting critical thinking, empathy and environmental awareness – fundamental objectives of the National Film Plan.”
Adriana do Céu Marques dos Santos,
Agrupamento de Escolas de Castro Daire
“The Cinanima Festival proved to be an event of great significance, not only because of the creativity of its films, but also because of the intelligent and entertaining way in which they addressed current and relevant issues. The students were able to watch a number of short films exploring topics such as mental health, pollution and its consequences for life on Earth, intergenerational relationships and the integration of migrant students. These stories, presented in concise and accessible formats, helped to raise the students awareness of challenges that form part of their daily reality, through reflection and discussion on these issues.”
Sofia Diniz,
Agrupamento de Escolas de São João do Estoril – Estoril
“The participation of students in Special Educational Needs in the ‘Cinanima goes to school’ project proved to be an inclusive, motivating and enriching educational experience. The use of animated films as a teaching tool made it possible to create stimulating learning environments, tailored to the students’ different educational needs (see photos of the sessions and the work produced based on suggestions from the ‘Cinanima goes to school’ educational service). The sessions provided moments of deep emotional and cognitive engagement. Exposure to different styles of animation and the themes explored in the films stimulated creativity and curiosity, serving as a starting point for a variety of educational activities tailored to the students’ individual abilities.”
Ilda Cardoso,
Sala de Apoio Especializado à Multideficiência, Agrupamento de Escolas de Condeixa-a-Nova – Coimbra
“This ‘Cinanima Goes to Schools’ programme plays a very important role in stimulating the creativity of our students, from pre-school through to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycles. It has provided them with exposure to high-quality animated films. The students have really enjoyed it, as this project draws on their imagination, which, combined with artistic sensitivity and a love of discovery, contributes to the development of skills in interpreting visual narratives and an appreciation of cultural diversity. For our students in the second and third cycles, the programme goes further, encouraging critical thinking and reflection on complex and topical issues. By integrating cinema into the school environment, Cinanima contributes to a well-rounded education; in other words, it helps students develop a more attentive and sensitive perspective on the world around us.”
Maria de Fátima Jesus da Cunha,
Agrupamento de Escolas Aver-o-Mar – Póvoa de Varzim
“Watching the films enabled us to explore other areas of Special Educational Needs, particularly emotions and feelings. As a Special Educational Needs teacher, I would like to highlight the importance of emotions for social interaction, noting that they are key determinants of human behaviour and fulfil social functions that may or may not facilitate interaction with others. As such, the ‘CINANIMA Goes to Schools’ programme was fundamental to this approach.”
Maria José Ferreira,
Agrupamento de Escolas da Trofa
“The students were very engaged in the activities set before, during and after watching one or more short films from both programmes. At times, a second viewing was necessary to gain a better understanding of the message conveyed or to observe more closely the details and nuances of the animation techniques used. The short films maintained the high standard we have come to expect from the organisation. Our congratulations on this initiative!’
Teresa Küffer,
Coordenação Ensino Português na Suíça – Camões, I.P.
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