SIGNIS Argentina has been implementing the Cine Mundo Chico Program (CMCH) for over twenty years. Initially, this media literacy program was inspired by the tradition of cinema and spirituality, including film forums and debates, as well as the writings of the esteemed Luis García Orso, SJ. From there, teams led by Ricardo Yáñez and Father Guillermo Russo emerged to bring this practice to young people and adolescents in schools throughout Buenos Aires and its surrounding areas.
One of CMCH’s objectives is to ‘promote the critical judgment of young people, helping them discern between human values and anti-values, and, fundamentally, to reflect on the culture of peace among individuals and communities.’ Over the years, thousands of children and adolescents, along with hundreds of teachers and pastoral agents, have participated in these experiences in various parts of the country, from Córdoba to Bahía Blanca.
Like any other program, CMCH has updated its practices and incorporated new modalities. Among these are film and audiovisual workshops for children and adolescents, generally held in the outlying neighborhoods of large cities where social vulnerability prevails.
In these spaces, during several meetings, the children watch and analyze short films, invent their own stories, and learn the fundamentals of audiovisual language. They create short films that reflect their ways of speaking, themes, and cultures. Their faces express the joy of learning and sharing unique moments where they can create, have fun, and discover their identities while envisioning a kinder and more humane world.