GIFF’s Virtual Documentary Film Series features three films that focus on youth and inspire intergenerational conversations. The films include the U.S. Premiere of PLAYGROUND, the Northeast Premiere of CASABLANCA BEATS, and YOUNG PLATO. Become a GIFF Member to attend or purchase a Pass.

Playground
U.S. Premiere
7-year-old Nora and her big brother Abel are back to school. At first, shy Nora has difficulty fitting in but starts to make friends and come into her own. One day on the playground, she notices Abel being bullied by other kids. Though she rushes to protect him by warning their father, Abel forces her to remain silent while he continues to be humiliated and harassed by his peers. Caught in a conflict of loyalty, Nora will ultimately try to find her place, torn between the worlds of children and adults.

Young Plato
YOUNG PLATO charts the dream of Elvis loving, maverick school Headmaster Kevin McArevey and his dedicated, visionary team who are determined to turn the fortunes of an inner-city community plagued by urban decay, sectarian aggression, poverty and drugs. The all-boys primary school in post-conflict Belfast’s Ardoyne, Northern Ireland, becomes a hot-house for questioning violence, as the determined headmaster sends his young wards home each day armed with the wisdom of the ancient Greek philosophers. The boys challenge their parents and neighbors to forsake the prejudice that has kept this low-level civil war on the boil for decades. YOUNG PLATO hums with the confidence of youth, a tribute to the power of the possible.

Casablanca Beats
Director Nabil Ayouch (Razzia, Horses of God) drew on his own experience opening a youth cultural center in Casablanca for this story of a former rapper named Anas who takes a job teaching hip hop in an underprivileged neighborhood. Featuring a dynamic ensemble of first-time actors, many of them students of the real-life cultural center where the film was shot, Casablanca Beats is a vibrant and inspiring coming-of-age hip hop musical with a decidedly feminist edge. Mixing intimate yet high stakes drama with infectious musical sequences, the film transports audiences to a lively and contemporary Casablanca, far from the clichés about the Arab world. Morocco’s official submission to the 94th Academy Awards® offers a refreshing dose of youthful inspiration alongside a powerful message about the liberating power of self-expression.