This program from the Porto-based cinema, which has reached 83 schools in the Greater Porto area since 2022, will run from September 2026 to June 2028.

It will screen 59 films organized into four thematic pillars: "Who (Re)Invented Cinema," exploring the history of cinematic innovation; "Where We Want to Live," debating topics such as housing, ecology, social justice, and gender issues; "Travel Journal," addressing physical and emotional journeys; and "Monsters, Myths, and Creatures," focusing on the realm of fantasy and imagination.

Batalha’s creative director, Guilherme Blanc, explained to Lusa that the programming focuses on themes that concern adults and are likely to concern young people as well, with the goal of extending the debate sparked in the cinema into the classroom.

"We are centering on what is very important to us: on one hand, stimulating critical thinking through cinema, discussing issues relevant to our times, and, on the other, using these debates to foster a connection with film that enhances the pleasure and appreciation of the seventh art," he elaborated, hoping the program helps "create a culture of cinephilia" among children and adolescents.

Since its launch in 2022, the program has brought 16,797 students to Batalha across 131 screenings. This figure reflects the work done with educational institutions, including school principals, teachers, and even parent associations, who have shown openness and a willingness to "address pedagogical and scientific topics through cinema."

“We put a great deal of preparatory work into building relationships with schools. This mediation work is crucial; without it, it would be impossible to develop a school program that was understood, effective, and well-received,” she added.

Of the 59 films, 15% are Portuguese productions, and 49% were directed by women.

The curation team consisted of filmmaker Alexandra Ramires, programmer and researcher Cátia Rodrigues, creator and performer Dori Nigro, and film critic João Araújo.

Alexandra Ramires revealed to Lusa that the “complex exercise” of devising this program resulted in a selection of works by filmmakers such as Alice Guy-Blaché, Manoel de Oliveira, Abbas Kiarostami, Leonor Teles, and Agnès Varda.

“It was a beautiful exercise to undertake with three other people. Dialogue played a vital role in making this possible, as we each brought very different perspectives and experiences; we discussed films we hadn't previously considered for a school audience but which held great potential,” the filmmaker shared.

The aim was to select films with “angles that aren't always obvious” in order to spark discussion and “try to understand the value each film offered as an educational tool.”

The Schools Program is designed for all levels of education, from preschool to secondary school. Sessions take place from Wednesday to Friday at 10:15 AM; they are free for schools within the municipality of Porto, while participants from other educational institutions pay a fee of €1.50.