Filmosophy with Children
“Fil(m)osophy with Children” is a regular segment of the PFF. This year, the Festival will move the fil(m)osophical experiences intended for the youngest audience from the Cinematheque to primary schools, transforming classrooms into mini cinemas. Our hosts will be the primary schools “Brakja Miladinovci” and “Vlado Tasevski” in Skopje, where workshops will be held with 5th and 6th grade students on the topic: “What is kindness?”
Through the screening of short, philosophically provocative videos, children will be encouraged to share their authentic thoughts and discuss them while following the basic rules of philosophical dialogue:
– Don’t be afraid to say what you think – there are no wrong answers;
– Think carefully, but listen even more carefully to what others say;
– It’s okay to agree or disagree with someone, but be ready to explain why;
– It’s perfectly fine to change your opinion — only those who don’t think never change their minds.
These discussions, inspired by the short films and guided by these principles, not only nurture critical and creative thinking, imagination, and curiosity, but also develop essential social skills such as mutual respect and understanding, cooperation, and empathy. All of this reaffirms the role of philosophy as a pillar of these values and goals in education.
Through questions such as: What is kindness? What is it made of? Should we be kind – and why? Is it easy to be kind? — embedded in methodically and didactically adapted activities for the students’ age — children will experience their own innate ability for authentic philosophical thinking, without being directed or influenced by imposed views or answers.
Martin Popovski
Martin Popovski holds a PhD in the philosophy of science and an MA in philosophy education methodology. He is a certified trainer in philosophy for children and a pioneer in this field in Macedonia. He has led numerous workshops, lectures, and classes, often in collaboration with international experts. Popovski was part of the expert team in the Erasmus+ project SOPHIE, is the author of several academic papers, and co-author of the curriculum and teaching materials for the elective subject Philosophy for Children in primary education.