Back to School Films!

Come see a (new) preview of Chess Movie at the 92nd Street Y on Thursday Oct 21 at 7:30 pm. It's part of the Back to School Film series and only costs $12.

This month's Story Leads to Action is a Back-to-School celebration of movies and movements dedicated to education, growth, hope and community resilience - featuring excerpts and scenes from three films-in-progress each one uniquely exploring the possibility, fierce promise and politics of educating the next generation of global citizens. More here.


Chess Movie (working title)

Director: Katie Dellamaggiore

In 10 years, Intermediate School 318 has built the best junior high chess program in the nation, despite its consistently high level of student poverty. This year, 318 has its strongest team ever, but in an unexpected twist of fate, the school is also dealt a severe budget cut and all after-school activities, including chess, are losing funding.


Mariachi High

Director: Ilana Trachtman

Mariachi High is a documentary film, supported in part by Latino Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts, that will take viewers on a transformative and spirited journey into the dreams and dramas of Mexican American teenage-hood, through the soulful and vibrant lens of a competitive mariachi band. High school has never sounded so good.


Our School

Director: Mona Nicora

Our School follows three Roma children—Alin, Beniamin and Dana—as they move from a dead-end segregated school into a mainstream Romanian school. The film is an elegy about hope and squandered opportunities, as well as a meditation on what it truly means—and what it truly takes—to give a real chance to a whole generation of children.



Speaking in Tongues

Director: Marcia Jarmel & Ken Schneider

At a time when 31 states have passed "English Only" laws, four pioneering families put their children in public schools where, from the first day of kindergarten, their teachers speak mostly Chinese or Spanish. Speaking in Tongues follows four diverse kids on a journey to become bilingual. This charming story will challenge you to rethink the skills that Americans need in the 21st century.