CinEduc project uses cinema to teach critical thinking in Brazil

The CinEduc project, an initiative by the Instituto Conceição Moura, is using cinema as a pedagogical tool to foster critical thinking among students in Belo Jardim, Pernambuco. The program hosts monthly film screenings at the Cineteatro Cultura for both public and private school students, followed by mediated debates to help them interpret audiovisual content.

This initiative addresses a gap identified in the 2025 TIC Kids Online Brasil research, which found that while 88% of Brazilian children and adolescents consume online videos, many lack the ability to critically evaluate what they see. The research noted that approximately 43% of users aged 11 to 17 believe the first search result is always the best source, often failing to verify information accuracy.

By using films such as ‘Xingu’ and ‘The Girl Who Stole Books’, the project encourages students to relate cinematic stories to their own lives, listen to diverse interpretations, and build arguments, bridging the gap between passive consumption and active understanding.