ZEF – a Team of Film Educators (32 members) – is an independent group of experts, selecting the most interesting and valuable films for young audiences. Taken into consideration are titles premiering in Poland or presented at children’s film festivals. That’s why last year, ZEF managed to establish cooperation with the Berlinale and the Zlín Film Festival, and this year they’ll be attending the Filem’on Festival in Brussels.
ZEF experts evaluate films and crown selected films with the Quality Mark or the ZEF Award. ZEF recommendations are practical tips for viewers and the industry. The organisation’s website and social media are their most visible sources of information for those who want to consult the results of the selection procedure. Other activities include meetings with filmmakers, workshops, lectures and the ZEF w drodze mini festival.
Agnieszka Piotrowska-Prazuch: “ZEF acts as a guideline for all generations and for the entire film industry. We examine films from different angles. We check whether a film corresponds with a given age group and educational stage. We test its usefulness in terms of school subjects. Finally, we discuss how attractive a movie could be for young audiences. We provide a basic description, some keywords defining the core issues in the film narrative, and we inform teachers, parents or guardians about possible controversial content. Our experts stimulate awareness among parents and help them choose wisely for each age group.”
ZEF’s ambition is to build trust in the Quality Mark that recognises artistic and cognitive values in films. In addition, recommended titles are brought under the attention of both cinema operators, teachers and even the target audience itself. Piotrowska-Prazuch: “We hope that our activities will have a positive impact on the Polish film industry, and might help Polish films with the ZEF Quality Mark to tour more intensively in European cinemas and festivals.”