Photos © Tommy Lau Photography
Each year, Filmmakers Go to School (FGTS) brings the creative voices of our festivals directly into Bay Area classrooms. Through intimate conversations and interactive workshops, students meet filmmakers from around the world, gaining meaningful insight into the storytelling process and the power of personal narrative. All programs are free for educators and school groups.
In 2025, our FGTS program continued to deepen student engagement during both the Mill Valley Film Festival and DocLands Documentary Film Festival, offering young people the chance to connect with artists whose films inspired curiosity, empathy, and dialogue.
FILMMAKERS GO TO SCHOOL: STORIES BY THE BAY
This Spring 2026 semester, CAFILM Education highlights films with characters finding their sense of belonging and self-reflection. All stories are deeply rooted in the culture of the Bay Area and its dynamic talent.
Step 1: Educators, pick a film you would like to bring to your classroom – follow the instructions and register HERE.
Step 2: Share your preferred date and time for a visit
Step 3: A CAFILM Education staff member will follow up to coordinate and schedule your visit
AYER TE VI
Director: Miguel Rodriguez (US 2025) 18 min | Grades 9-12
A young musician struggles to finish a song as grief, memory, and a mysterious presence begin to blur the line between the real and the surreal.
IMPACT: “Ayer Te Ví explores the quiet grief of losing someone who’s still alive, and the constant presence of mortality. It’s a deeply personal story drawn from my own thoughts and experiences, where music and film become ways to survive and express what words can’t. I hope students feel the weight of the silence, the grief, the moments of hope, and the tension between the past and present. But more than anything, I hope the film serves as a reminder that creating and holding onto what we love can help us keep going. Even when life feels overwhelming, when we’re drowning in its beauty and chaos, it too shall pass. Keep spreading love and art.” – Director, Miguel Rodriguez
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Miguel Rodriguez is an independent filmmaker, actor, and musician based in Marin County, California. Born in McAllen, Texas, and raised in Marin County, Miguel has worked in independent film and music since 2016. He has contributed to over 14 short films, 5 feature films, and various music projects. Miguel writes and directs his films independently, shooting them throughout Marin County and the San Francisco Bay Area. He frequently collaborates with longtime friend, business partner, and fellow filmmaker Devin Fromer as an executive producer, writer, and actor. He has also scored and produced music with friend and fellow musician Ash Jones. His work explores a range of topics and genres, expressing personal perspective through the art form, driven by his love for storytelling, and often incorporates elements of his Mexican American heritage.
ANDY: A DOG’S TALE
Director: Jamy Wheless (US 2022) 7 min | Grades 1-6 & 9-12
ANDY: A DOG’S TALE is the inspiring journey of Andy, a puppy who overcomes challenges to discover his purpose as a service dog. With the help of others and a determined heart, Andy shows us that small beginnings can lead to heroic outcomes.
IMPACT: “Andy: A Dog’s Tale follows a young puppy learning perseverance, patience, and purpose on his journey to becoming a service dog. Through heartfelt storytelling and humor, the film introduces students to empathy, inclusion, and the importance of helping others.” – Director, Jamy Wheless
NOTE:
Originally intended for younger audiences, this film is also being offered to students in Grades 9–12 as part of a filmmaker engagement focused on animation, character animation, and animation as a career pathway.
A free copy of the new children’s picture book, Andy: A Dog’s Tale, will be available to the first 5 registrations for educators in Grades 1-6.
DOWNLOAD CURRICULUM GUIDE (Grades 1-6)
DOWNLOAD CURRICULUM GUIDE (Grades 9-12)
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Jamy Wheless is an American animation director, producer, and veteran animator with over 30 years of experience in film, independent animation, and education. He began his career at Industrial Light & Magic, contributing to iconic films including Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Hulk. Jamy is the CEO and Animation Director of Ignite Animation Studios and the creator of the award-winning short film Andy: A Dog’s Tale.
He also teaches character animation at Auburn University and through his online program, Animate CharactersTM, helping the next generation of animators build strong creative foundations. “Good animation entertains…great animation transcends.”
WATCH TRAILER
NUESTRA TIERRA
Director: Nicole Gascon Amyx (US/Mexico 2025) 10 min | Grades 9-12
Nuestra Tierra is a short and sweet verite film following a day in the life of Nacha and Pancho in Jesus Maria, Mexico. With the slow pacing style, we get an intimate view into their world. Through their connection to their home and land, we see a simple, yet beautiful way of life.
IMPACT: “Nuestra Tierra is a window to a rural ranch house in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. At odds with our fast paced world, driven by money and power, this film shows the beauty of a slow and simple life.Though the film is situated in Rural Mexico, students will learn global message that living a life in harmony with the land, of which we are custodians, is a fulfilling and important existence.” – Director, Nicole Gascon Amyx
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Nicole Amyx is a Mexican-American Documentary Filmmaker and Editor. She works on a large variety of projects, from large, studio feature documentaries and docu-series to independent, grassroots short films. Using Documentary Filmmaking as a platform to help drive change and evoke emotion, she believes that filmmakers have the unique privilege of sharing stories that would otherwise be unknown. Drawn to human stories, she has a deep love for her Mexican heritage and the stories tied to under-represented communities. She also has a strong passion for sports and the great outdoors. Nicole has worked on a variety of Documentaries that have premiered at festivals across the U.S and projects streaming in Netflix, Amazon and PBS.