World Cinema Day

World Cinema Day brings middle and high school students and teachers to Madison for a special free screening of a high-quality, international film with an introduction before the film and a Q&A/discussion after the film. Advance registration is required for this event. 

Event Schedule:

11-11:30 am Students arrive at the Barrymore theater and pick up snacks

11:30 am Brief introduction from Wisconsin International Resource Consortium (WIRC) and film director, Amman Abbasi

11:40 am Film screening begins (runtime: 76 minutes) 

1 pm Discussion and Q&A with film director, Amman Abbasi

1:30 pm End of event, return to busses

This is an annual event held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Film Festival.

image for the film, "Yasmeen's Element"

2025 Film Selection: Yasmeen’s Element (2024)

April 4, 2025, 11:30 am
Barrymore Theater
(Map)
in Urdu with English subtitles

 

Sponsored by WIRC and the Wisconsin Film Festival

A young Pakistani schoolgirl named Yasmeen loses her homework – an element from the periodic table – and embarks on a day-long quest to find her Professor’s house. As she weaves through the neighboring towns and villages, she is helped and sometimes hindered by those she encounters – a parable for what women’s education can be in an unstable place.

Registration is now closed for World Cinema Day 2025

Previous World Cinema Days

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

"Rickshaw Girl" World Cinema Day 2023

World Cinema Day 2023

Rickshaw Girl, based on a novel by Mitali Perkins

Language: English/Bangla (Bengali)

Mitali Perkins herself will introduce the film and hold a discussion & Q&A after the film

A daring Bangladeshi teen-aged girl battles the dangers of the big city when she disguises herself as a boy to earn extra cash for her struggling family.

Learn more about the film and view the trailer here.

 

SCHEDULE

10:45-11:10 Students arrive at Shannon Hall (located inside the Memorial Union)
11:10 Brief introduction of the film
11:20 Film screening begins (Runtime: 1 hour, 40 minutes)
1:00 Q&A with Mitali Perkins, author of Rickshaw Girl
1:30 Return to Busses or Go to Lunch

Students are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Following the film, students are welcome to move to Memorial Union Terrace, Library Mall, or Bascom Hill for lunch. No food is allowed in the theatre.

Questions? Please contact Andrea Fowler at assistantdirector@southasia.wisc.edu.