Ficmec Festival Prioritizes Environmental Education for Students and Inclusive Groups

The 28th Canary Islands International Environmental Film Festival (Ficmec) is once again putting environmental education at the heart of its mission, cementing its status as a key event for local schools. The festival will run from May 28 to June 7, with events held in both Garachico and Icod de los Vinos.

Beyond the film screenings, the festival’s Environmental Education program—now in its sixteenth year—is a major focus. Supported by the CajaCanarias Foundation, the program uses documentaries to teach children about the environment. Mariano León Ojeda, head of the foundation’s Education and Heritage department, notes that film is a powerful tool for helping students connect directly with nature and conservation.

The festival’s educational activities are scheduled for May 28 in Garachico, followed by sessions on June 4 and 5 in Icod de los Vinos. The program features a mix of film screenings and specialized workshops. A wide range of schools are participating, including primary schools like CEIP Antonio del Valle Menéndez, Emeterio Gutiérrez Albelo, Baldomero Bethencourt Francés, and Colegio Echeyde. Secondary schools, including IES Nicolás Estévez Borges, Garachico-Alcalde Lorenzo Dorta, Rafael Arozarena, El Tanque, and María Pérez Trujillo, are also taking part.

This year’s festival goes beyond the classroom by including groups that support people with intellectual disabilities, such as the Apreme Association and the Isla Baja Occupational Center. By making environmental education accessible to everyone, the festival aims to foster social cohesion, reflecting European goals to make sustainability a core part of modern citizenship in the face of the climate crisis.