Lower Secondary

The wonders and spectacles of pre-cinema: shadow theatre, optical boxes, magic lanterns and phantasmagoria, the optical theatre, and finally the cinematograph. An adventure discovering the origins of cinema.

Section: The Archaeology of Cinema
Duration: 1 h 30 min
Museum admission: €5
Guided tour: €4 per participant
(Tours in other languages: €5 per student)

From the earliest experiments with the illusion of movement, this visit retraces the most significant stages in the technical and artistic evolution of animation: optical toys, luminous pantomimes and animated cinema.

Duration: 1 h
Museum admission: €5
Guided tour: €4 per participant
(Tours in other languages: €5 per student)

What does a director do? Who is the producer? How long does it take to shoot a film? A journey through the key figures and stages of filmmaking, explored through selected scenes, production documents, costumes, props, photographs and sketches.
Duration: 1 h 30 min
Museum admission: €5
Guided tour: €4 per participant
(Tours in other languages: €5 per student)

A fun role-playing game and treasure hunt focused on film production, designed to explore and discover the inner workings of the film industry.

Duration: 1 h 30 min
Museum admission: €5
Activity fee: €4 per participant

Starting from the film poster — the final piece of the cinematic production machine that guides audiences into the theatre — the visit then steps back to explore one of the most important roles in the film industry: the producer. Participants discover that behind a couple of hours of storytelling on the big screen lies the work and dedication of hundreds of people. Duration: 1 h 30 min Museum admission: €5 Activity fee: €5 per participant 
 
In collaboration wirh  

Focus on the feeling you experience when watching a breathtaking sunrise or a magnificent sunset, or when you are left speechless by the beauty of life — that is the feeling of wonder.

This journey through the Museum explores the sense of wonder that accompanied the evolution leading to the birth of cinema, beginning paradoxically from the end: the film poster, the final marvel before entering the theatre, just as the show is about to begin.

Duration: 1 h 30 min
Museum admission: €5 per student
Activity fee: €5 per participant

In collaboration with   

A journey to approach the English language through the language of cinema. Through words, images and stories, students learn to recognise and use simple, recurring expressions in a spontaneous and engaging way. At the end of the visit, each class receives a short summary handout with the words and phrases learned during the activity.

Link to the information sheet

Duration: 1 h
Museum admission: €4
Guided tour: €5 per participant

Sounds, voices, music and noise. A journey through the history of film soundtracks, from silent cinema to the first talkies, from the birth of the musical to contemporary digital sound.

Duration: 2 h
Cost: €100 per class

The lesson can be combined with school screenings organised as part of the SEEYOUSOUND International Music Film Festival.

A structured and in-depth exploration of the film frame and its key elements: shot scale, camera angles, camera movement, lighting and editing. Through the viewing and analysis of selected film sequences and simple practical exercises, students develop a technical and analytical perspective on the moving image and acquire essential skills for creating effective audiovisual works.

Duration: 4 h (1 or 2 sessions, to be agreed with the teacher)
Fee: €180 per class

A different number of hours can be arranged in agreement with the teacher.

A journey into the origins of Hollywood and classical cinema through the analysis of conventions, narrative structures and the evolution of film genres.

Duration: 2 h
Fee: €100 per class
Location: At school

Entertainment before cinema: shadow theatre, optical boxes, magic lanterns and phantasmagoria, the optical theatre, and finally the cinematograph.

Duration: 1 h
Grades: 4th–5thVirtual tour: € 75 ita/€85other languages 

What are the professions in cinema, and what does it mean to shoot a film? A journey behind the scenes of the Film Machine, exploring film clips, screenplays, costumes, and special effects.

Duration: 1 h
Grades: 4th–5th
Virtual tour: € 75 ita/€85other languages 

How have special effects changed with the advent of the digital age? Invisibility, flying and the use of real and virtual backgrounds through the chroma-key and digital compositing techniques with three-dimensional objects.
Duration: 2h 
Museum admission: €5
Workshop fee: €6 per participant

Participants must bring their own USB Flash Drives to take footage home.
The footage will  be given to groups with release forms  signed by their parents. Download the release form here

With the advent of cinema and the close-up, actors had to learn to be observed at close range and to express themselves without words. On set, students experiment with acting techniques inspired by early Italian silent film manuals. During a casting session, the right “type” is selected for each role. The workshop is introduced by a visit to selected areas of the Film Machine section.

Duration: 2 h
Museum admission: €5
Workshop fee: €6 per participant
Available every Thursday by reservation

The filmed material will be provided only to classes that submit signed parental consent forms and bring a USB flash drive.
Download the consent form here

On set, students recreate a sequence from Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson.
With roles assigned within the crew, costumes worn, and guided by storyboard and screenplay, filming can begin. The workshop is introduced by a visit to the Museum section dedicated to the Film Machine.

Duration: 3 h
Museum admission: €5
Workshop fee: €7 per participant
Available every Friday by reservation

The filmed material will be provided only to classes that submit signed parental consent forms and bring a USB flash drive.
Download the consent form here

The greatest challenge for an animator is bringing characters to life. At the animation table, participants experience the magic of stop-motion cinema by creating a short story and giving life to the emotions of their characters.

Duration: 2 h
Museum admission: €5
Workshop fee: €6 per participant (maximum 25 participants)

Please bring a USB flash drive to receive the videos created during the workshop.

After a brief theoretical introduction, students have the opportunity to conceive a film sequence and create its storyboard, drawing inspiration from great cinema. An opportunity to explore and develop their narrative skills.

Duration: 2 h
Museum admission: €5
Workshop fee: €6 per participant

After a brief introduction in the Film Machine section, the class shoots a sequence on set, experimenting with directing techniques such as framing and camera movement. An opportunity to discover how a director’s gaze shapes cinematic storytelling.

Duration: 2 h
Museum admission: €5
Workshop fee: €6 per participant

The filmed material will be provided only to classes that submit signed parental consent forms and bring a USB flash drive.
Download the consent form here

A visit to the Museum’s Poster Gallery inspires the creation of an original film poster. During the workshop, students work with tablets and digital techniques, experimenting with titles, images and graphic layout.

Duration: 2 h
Museum admission: €5
Workshop fee: €6 per participant

A selection of titles from the official Cinema Massimo programme. An opportunity to discover films of different genres, periods and styles in their original context. A viewing experience that brings schools closer to curated programming and to cinema as a cultural experience.

Screenings take place alongside film cycles dedicated to the work of great directors. Titles are announced from time to time and selected according to the current retrospective.

Calendar updated regularly. Upcoming dates are published at THIS LINK.

Three masterpieces to explore the transformation of cinema: from the silent era to modern filmmaking, passing through classical Hollywood. An opportunity to engage with landmark works in film history, discovering different forms, styles and modes of expression.

The programme is free of charge. Priority booking will be given to classes attending all three events.

didattica@museocinema.it

Wednesday, 11 February at 9.30

The Glory of Silent Cinema

Safety Last! by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor (USA, 1923, 70’)

A young man from the countryside finds work in the city and, as part of a publicity stunt, agrees to climb the façade of a skyscraper. With slapstick comedy, inventive direction and rising tension, it remains one of the funniest and most influential silent films in cinema history.

Wednesday, 11 March at 9.30

The Timeless Classic

Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock (USA, 1954, 112’)

A photojournalist observes his neighbours from his apartment window and begins to suspect that one of them has murdered his wife. A masterpiece by the master of suspense and a key work of classical Hollywood cinema, blending tension with a reflection on the act of looking.

Friday, 10 April at 9.30

Contemporary Cinema

Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson (USA, 2012, 94’)

In the 1960s, two twelve-year-olds run away together, sparking a collective search across their island community. A poetic and original film that, with visionary style and irony, explores growing up, friendship and the desire for freedom. A defining work of contemporary auteur cinema, combining meticulous visual design, fairy-tale storytelling and expressive experimentation.

A journey through music, colour and pop revolution in a special morning dedicated to The Beatles. On the big screen, in an immersive and engaging experience, images and sounds tell the story of the band that forever transformed music and the collective imagination.

Screenings introduced by Roberto Bovolenta

Friday, 8 May

A Hard Day's Night
by Richard Lester (UK, 1964, 85’)
Lower Secondary School

A surreal and fast-paced day in the life of the Beatles, between rehearsals, concerts and daring escapes from fans. With infectious rhythm, irony and spontaneity, the film captures the spirit of an era and the electrifying energy of a band at the height of its success.

Admission: €4 per participant
Info  here 

Beyond its regular school screenings, the Museum offers free events at Cinema Massimo to explore themes related to rights, legality, inclusion and significant commemorative dates through high-quality films. Guests, experts and educators meet students after the screenings to further discuss the issues raised by the films.

Among the events:
Children’s Rights with UNICEF;
Holocaust Remembrance Day with Museo Diffuso della Resistenza;
National Day Against Bullying and Cyberbullying with Social for Inclusion;
Day of Remembrance for the Innocent Victims of the mafia with Libera;
Liberation Day with Associazione Museo del Cinema.

Contact: didattica@museocinema.it | +39 011 8138516

The screenings in the Cinema as a Mirror of Reality series are free thanks to the support of Agenzia Antonelliana Reale Mutua Assicurazioni.

The programme of special screenings include the halloween event,  a Christmas screening , events connected to temporary exhibitions and other initiatives at the Museum and the Cinema.

Full programme here

Information and bookings: didattica@museocinema.it | +39 011 8138516

A session dedicated to discovering Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle. From the page to the big screen, through series, adaptations and curiosities, the event explores the relationship between cinema and literature, the investigative method, the Victorian era and the timeless appeal of the character.

Wednesday, 5 November at 9.30
Duration: approx. 2 h
Free participation

didattica@museocinema.it

An initiative carried out within the framework of the National Plan for Cinema and Images in Schools, promoted by the Ministero della Cultura (MiC) and the Ministero dell'Istruzione e del Merito (MIM).

The project brings to schools across several Italian regions a programme dedicated to enhancing the Museum’s heritage and promoting film literacy, with a focus on themes such as the environment and gender identity. Teachers and students take part in training activities with industry professionals, visits to the Museum, screenings in local cinemas and film workshops. The works created during the project will be presented in an exhibition at the Mole Antonelliana and in a final event at Cinema Massimo.

Full programme here

(Age 12-19)
The European Film Club is an online platform and network of film clubs promoted by the European Film Academy, offering young people across Europe the opportunity to watch films and discuss European cinema together.

Sign up, choose your favourite Movie Club and take part in the activities.
Participation is free of charge.

Find out more: www.europeanfilmclub.org
Information: didattica@museocinema.it

Screenings and Q&A – CinemAmbiente Junior Competition

Festival CinemAmbiente: June 2026
CinemAmbiente Junior: October–May 2026
Cinema Massimo / Streaming
Free participation

CinemAmbiente Junior is the section of the Festival CinemAmbiente dedicated to children and young audiences. It offers films and meetings that encourage reflection on environmental education themes. On a weekly basis, a film is presented in theatres and online, followed by a discussion with experts in the topics addressed.

The national CinemAmbiente Junior Competition, divided into three sections (primary school, lower secondary and upper secondary), is open to students wishing to submit short films on environmental themes.

Information: junior@cinemambiente.it

In addition to the school programme at Cinema Massimo, the Educational Services offer participation in major international film festivals. An opportunity to watch films in their original language, meet directors, film professionals and festival curators. A unique experience and, for older students, an opportunity for vocational orientation.

School events are available here

Other Festivals

SEEYOUSOUND International Music Film Festival | March

School screenings as part of SEEYOUSOUND™, the first Italian festival dedicated to the close relationship between cinema and music — a celebration for both eyes and ears. National and international premieres, documentaries and music videos in competition offer students the opportunity to explore the synergy between music and film, discover new perspectives on contemporary music culture, and deepen their understanding of audiovisual language through sound.

The SEEYOUSOUND screenings can be combined with the film lecture CINEMA TO LISTEN TO
Sounds, voices, music and noise: the history of film soundtracks, from silent cinema to early talkies, from the birth of the musical to contemporary digital sound.

In-depth information at THIS LINK
Duration: 2 h
Cost: €100 per class

Castellinaria Festival del cinema giovane | April

Collaboration between the Museum of Cinema and Castellinaria for school screenings.
The Festival promotes quality cinema that expresses culture, openness and courage through new cinematographies from around the world. Its focus is the world of young people and the realities in which they are voluntarily or involuntarily protagonists. An intense programme of cultural mediation makes cinema a privileged tool for exploring the world.

Festival screenings are held at Cinema Massimo.

Giffoni Film Festival

One of the most important youth film festivals in the world, involving thousands of young jurors from different countries each year and promoting intercultural dialogue through cinema. The Museum organises screenings and events in collaboration with the Festival during the school year.

Giffoni – What begins here improves the world

Sottodiciotto Film Festival & Campus | December

Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary Schools

Founded in 2000 by the City of Turin and AIACE Torino, Sottodiciotto Film Festival & Campus is a space for growth and intergenerational dialogue, giving visibility to audiovisual works created by under-18s and to films dedicated to childhood, adolescence and youth.

A showcase of high-quality screenings that has gained recognition from audiences and the media, featuring national premieres, retrospectives and conferences with prominent Italian and international guests, alongside special programmes.

www.sotto18.com

PROGETTI SPECIALI

Anim-Azione! | Percorso - Da gennaio

La Scuola in prima fila: Viaggio in Italia

Iniziativa realizzata nell’ambito del Piano Nazionale Cinema e Immagini per la Scuola promosso da MiC e MIM.
Il progetto, realizzato nell’ambito del Piano Nazionale Cinema e Immagini per la Scuola promosso da MiC e MIM, porta nelle scuole di diverse regioni italiane un programma di valorizzazione del patrimonio del Museo e di alfabetizzazione cinematografica, con focus su tematiche come l’ambiente e l’identità di genere. Il percorso coinvolgerà docenti e studenti in attività di formazione con professionisti del settore, visite al Museo, proiezioni nelle sale del territorio e laboratori di cinema, le cui produzioni saranno oggetto di una mostra alla Mole Antonelliana e di un evento finale al Cinema Massimo. Programmazione a breve online

Video lessons are available online free of charge at: www.intocinemamuseum.com

Film Language
Film Genres
TV Series
La tregua – From Text to Film
Uomini contro – Cinema Against War
 

Learning hub  - An area that provides access to digital content: browsable and downloadable e-books, film notes, video recordings of post-screening discussions, interactive quizzes, video lessons and evaluation sheets.

The Virtual Screening Room is the dedicated space for accessing films and live streaming events organised as part of the Museum’s projects.

A selection of short films from around the world, in collaboration with WeShort, the platform dedicated to great short cinema. An opportunity to introduce students to powerful, engaging and high-quality stories capable of portraying the present in just a few minutes.

Projects 2021 – Best Practices Award