Introducing and transmitting cinema to new generations

interview with Teresa Garcia (Lumière's Children Association)

Abstract

On the sidelines of the meeting Cinema Hypothesis – Creating a Network for Film Discovery (Portuguese Cinematheque and ESTC–Theatre and Film School of the Lisbon Polytechnic Institute, February 2026)  ̶ an event dedicated to reflecting upon film initiation and transmission, particularly among younger generations, and during which Alain Bergala and Teresa Garcia were honoured – Clara Parente, an ESTC alumna, interviewed Teresa Garcia. A prominent figure in the fields of cinema, education, and pedagogy, Teresa Garcia is a filmmaker and co-founder of the Lumière's Children Association, the entity that implements the prestigious international programme Le Cinéma, cent ans de jeunesse (CCAJ) in Portugal. Established in 1995 by Alain Bergala and Nathalie Bourgeois, the CCAJ programme enables young people from diverse countries and contexts to experience the art of cinema, bringing together viewing, listening and filmmaking. This project operates as a gateway to cinema from within the school environment, inextricably linking students, teachers, and professionals.

In this interview, Teresa Garcia discusses, among other topics, her first emotional experience of watching a film, her early experimentation with theatre, and her subsequent commitment to cinema leading up to her enrolment in the Film School, as the ESTC was then known. The director also reflects on the transition from her work as an assistant director and script supervisor to film education for children and young people, alongside the development of her own films. Today, past the 25th anniversary of the founding of the association, the dialogue reflects on the present and future of cinema, emphasising how transmission constitutes a site of encounter and collaboration Furthermore, it addresses the articulation of this work with schools and film professionals, as well as the paramount importance of the theatrical viewing experience in an era in each many areas of Portugal lack access to cinema theatres.