GETCA 2025

Looking for new ways to get your students excited about Shakespeare? Consider running your own Shakespeare short film festival! In this authentic, creative assessment, students go beyond basic comprehension and analysis, and leap into creative synthesis by combining the close reading of Shakespearean drama with exploratory, independent film viewing, ultimately creating their own short film adaptations of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the style of a contemporary filmmaker of their choice. In this project, students research filmmakers, study their aesthetics, and create their own short film to be screened at a school-wide film festival. Students become personally invested in their own unique interpretations of the Bard’s plays and contribute authentically to the ongoing discussion of the relevance of Shakespeare in today’s world. Session attendees will view films from past film festivals and be given tips on creating their own film festivals, using adaptable student handouts and materials from past festivals.