On April 4, Madison’s historic Barrymore Theatre came alive with the magic of international storytelling as over 250 students from across Wisconsin gathered for the annual World Cinema Day. This event, sponsored by the Wisconsin International Resource Consortium (WIRC) and held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Film Festival, offered a unique cinematic experience with the screening of “Yasmeen’s Element” and an interactive Q&A session with the director.
Presented in Urdu with English subtitles, the film follows the journey of Yasmeen, a young Pakistani schoolgirl who embarks on a day-long quest to find her lost homework. As Yasmeen navigates through neighboring towns and villages, the encounters she has, both helpful and hindering, illustrate the complexities surrounding women’s education in challenging environments.
Upon arriving at the theater, the students settled in, ready to immerse themselves in the film with popcorn and snacks in hand. Following the screening, a highlight of the day was the opportunity for a direct discussion and Q&A session with the film’s director, Amman Abbasi. This allowed the students to gain deeper insights into the film’s themes, Abbasi’s filmmaking process, and the cultural context of the story.
“World Cinema Day is an event that WIRC looks forward to every year. Teachers bring students from across Wisconsin for this event and make a special day out of it,” said Andrea Fowler, WIRC chair and Center for South Asia assistant director. “For many of the students, this is one of the few opportunities they have to see an international film or even see a film in a theater. We love working with the Wisconsin Film Festival to help provide that opportunity.”
First launched in 1999, the Wisconsin Film Festival curates, promotes, and exhibits programs that showcase the art and history of world cinema. This annual event, supported by UW–Madison, aligns with the university’s mission by connecting the wider community with films and filmmakers from Wisconsin and around the world.
The positive impact of the day was echoed by a teacher attendee: “I brought five students to the World Cinema Day event on Friday. What an amazing event it was! We enjoyed the film, the theater, and the wonderful hospitality of the staff. My small group enjoyed the event so much. What a treat to get to talk to the filmmaker, too. Thank you for making this event available to the students of Wisconsin.”
Interested in exploring the films featured in previous years? A complete list of films is available here to view. Details for World Cinema Day 2026 will be announced in February. Follow WIRC’s website for more exciting updates and upcoming events!
Story by Kayla Daum