Through stop motion, storytelling and collaborative creativity, schools from Italy and Spain transformed classroom experiences into original audiovisual works inspired by the core values of the European Union: inclusion, equality, cooperation, solidarity, cultural diversity, environmental awareness and active citizenship.

Each short film explores these values through different educational themes and narratives. Some works reflect on peace, friendship and social solidarity, encouraging empathy and mutual respect among young people. Others focus on sustainability and the relationship between humans and nature, promoting environmental responsibility and collective care for the planet. Several projects address diversity, inclusion and equality, highlighting the importance of listening, participation and respect for different identities and perspectives.

Many of the films were inspired by literary and poetic texts — including works by Gianni Rodari and Saint Francis of Assisi — reinterpreted by students through animation, visual metaphors and handcrafted artistic techniques such as paper cut-out animation, collage, plasticine and mixed-media stop motion.

The educational process behind the films was as important as the final result. Students actively participated in every phase of production — from idea development and scriptwriting to storyboard creation, set design and animation — developing not only audiovisual and digital competences, but also collaboration, critical thinking and emotional expression.

By working together across schools, cultures and languages, participants experienced the European values of cooperation and intercultural dialogue in a concrete and creative way. The resulting short films are therefore not only artistic creations, but also testimonies of a shared educational journey where cinema becomes a tool for participation, reflection and democratic citizenship.