It is the one which raises fundamental questions for our consideration, like the sense of life and death, freedom, love in our relations, the mystery of the human being, or life, justice and solidarity development seen from a transcendental perspective. Therefore, by suggesting those existential questions under a spiritual openness, it all points to the presence of God. From this view, religious cinema also takes part in spiritual cinema, as it deals with topics, institutions and people from the religions’ diversity. This spiritual approach, when presented from a Christian-Roman Catholic view, promotes the spread of the Good News (The Holy Gospel) in dialogue with our present culture and the other religions.

It first appeared in Barcelona in It was promoted by a team formed by educators, cinema enterprises, theologians, education managers and some associations linked with Signis (World Catholic Communication Association). It features a clear vocation in the pursuit of an effective and educating pastoral action addressed to the young aged

In Spain, the SC Week is held in 50 different locations (Barcelona, Burgos, Madrid, Granada, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Tarragona, Toledo, Valencia, Valladolid and Zaragoza, among many others). In Italy, the diocese of Ferrara have already set it up. Further locations, like Latin America and Asia, are now aimed at through Signis.

Every location see offers a general public films programme to schools, associations, leisure or youth centres well in advance. The film is shown in an agreed venue (usually a central regular cinema) and at suitable times for those schools or centres previously registered to watch. During film presentation, an educator brings on the critical points in that film and presents its corresponding (learning & teaching) guide.

There is a teacher’s guide and a student’s guide. Six general film guides are edited every year.

The teacher’s guide highlights many relevant points for further discussion, in both general education and pastoral/catechism fields, featuring the aims and presenting the activities to be done before, during and after watching the film.

The student’s guide includes a film review, pointing out to the human and spiritual values in the film by referring to the Christian content in it. A printed copy of this guide is meant to be given and worked out by students later in classroom.

Each location see takes on the SC Week set-up and organisation through its own local church. Signis offers the general contents of the films selected by and through the Spiritual Cinema Observatory. Each location is responsible for the content, organisation and development peculiarities according to its background.

Parallel to the SCW meant for the young and teenagers, a Spiritual Cinema Show is also run for general public. Despite the programme being somehow different, it may also share some common films, as it intends to suit every public. Its main aim is to promote both spiritual cinema and the reflexion and discussion derived from film of this genre. Evening and late evening shows include the participation of an expert lecturer to offer his/her own views of the film and optionally moderate a further discussion.

Each branch see funds the activity in its own location, regardless the fact that the contents are provided by the Spiritual Cinema Observatory. Expenses are basically produced by advertising campaigns, cinema and film rentals, as well as their corresponding L & T guides edition. The income comes from various sources: special grants, friends of the SC Week and the public attending and paying for their admission tickets.

Read us at: Visit our blog: espiritual.php Meet us at the SCW Observatory at: 116, Santuari Street Barcelona Or might as well contact us by asking F. Peio Sánchez for info at: