Since 1994, AFF’s Youth Matinee Program has brought together New York City middle and high school students to a special matinee program during the annual New York African Film Festival. An age-appropriate selection of one feature length or two to three short films is screened with themes relevant to African history, geography, politics, and culture. AFF provides the participating teachers with materials for student orientation before the screenings, and then facilitates a discussion afterward with the filmmakers. Discussion topics after the film often include how African folklore and traditional storytelling techniques were used in films, the relationship of traditional African values to contemporary African and Western culture, as well as the similarities and differences between African and American culture. The programming continues back in the classroom, where teachers will frequently ask students to write critical essays. Occasionally, AFF will ask students to fill out a questionnaire to aid in the evaluation of the program