Cortes Island Academy (CIA) is finishing its first ever semester with a fourth block in filmmaking. The new high school program is a one semester-pilot project this year, so a film festival on Tuesday night concluded the program’s 2022-2023 school year.

CKTZ has covered the journey of the CIA pilot project, hearing from creators of the program. The CIA is largely powered by fundraising efforts, and the filmfest brought in admissions revenue from 120 guests. Snacks were served, and 27 short films made by students of the new academy were debuted. The program was run by educators of the local Cortes organization Reel Youth.

At the film festival, CKTZ spoke with a student completing the semester: Rowan Large. Large was attending Surge Narrows School on neighboring Read Island before attending CIA. Read Island can only be accessed by water taxi, private boat, or float plane. It is the most remote school in District 72. Large reflected on what made the program so unique.

"The CIA has really given me the opportunity to just learn. Not just in the way that normal school and how they give you a sheet of paper to work through: it feels like when I learn something here, it's gonna stick with me for my whole life."

Large also appreciated the social experiences within an intimate group of only 20 high school-age students. Large will return to Surge Narrows for his second semester, where he is the oldest and only high school student in a one-classroom school.

To hear more about the Cortes Island Academy experience, listen to the CKTZ News Update below: