Stories that stick: Bringing real-world perspectives into the classroom with New Day Films

Real stories that start real conversations

Some classroom discussions are over almost as soon as they begin, while others stay with students long after the lesson ends.

The difference is often the story that starts the conversation.

That’s what makes the New Day Films channel on ClickView so powerful. Rather than relying on scripted scenarios or fictional case studies, the channel brings together award-winning documentaries that introduce students to real people, real experiences and real issues. From identity and mental health to bullying, inclusion and sustainability, these are stories that invite students to think critically, ask questions and see the world through someone else’s eyes.

In an age of AI-generated content, misinformation and endless online opinions, authentic voices matter more than ever. New Day Films has always believed the most powerful stories come from the people who have lived them, helping students engage with lived experiences, diverse perspectives and the complexity that comes with them.

Created by independent filmmakers and curated specifically for education, the New Day Films channel helps teachers tackle complex topics with confidence through engaging documentaries and ready-to-use classroom resources.

A mission that began more than 50 years ago

Every documentary in the New Day Films channel has something in common: it was created by filmmakers who believe stories can help people better understand the world around them.

New Day Films was founded in 1971 when filmmakers Julia Reichert, Jim Klein, Liane Brandon and Amalie R. Rothschild struggled to find distributors for documentaries centred on women’s experiences. Rather than compromise their work, they formed a filmmaker-owned cooperative, beginning with films such as Growing Up Female, which explored the social expectations placed on women and girls. Their goal was simple: to help important stories reach educators and communities while allowing filmmakers to retain ownership of their work.

Over the next five decades, the cooperative grew far beyond its feminist roots. Today, it includes more than 140 filmmaker members and over 300 documentaries. While the subjects have evolved, the mission remains the same: to create honest, thought-provoking films that encourage discussion and deepen understanding.

That philosophy runs throughout the New Day Films channel on ClickView, giving teachers access to a hub of authentic documentaries that spark meaningful classroom conversations.

Stories that challenge, inspire and build empathy

One of the strengths of the New Day Films channel is the incredible diversity of topics it explores. Students might follow six children learning to manage obsessive compulsive disorder in UNSTUCK: An OCD Kids Movie, opening up thoughtful discussions around mental health, resilience and empathy. In The Boy Game, students explore the culture surrounding bullying among boys, unpacking questions around masculinity, peer pressure and the role of bystanders. Meanwhile, First Person Plural follows the journey of a Korean adoptee reconnecting with her birth family, encouraging conversations about identity, belonging, race and culture.

These are just a few examples. Across the channel, teachers will find documentaries covering arts and culture, disability and inclusion, youth and coming-of-age, environmental issues, science, sustainability and many other topics that connect naturally across the curriculum.

What makes the channel especially valuable is that these documentaries encourage students to ask better questions, consider different perspectives and engage thoughtfully with the world around them.

Supporting better classroom discussions

Great documentaries deserve great discussions. Every documentary in the New Day Films channel includes a Discussion Prompts resource for teachers. Rather than starting from scratch, teachers can use structured questions that guide students through three levels of thinking: understanding the basics, making connections and thinking more deeply about the ideas explored in each film.

Whether students are analysing a filmmaker’s message, connecting themes to their own experiences or debating broader social issues, the discussion resources help transform a documentary into a meaningful learning experience.

For busy teachers, it also means less preparation and more confidence knowing every documentary is supported by practical classroom materials.

Explore New Day Films on ClickView

Whether you’re teaching English, Humanities, Health, Science or Social Studies, the New Day Films channel offers an engaging way to introduce real-world issues through authentic storytelling.

By combining award-winning documentaries with thoughtful discussion resources, the channel helps students move beyond simply watching a film to analysing, questioning and reflecting on the ideas behind it.

For teachers, it’s an easy way to bring meaningful conversations into the classroom through stories that students won’t quickly forget.