ACMI and VATE present: The Holdovers

VATE and ACMI co-present an evening film screening and professional discussion event centred on Alexander Payne's acclaimed 2023 film The Holdovers. This event brings English teachers together at ACMI's Federation Square cinema for a shared viewing experience followed by facilitated discussion exploring how the film can be used as a classroom text for English study. The Holdovers tells the story of a curmudgeonly prep school teacher forced to stay on campus over the 1970 Christmas break with a handful of students who have nowhere else to go. With its rich characterisation, themes of connection, class, and belonging, and Paul Giamatti's Oscar-nominated performance, the film offers substantial material for text study across multiple year levels. The evening format allows teachers to experience the film on the big screen — as it was intended to be seen — before engaging in collegial conversation about its narrative structure, thematic concerns, and potential classroom applications. VATE's partnership with ACMI makes these film events particularly valuable, combining VATE's deep expertise in English curriculum and text-based teaching with ACMI's knowledge of screen culture, film language, and media literacy. Previous VATE x ACMI film events have proven highly popular, offering teachers a rare opportunity to combine professional learning with the simple pleasure of watching great cinema in good company. This is a relaxed yet professionally rewarding evening for English teachers who want to expand their text repertoire and explore the possibilities of film study in their classrooms.