This treasure trove of international children's cinema features 11 films full of adventure, surprises, belly laughs and stories that are sure to make kids think and see the world in a brand-new way. The festival is curated by Elizabeth Shepherd, Director of Children's Programs, Northwest Film Forum, Seattle, WA. A free breakfast and pajama party precedes the Saturday, March 6 screenings at 9 am.
Schedule of Films:
Saturday, March 6
10:00a Gutsy Guinea Pigs…
11:30a Getting Grown
1:00p Living Large
2:30p Jump!
Saturday, March 13
10:00a Gentle Planet
11:00a Rise and Shine!
12:30p The Red Jacket
2:30p Game Changers
4:00p Whistle Lesson
Sunday, March 14
12:00p Maharal
2:00p Gutsy Guinea Pigs...
3:00p Speedy Delivery
Film Details:
GUTSY GUINEA PIGS, SWEET SPIDERS AND SLEEPY GORILLAS
(Various directors, various countries, 53 min)
Recommended for ages 3 and up. One film has English subtitles. Get ready for a parade of cute critters, including industrious spiders, gentle gorillas, smart little pigs, well-mannered otters and gutsy guinea pigs. This program is short, sweet and musical! Film program includes: Jiro and Miu (Jun Nito, Czech Republic, 2007, 8min); Bruno (Gil Alkabetz, Germany, 2008, 2 min); Traffik (H. Godreull/V. Huet/ M. Salmas, France, 2006, 1min); What To Eat, Oscar? (Mig Jou, Taiwan, 2008, 4 min); Do Unto Otters (Galen Fott, USA, 2008, 10 min);The Little Crow With The Naked Bottom (Raimke Groothuizen, The Netherlands, 2008, 5 min); Mumuhug (SofaStudio, Taiwan, two episodes, 2008, 6 min); Good Night, Gorilla (Jesse Sandor, Germany, 2007, 3 min); Miriam's Colors (Jelena Girlin/Mari-Lis Bassovskaja, Estonia 2007, 5 min); The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Konstantin Bronzit, USA, 2008, 8 min)
GETTING GROWN
(Aaron Greer, USA, 2004, 74 min)
Recommended for ages 8 and older. From storyteller Aaron Greer comes a thought-provoking story about a family's struggle to raise a child in the city, where some get lost and some get grown. Twelve year-old Eric lives with his mother Rolanda and father Darryl in a working class neighborhood. Darryl drives a city bus second shift. Rolanda, who is very pregnant and not feeling well, takes care of her ailing mother who lives with them. The story begins when Rolanda discovers that she has forgotten to fill the prescription for her mother's new diabetes medicine. Someone must make the long walk through the neighborhood to the pharmacy that evening, and the only one who can is Eric. With his granny's prescription, insurance card and $22 stuffed in his sock, Eriic starts out on what appears to be a simple errand. Along the way things become complicated, as he finds himself contending with the thoughtless demands that adults make of children and with his friends' risky behaviors. As night falls, we watch Eric struggle to complete his responsibility by taking actions that seem logical to a good kid on the threshold of adulthood, but which will in fact bring him to the brink of danger. Meanwhile his mother waits, worries and questions her decision to send young Eric alone through the darkening streets. Shows with: When I Grow Up (Michelle Meeker, USA, 6:39 min) This joyous animated film juxtaposes kids’ hopeful plans for their futures with the good-humored perspectives of grown-ups who remember the plans they made when they were children.
LIVING LARGE: FOLKTALES TO REMEMBER
(Various directors, various countries, 2006-2008, 81 min)
Recommended for ages 7 and up. Two films have subtitles. Gather round our cinematic campfire and listen to an amazing collection of legends, myths, fables and tall tales from around the globe. These animated films are sometimes funny, sometimes spooky, and sometimes sweet, but each one tells a story bigger than life. Race with a buffalo, save a village, open up a folktale box, outwit a stubborn king, transform a humdrum town, and stop time to steal back the night sky. You might even find the courage to fly through the sky! Film program includes: A Water Tale (S.J. Chiro, USA, 2009, 12 min.) Obara and the Merchants (Manauvashkar Kublall, USA, 2007, 15 min.) The Coyote and the Tortoise (Len Simon, USA, 2008, 4 min); The Great Race (Geoff King, UK, 2008, 4 min); Folktale Box (Yunkyung Kim, South Korea, 2007, 4 min); The Hare-Herder (Lajos Nagy, Hungary, 2007, 8 min); Cirkus Spektakular (Matt Timms, Gillian Reid and Sean McCormack, UK, 2008, 3 min); Journey Out (Seiji Lim, UK, 2008, 2 min); The Rooster, the Crocodile and the Night Sky (Padraig Fagan, Ireland, 2008, 6 min); Sheep Checkmate (Albert Radl, Germany, 2007, 4 min); Sooner or Later (Jadwiga Kowalska, Switzerland, 2007, 5 min); Matopos (Stephanie Machuret, France, 2006, 12 min)
JUMP!
(Helen Hood Scheer, USA, 2007, 86 min)
Recommended for ages 7 and older. A fun and fast-paced documentary about competitive jump rope, JUMP! follows five teams who push their physical and psychological limits in pursuit of winning the World Rope Skipping Competition. In the end, determination, rivalry and collaboration converge with dramatic and unexpected results.
GENTLE PLANET
(Various directors, various countries, 62 min)
Recommended for ages 3 and up. This program of animated films celebrates all creatures great and small-- from kids who love pancakes, stuffed animals broccoli, to gentle globetrotting elephants. Watch a bean sprout grow, learn to tell the truth and travel with some bunnies to a warm and cuddly place. Film program includes: Good Morning (David B. Levy, USA, 2007, 1 min); Miriam's Nestbox (Riho Unt, Estonia, 2007, 5 min); Cravings (Jane Sablow, USA, 2008, 2 min); Bean Sprout (Chang Shu-Man, Taiwan, 2007, 5:40 min); Elephants in New York (several child directors, France, 2005, 2 min); Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! (Gene McGivney, USA, 2008, 8 min); The Boy Who Cried Wolf (Konstantin Bronzit, USA, 2008, 7 min); Voyage to the Bunny Planet (Gene Deitch, USA, 2008, 19 min) Something to Hold Onto (Barb O’Halloran, USA, 2009, 12 min.)
RISE AND SHINE!
(Various directors, various countries, 2005-2008, 78 min)
Recommended for all ages. One film has English subtitles. Here's a blast of sunshine sure to brighten any day! In this collection of mostly animated short films, you'll bask in the glory of a perfect spring day in the park, reach for the tastiest thing on a table filled with treats and go on wild adventures with unforgettable characters. Meet a mischievous toddler on a quest to improve her appearance, brave kids who are guide a lost bear back to safety, a dog that follows his tail to find a new friend and some grumpy lumps of clay that finally see the light. Film program includes: Pound (Evan Bernard, USA, 2007, 2 min); Crank Balls (Devin Bell, USA, 2007, 5 min); The Narrator (Mark Ratzlaff, Canada, 2008, 4 min); Little Dinosaurs (Dana Dorian, Scotland, 2008, 1 min); My Happy End (Milen Vitanov, Germany, 2007, 5 min); Bibi (Bek Shakirov, USA/Uzbekistan, 2005, 6 min); A Sunny Day (Gil Alkabetz, Germany, 2007, 6 min); The New Species (Evalds Lacis, Latvia, 2008, 10 min); Super Al: It's Snow Fun (Natt Thanvigit, 2007, 2 min); The Little Swineherd (Maria Horvath, Hungary, 2007, 8 min); Carrot On The Beach (Partel Tall, 2008, Estonia, 6 min); Captain Flint's Old Sofa (Michael Zamjatnis, Germany, 2006, 8 min); Bear Is Coming (Janis Cimermanis, Latvia, 2008, 16 min)
THE RED JACKET
(Yalin Zou, China, 2006, 90 min)
Recommended for ages 8 and up. English subtitles. This stunning debut from filmmaker Yalin Zou tells the heartwarming story of a girl from the remote, cloud-draped mountainous Miao region of China and her wish to buy a new red jacket to wear to a festival. Using villagers as the major actors in his film, Zou (who also wrote the film's screenplay) crafts his film with complex characters, a simple plot and a suspenseful journey to realize what is most important in life. Shows with: Vitruvius' Toybox (Dennis Michael Iannuzzi, USA, 2005, 6 min) This brain-building animated film explores the relationships between math, art, and music.
GAME CHANGERS: FILMS ABOUT GROWING UP
(Various directors, various countries, 2006-2008, 86 min)
One film has English subtitles. Although English is not spoken in “It’s My Turn,” no subtitles are needed. Sometimes ordinary days bring challenges that require grit, good humor and an extra dose of moxie. This international collection of short live-action films will introduce you to irrepressible kids who rise to incredible occasions. Join kids from the USA, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Turkey and Greece as they chase adventures, make new friends, beat the odds to win big games and learn lessons about what is really important in life. Film program includes: Mr. Mack’s Kitchen (Mike Attie, USA, 2009, 6:24 min); Wormhead, (Manauvashar Kublall, USA, 2006, 13 min); Ruby Who? (Hailey Bartholomew and Natala Stuetz, Australia, 2007, 6 min); My Greatest Day Ever (Mark Bellamy, Australia, 2007, 8 min); Paul's Grandpa (Ove Sander, Germany, 2007, 19 min); Every Day After 4 (Angeli Andrikopoulou and Argyris Tsepelikas, Greece, 2007, 10 min); It's My Turn (Ismet Ergun, Turkey/Germany, 2007, 10 min); When the Universe Conspires (Caio Bortolotti, Brazil, 2008, 15 min); Super Al: Rocking Outrage (Natt Thanvigit, 2007, 2 min); Recommended for ages 8 and up.
WHISTLE LESSON
(Nikki Young, USA, 2008, 25 min)
Recommended for ages 7 and up. “Whistle Lesson” is a family friendly film about a young girl’s special relationship with her grandfather and the valuable life lessons that he teaches her. The filmmaker is from Pittsburgh and will be on hand for a Q&A. The film has been screened for several school and church audiences, as well being an official selection for the 2008 Hollywood Black Film Festival and at the 4th Annual Black Filmmaker Showcase at the Reginald E. Lewis Museum for African American History & Culture in Baltimore. “Whistle Lesson” Trailer - “Whistle Lesson” Preview Scene: For more information about the film you can visit the website:
MAHARAL
(Pavel Jandourek, Czech Republic, 2007, 100 min)
Recommended for ages 7 and over. In Czech with English subtitles. This summer vacation story of three Prague kids, Alena, David and Ondra, and the charismatic treasure hunter Aaron Cohen takes us to the most mysterious places of old Prague, to the ruins of an old water castle and the domains of wondrous entities from days gone by… Those are some of the interesting and historical settings for this thrilling and adventurous hunt for a mysterious talisman, the fabled Golem, and the legendary Philosopher’s Stone.
SPEEDY DELIVERY
(Paul Germain, USA, 2008, 57 min)
Recommended for all ages. This new documentary feature follows one man's life long passion to carry on the legacy of Fred Rogers is infused with a deep retrospective look into what made Mister Rogers' Neighborhood the longest and most beloved children's television show in history. Filmmaker Paul Germain chronicles the legacy of David Newell who appeared as Mr. McFeely in the show and in public for over forty years. In a time where children's television is in transition, David Newell still travels the globe as Mr. McFeely, confronting the challenge to keep The Neighborhood alive and in syndication. Speedy Delivery is a captivating and inspiring story of inspiration, responsibility and hope. Shows with: Nappy Heads (Sabrina Moelle, Canada, 2007 3 min) A salute to the eye-popping beauty and versatility of African-American hairstyles.
