Tag: cffs 2017

Special Events (CFFS 2017)

LONGING & BELONGING: PRIZEWINNING FILMS FROM PLURAL+

January 26, 2017

7:30pm

Ages 12+

68 min

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Children’s Film Festival Seattle is proud to be one of more than 50 partners of PLURAL+ — a youth-produced video festival that encourages young people to make films about migration, diversity and social inclusion, and to share their creative vision with the world. The films here, all made by filmmakers 25 years and younger, are the most recent prizewinners at PLURAL+ 2016 festival.

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In these searing and heartfelt shorts, you’ll meet Middle-Eastern refugees who express the trauma of leaving home, young women from Ghana who describe their daily reality, and African-American and Indigenous young people who rise up to assert their rights. These films will shake you, awaken you, enlighten you and also give you hope that young people are fighting, all over the world, for dignity and a better tomorrow.

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Curated by CFFS PLURAL+ youth jury member, Isaac Hughes, age 17.

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Full program listed here.

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No one turned away for lack of funds.

OPENING WEEKEND PARTY

January 27, 2017

7:00pm

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All ages

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Join this year’s youth jurors, visiting filmmakers and other festival VIPs for an all-star festival launch party! Our youngest audiences members are encouraged to come in their PJs and dance the night away in Cinema 2 to a DJed selection of music from some of Seattle’s best kindie stars, including Caspar Babypants and Recess Monkey. Meanwhile, in the lobby and Cinema 1, we’ll get a preview of what this year’s festival has to offer and have a popcorn-judging contest (is Northwest Film Forum’s popcorn really better than what you can get at other theaters in town? We’ll find out!) This is a great and fun chance to hobnob with visiting filmmakers, youth jurors and other festival VIPs. Cupcakes +other special goodies from Katsu Burger for all!

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FREE!

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PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND SHORT FILM SMORGASBORD

February 04, 2017

9:30am

(Screenings at 10:30am and 11:00am)

All ages

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Takes place on Saturday, February 4th at Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption’s beautiful social hall,

located at 1804 13th Avenue.

Sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

Includes breakfast, free all-day parking, and a full film program!

Dance along to down-home music by the John Browne Band!

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Our all-you-can-eat breakfast of fluffy homemade pancakes and sizzling bacon is fun for the whole family! And of course we’ll have gallons of hot coffee on hand for the grown-ups. After breakfast, come to Northwest Film Forum for a special screening of Friends are Forever, a magical program of new animated and live action shorts from six countries.

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Please note this event is not held at the Northwest Film Forum, but at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption’s beautiful social hall, located at 1804 13th Avenue. Parking in the church lot is included with your ticket.

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Notes for parents: The film program is best for ages 6+, but can be enjoyed by all ages.

Special ticket pricing: $15 general admission/ $55 per family of four. Please note you must choose a screening time in advance when purchasing Pancake Breakfast tickets.

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CLOSING CEREMONY

February 11, 2017

5:00pm

Ages 8+

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75 min

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We close out the 2017 festival by screening films made during the past week in our workshops, announcing the winners of our Children’s Jury Prizes, and celebrating with a surprise selection of outstanding short films made by international filmmakers.

Short Film Programs (CFFS 2017)

CREATURE TEACHERS

SATURDAY, JAN. 28 & WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 @ 11AM
SATURDAYS @ 11:30AM, JAN. 28 & FEB. 11

(60 min)
Ages 2+

What can we learn from the animals we love? Jump into these short animated films and find yourself transformed into deer, crocodiles, and herons, oh my! Harmonize with pigs, dance with wolves, bake with octopi and watch TV with a crocodile. Along the way, you’ll learn how to be a true friend and embrace your adventures! See trailer for this program here.

Piccolo Concerto
(Ceylan Beyoglu, Germany, animated, 2016, 6 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! The little flute Piko Piccolo goes on an adventurous journey in search of his own melody. Watch the trailer>

The Sled
(Olesya Shchukina, Russia, animated, 2016, 4:19 min, no dialogue) North American premiere! The little squirrel finds something he has never seen before. Watch the trailer>

Hey Deer!
(Örs Bárczy, Hungary, animated, 2015, 6:17 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! A cocoa-drinking deer is eager to tidy and shovel in front of his house every day, even if he has to do it all again the next morning. Watch the trailer>

Tiger
(Kariem Saleh, Germany, animated, 2015, 3:58 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! A happy little tiger is hungry and might roam around the kitchen if you don’t feed him enough!

Perfect Piggies
(Sandra Boynton, US, animated, 2015, 3:24 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Five harmonizing pigs sing a lively a cappella swing song about their own perfect selves. Watch the trailer>

Little Lion Pustewind
(Jana Richtmeyer, Germany, animated, 2016, 4:27 min, in English) North American premiere! Little lion Pustewind finds a treasure and buries it. What a surprise he gets when the treasure transforms and takes him on an incredible journey!

I Am Not a Mouse
(Evgenia Golubeva, UK, animated, 2015, 2 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Every time Lucy is called “Mouse” by her Mum, she turns into a real mouse! What is she going to do? Watch the trailer>

Happy and Sad
(Ross Bollinger, USA, animated, 2016, 2:55 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Jordan Geary, from Sesame Workshop, in attendance on Jan. 28! Which are you, happy or sad?

Hare’s Big Day
(Dace Riduz, Latvia, animated, 2017, 10 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! Little lazy bunny is shocked by a sudden spring morning hustle and bustle at his home. He’s not only being disturbed from his sleep, but also involved in various unprecedented tasks…

The Owl and the Lemming
(Roselynn Akulukjuk, Canada, live action, 2016, 3:33 min, in English) Seattle premiere! In the arctic tundra, there was a young owl who longed to hunt for himself. When he saw a lemming nearby, he hoped to catch it, but the little lemming was clever, playing a game that would enable her escape.

Misfit Lil’ Sparrow
(Yuriko Noda, Japan, animated, 2015, 4:50 min, in Japanese with English subtitles) US premiere! A little sparrow cannot make her head stay still like other sparrows. She wonders why. Watch the trailer>

Octopus
(Julia Ocker, Germany, animated, 2015, 3:48 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! The octopus wants to bake a yummy peach cake. But one of her arms has ideas of their own.

Wolf
(Julia Ocker, Germany, animated, 2015, 3:48 min, no dialogue) West Coast premiere! The wolf is wandering through the woods, trying to find a peaceful spot to practice his secret hobby.

 

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Crocodile
(Julia Ocker, Germany, animated, 2015, 3:18 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! The crocodile has everything he needs for an evening in front of the TV — cushions, a stool, snacks, and a TV magazine. But then the pretzel sticks ruin all the fun.

 

DESTINATION

SATURDAYS @ 11:30AM, JAN. 28 & FEB. 11

(81 min)
Ages 7+

Join kids in eight different countries as they play with their friends, go to school, make clever schemes, and explore. This program of live action shorts from around the world features funny, shy, and creative kids just like you. See the trailer for this program here.

Love is Home

(Jacob Alcala, United Arab Emirates, 2016, 3:36, no dialogue) North American premiere! Youth made! A child creates a visual love letter to his adopted home of Dubai.

Memories of the Sea

(Thais Drassinower, Brazil/USA/Peru, 2015, 8:20 min, in Portuguese with English subtitles) Seattle Premiere! Fidel is a six-year-old with a lot of opinions, but he doesn’t quite understand the changes happening in his family. Watch the trailer>

Where is Tess?

(Toma Leroux, France, 2015, 15:20 min, in French with English subtitles) West coast premiere! A magic candy opens doors to freedom in the mind of Tess, a free-spirited five-year-old girl. All the frustrations of the day melt away as Tess imagines herself on a great adventure.

In Fairness

(M. Balasubramanian, India, 2016, 7:37 min, in Tamil with English subtitles) Ram steals some mangos from a garden and learns a lesson — but so does the gardener.

The Daydreamer

(Sasan Karimi, Iran, 2015, 13 min, in Farsi with English subtitles) World premiere! Seven-year-old Nader is starting his first day of school, and all of his worries are coming along. Watch the trailer>

Fantasy

(Teemu Nikki, Finland, 2016, 9:20 min, in Finnish with English subtitles) North American premiere! A country boy is determined to make a change from the usual family dinner of potatoes and pick up a pizza.

Summer with Monkey King

(Ewing Luo, China, 2016, 12 min, in Mandarin with English subtitles) World premiere! A six-year-old is determined to play the legendary Monkey King in her school play. But girls can’t do that, can they?

A Stork’s Story

(Javier Enrique Pérez, Puerto Rico, 2014, 13 min, in Spanish with English subtitles) West Coast Premiere! In this charming comedy, an eight-year-old concerned about a new baby in the family must embark on an adventure to reverse a spell he created himself. Watch the trailer>

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Notes to parents: “Memories of the Sea” includes one coarse word. “In Fairness” contains very fleeting nudity. In “A Stork’s Story,” children discuss where babies come from in an age-appropriate and humorous way, and a mother talks on a cell phone while driving.

DREAMING OF A BETTER WORLD

SATURDAYS, FEB. 4 @ 1:30PM & FEB. 11 @ 3:30PM

(74 min)
Age 10+

This program of thought-provoking films will make young activists want to go out and change the world. These films feature brave young people who persevere against all odds and clarify the social context for their struggles. You’ll meet a boy who dreams of being the Robin Hood of Senegal, an American girl who protests the racist policies that have imprisoned her brother, and a young Syrian refugee who just misses his mom and dad.

Yaadikoone

(Marc Picavez, Senegal/France, live action, 2016, 22 min, in Wolof with English subtitles) US premiere! In his quest to fix the roof of his house, a boy learns of a famous ‘50s bandit remembered as the Senegalese Robin Hood. Watch the trailer>

Drawing for Better Dreams

(May Odeh and Dia’ Azzeh, Palestine, animated, 2015, 4:18 min, no dialogue) This film uses real drawings from Palestinian children to demonstrate the human right of young people to dream.

Hewat

(Afsun M. Nezhad, Germany/Iran, live action, 2016, 10 min, Farsi with English subtitles) North American premiere! This Afghan undocumented immigrant just wants to be a regular kid but is put into an urgent situation where he has to protect his brother.

I, Destini

(Nicholas Pilarski and Destini Riley, USA, animated, 2016, 14 min, in English)

Seattle Premiere! A young Black Lives Matter activist in North Carolina reflects on the imprisonment of her brother. The film is a collaboration between high school student Destini Riley and a documentary filmmaker.

A Year Without My Parents

(Els van Driel, The Netherlands, live action, 2015, 24 min, in Dutch, Arabic and English, with English subtitles) West Coast Premiere! When Tareq flees Syria, he leaves his family behind. In this emotionally involving documentary, he adjusts to his new life in the Netherlands and wonders about his choice. Watch the trailer>

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Notes to parents: All of the films touch on serious subject matter, including war, poverty, and bigotry.

FAMILY TIME

SATURDAYS, JAN. 28 @ 5:30PM & FEB. 4 @ 1PM

(69 min)
Ages 5+

Families make the world go ‘round! In these animated and live action shorts, we learn that very different kinds of families can share the same bond of love. Find the sun, learn a new song, dance with cats, drink from a tall, cool glass of color, and rediscover what your own family means to you.

The Totems – Family Song

(Mark Taylor, US/England, animated, 2016, 2:23 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Families come in all shapes and sizes. Large or small, no matter what you got, you know that family means a lot!

The Gift

(Kohei Kajisa, Japan, animated, 2016, 5:10 min, in English) Seattle premiere! The screen explodes with color as a little girl attempts to deliver a present to her arguing parents. What an adventure she has along the way! Watch the trailer>

Hippo Hop

(Patxi Exequiel Aguirre, Germany, animated, 2015, 3:18 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! It takes some fishy friends to reunite a baby hippo with his mom.

The Girl Who Spoke Cat

(Dotty Kultys, UK/Poland, animated, 2014, 5:40 min, in English) In a dull world, a curious girl longs for some color and joy. But first, she must convince her mother that it’s all okay. Watch the trailer>

Ami

(Gonzalo San Vicente, Germany, animated, 2016, 8 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! Mom tells little Ami a white lie to comfort her while she is away, but when the innocent story turns true, things take an unexpected turn.

Spring in Autumn

(Tatiana Kublitskaya, Belarus, animated, 2015, 10 min, in Belarusian with English subtitles) West coast premiere! A little boy named Janka is sick in bed. He would like to see the sun, but outside the window there is a cold autumn day. Can Janka’s little sister help him warm up?

Cats & Dogs

(Jesús Pérez and Gerd Gockell, Switzerland/Germany, animated, 2015, 6 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! Boy meets girl. But can they and their beloved furbabies form a family?

Song of the Lark

(Tatiana Kublitskaya, Belarus, animated, 2014, 7 min, in Belarusian with English subtitles) West coast premiere! A little lark must learn to sing her own special song.

Nitanish: To My Daughter

(Melissa Mollen Dupuis, Innu Nation/Canada, live action, 2015, 3 min, in French with English subtitles) Seattle premiere! While making the blanket that will keep her warm, a mother sends a tender message to her soon-to-be-born daughter. Watch the trailer>

Under the Persimmon Streetlight

(Jun-ming Guo, Taiwan, animated, 2016, 19 min, in Chinese/Hakka with English subtitles) West coast premiere! A girl must go on a journey to find her grandmother, who has wandered away. Soon, the girl finds a magical friend to help her in her search. Watch the trailer>

FRIENDS ARE FOREVER

SAT., JAN. 28 @ 3:30PM // WEDS., FEB. 1 @ 3PM // SAT., FEB. 4 @ 10:30AM & 11AM

(70 min)
Ages 5+

Is there anything better than having a friend by your side? Good friends add color, music and memories to our lives. In this collection of mostly animated shorts, friends also come in all shapes and sizes, from a fierce little lion with a surprisingly soft heart, to a small, shy girl gaining strength from her grandmother and teacher.

When Sparrows Munch

(Elisa Klement, Germany, live action, 2016, 10:32 min, in German with English subtitles) Five-year-old Willi has a special dog. But because some grown-ups don’t seem to understand this, Schnuffi is thrown away. Willi knows: with fantasy everything is possible!

The Mole and the Earthworm

(Johannes Schiehsl, Germany, animated, 2015, 3:19 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! One day, a little mole discovers that all of the other animals have a friend of their same species to play with. But the mole hasn’t met anyone exactly like himself.

Little Stone Lion

(Tang Chen, Taiwan, animated, 2016, 6:58 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! A little stone lion determined to prove his great ability in being a temple guardian, tries to chase a hungry cat who is munching on offerings on the altar table. But the two foes soon wind up as friends. Watch the trailer>

Moom

(Robert Kondo and Daisuke ‘Dice’ Tsutsumi, Japan/US, animated, 2016, 13:53 min, in English) Every forgotten object has a memory with its previous owner still attached, and this is the story of Moom, one of those memories stuck in this world. Watch the trailer>

The Musical Dragon

(Camille Müller, Switzerland, animated, 2015, 8:26 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! A little girl befriends a dragon in the woods. They begin to play music together, but this is not without danger, because the obstinate king allows only military marches. Watch the trailer>

My Dog’s Name is Wind

(Peter Marcias, Italy, animated, 2016, 9:32 min, in Italian with English subtitles) West coast premiere! A boy thinks nothing could ever replace his first dog. Then a new four-legged friend bounds into his life. Watch the trailer>

Mimi & Liza: Farewell Color Grey

(Katarína Kerekesová, Slovakia, animated, 2013, 7:18 min, in Slovak with English subtitles) North American premiere! Mimi, a blind girl, and her best friend Lisa help their colorless neighbor find joy in colors.

Lost in Spring

(Fred Leao Prado Wall, UK, live action, 2016, 12:07 min, in English) Seattle premiere! A shy 7-year-old girl embarks, with the encouragement of her teacher and the love of her grandmother, on a journey to self-belief.

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Notes to parents: “My Dog’s Name is Wind” takes place in the aftermath a boy’s loss of his pet. In “The Little Stone Lion,” a cat pounces on a mouse, off screen. In “Where Sparrows Munch,” there is a single coarse word.

GOTTA BE ME                        SUNDAY, JAN. 29 @ 5PM & WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 @ 1PM

(70 min)
Ages 7+

The characters in these films are learning to dive deeper and fly higher. Meet a girl who shifts her shape, a boy who feels music instead of hears it, someone who longs to spend his life by the sea, and even some animated creatures who are also one-of-a-kind, just like you!

Junction

(Nathan Jurevicius, Lithuania/Canada/Australia, 2016, 7 min, in English) Pacific Northwest premiere! A young girl from a family of “Face Changers” takes a journey to a mountain to alter the direction of the wind. Watch the trailer>

Valentino

(Cassiana Maranha, Brazil, live action, 2014, 3:27 min, in Brazilian sign language with English subtitles) West coast premiere! Valentino hears less, and feels more. He will grow up to be a musician.

Toys

(Amanda Quaid, USA, animated, 2016, 2 min, in English) Seattle premiere! When a father tries to toughen up his daughter by giving her toys intended for boys, his efforts backfire when she proves a little too capable for comfort. Watch the trailer>

Eagle Blue

(Will Rose, UK, animated, 2016, 3:28 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! Eagle Blue lives on a mountaintop above a sleepy town. But is it sleepy enough for her to grab a quick meal for her hungry eaglets? It take determination, but once she finds her groove, she’s unstoppable!

Lilou

(Rawan Rahim, Lebanon/France, animated, 2015, 7:45 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! A shy girl develops empathy for others which helps her break outside of her shell. Watch the trailer>

The Little Shoemaker

(Galaad Alais, Terry Bonvard, Charley Carlier, Romain Cislo, Pierre-Yves Lefebvre, Philippe Lim, Benjamin Mariotte, & Karen Nawfal, France, animated, 2015, 5:32 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! A small businessman comes up with a clever way to combat a big competitor.

Louis

(Violaine Pasquet, France, animated, 2014, 9:22 min, in French with English subtitles) West coast premiere! Louis is a 10-year-old deaf boy. His favorite pets are snails, because they are deaf, just like him.

The Unwashed Penguin

(Isabelle Favez and Alexey Mironov, Russia, animated, 2015, 5:41 min, in Russian with English subtitles) West coast premiere! A special penguin doesn’t fit into the crowd, until he is tutored by a gentle giant.

Jonas and the Sea

(Marlies van der Wel, The Netherlands, animated, 2015, 12 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! Jonas has dreamed of living in the sea all his life. But it’s not possible. Or is it? Watch the trailer>

Mr. and Mrs. Kim

(Jaehuen Chung, USA, live action, 2016, 14:40 min, mostly in English, but some Korean with English subtitles) Seattle premiere! Director, screenwriter, and composer in attendance! A Korean-American boy makes up a glamorous story about his parents, but then discovers that their real story is something he can be much more proud of. Watch the trailer>

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Note to parents:  In “Mr. and Mrs. Kim,” there is imaginary, non-realistic, comic-book-style martial arts-style fighting.

INDIGENOUS SHOWCASE                              SATURDAYS @ 7PM, JAN. 28 & FEB. 4

(83 min)

Ages 9+

Co-presented with Longhouse Media

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This wide-ranging program tells the stories of Indigenous people throughout North America, including beautifully animated traditional tales, stirring experimental films by young Native filmmakers, an inspiring documentary about a Yup’ik village that comes together for basketball, and the unique history of Yavapai doctor and activist Carlos Montezuma.

Little Folk of the Arctic

(Neil Christopher, Canada, animated, 2015, 3:10 min, in English) Seattle premiere! In the Arctic, there are tales of reclusive magical little folk, and over the years Inuit hunters have gathered many stories to help us understand these small inhabitants.

Cache-cache

(Louisa Papatie, Anishnabe Nation/Canada, live action, 2015, 3:11 min, in Anishnabe with English subtitles) US premiere! Projections on the trees in a forest invite us to play hide-and-seek with a kokom (grandmother) and her grandchildren. Watch the trailer>

Nothing About Mocassins

(Eden Mallina Awashish, Atikamekw Nation/Canada, live action, 2015, 3:42 min in French with English subtitles) West coast premiere! When her grandmother refuses to allow her to shoot a film about moccasins, a young filmmaker playfully explores the idea of cultural loss and creates a record of the resolve to protect Atikamekw tradition. Watch the trailer>

How Did the Rabbit Get to the Moon

(Gabriela Badillo, Mexico, animated, 2013, 2:15 min, in Huasteco with English subtitles) West Coast Premiere! Tradition says that a rabbit saved men from the flood and because of its curiosity we can now remember it every night by looking at the moon.

Prometheus’s Image

(Gabriela Badillo, Mexico, animated, 2013, 3:40 min, in Zapotec with English subtitles) West Coast Premiere! When the Lightning God takes the rain away from the people, a brave young man will do anything to win it back. We remember the battle every time we see the wind and clouds up in the sky.

Strong Woman Song

(Naomi Condo, Mi’gmaq Nation/Canada, live action, 2015, 4:12 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! A traditional song is revamped to grab the attention of younger generations and draw awareness to the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women. The film highlights young Mikmaq women from Gesgapegiag. Watch the trailer>

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Voice & Purpose

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(Tracy Rector, Choctaw/Seminole/USA, live action, 2017, 6 min, English) Seattle Premiere! Spoken word artist, Quese Imc, relates our connection to the water and stars through spirit.

Obedjiwan 5-0

(Fyanna Boivin, Atikamekw Nation/Canada, live action, 2015, 2:14 min, in French with English subtitles) West coast premiere! A pathbreaking 14-year-old Atikamekw filmmaker dreams of becoming a police officer. Watch the trailer>

I am Yup’ik

(Daniele Anastasion and Nathan Golon, US, live action, 2016, 17 min, in English and Yup’ik with English subtitles) Seattle premiere! In this inspiring documentary, an Alaskan Yup’ik teenager travels across hundreds of miles of frozen tundra to compete in a basketball tournament and bring pride to his village.

Carlos Montezuma: Changing is Not Vanishing

(Tim Hartin and Alison Davis Wood, US, live action, 2014, 28 min, in English) Seattle premiere! This film tells the remarkable true story of a Yavapai doctor, one of the first Native people to be awarded a medical degree from a major university, who fought tirelessly for Native rights, citizenship, and land. The film is narrated by Hattie Kauffman, longtime CBS news reporter/anchor and a member of the Nez Perce tribe. Watch the trailer>

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Mia’

(Amanda Spotted Fawn Strong, Michif/Canada and Bracken Hanuse Corlett, Wuikinuxv and Klahoose Nations/Canada, animated, 2015, 8 min, nonverbal) Mia’ struggles to return home, as she traverses through polluted waters and skies, witnessing various forms of industrial violence and imprint that have occurred upon the land.

How To Steal A Canoe

(Amanda Spotted Fawn Strong, Michif/Canada, 2015, 4 min, English) This story of a young Nishnaabeg woman rescuing a canoe from a museum and returning it to the lake is on a deeper level about taking back the precious parts of culture and self.

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Notes to parents: “Nothing About Moccasins” includes smoking. “Strong Woman Song” and “Obedjiwan 5-0” mention violence but no violence is shown onscreen. “I Am Yup’ik” discusses family problems and depression in rural communities. “Carlos Montezuma” explores historical issues of genocide and assimilation.

 LONGING & BELONGING: FILMS FROM PLURAL+        THURSDAY, JAN. 26 @ 7:30PM

(68 min)

Ages 12+

Children’s Film Festival Seattle is proud to be one of more than 50 partners of PLURAL+ — a youth-produced video festival that encourages young people to make films about migration, diversity and social inclusion, and to share their creative vision with the world. The films here, all made by filmmakers 25 years and younger, are the most recent prizewinners at the 2016 PLURAL+ festival.

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In these searing and heartfelt shorts, you’ll meet Middle-Eastern refugees who express the trauma of leaving home, young women from Ghana who describe their daily reality, and African-American and Indigenous young people who rise up to assert their rights. These films will shake you, awaken you, enlighten you and also give you hope that young people are fighting, all over the world, for dignity and a better tomorrow.

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Curated by CFFS PLURAL+ youth jury member, Isaac Hughes, age 17.

Diversity

PLURAL+ 2016 Global Block Award

(Dickson Oyugi [Pause N Play], Kenya, live action, 2016, 3:50 min, in English)

Kenyan youth assert their rights to a meaningful and productive life.

Displacement

PLURAL+ 2016 Children’s Film Festival Seattle Award and PLURAL+ 2016 IOM

Migration Research & Training Centre Award

(Shatha Alghabri, Malaysia, live action, 2016, 4:26 min, in Arabic with English subtitles)

Yemeni children share their experiences of being a refugee as they recount what they have seen and what they miss.

Belonging

PLURAL+ Honorary Award

(Pierre Chin Ho Ieong, France, live action, 2016, 4:31 min, in English)

A Syrian Armenian discusses the lessons his father taught him, and how those lessons helped him transition to life in France.

Walls

PLURAL+ DANUBE 2016

(Severin Stalter, Germany, live action, 2016, 3:04 min, in German with English subtitles)

An exchange students learns the importance of breaking down cultural barriers.

I’m Human

PLURAL+ UNTV Award

(Razan Haikal, Jordan, animation, 2014, 5:37 min, in Arabic with English subtitles)

After losing home during war in Syria, Human enters through a world of deep emotions carrying the most valuable belongings in a suitcase.

The Cops Don’t Know

PLURAL+ 2016 FERA-LUCERO Award

(Sam Chegini, Iran/UK, animation, 2016, 6:27 min, in English)

A music video that asserts that Black Lives Matter.

My Invisible Mother

PLURAL+ 2016 Paley Center Education Award

(Pascal Huynh, Canada, live action & animation, 2016, 3:23 min, in English)

A story of the life of an adoptee, and his thoughts about his biological mother.

North to South

PLURAL+ 2016 SIGNIS Award

(Coniah Pougam Mouiche, Ghana, live action, 2016, 5:05 min, in English)

In Ghana, war and poverty forces many young women to become head porters, an occupation with many dangers.

The Price of Nuestros Sueños

Center Education Award, PLURAL+ International Jury Award PLURAL+ 2016 Paley

(Perla Liberato, US, live action, 2016, 4:35 min, in English)

Life in New York has not been easy for immigrant Perla Lopez and her mother. However, their dreams are still alive.

Through Their Eyes: A Day in the Shoes of an Integrating Refugee

PLURAL+ 2016 Global Block Award

(Catherine Serianni, US, live action, 2016, 3:08 min, in English)

Life through the eyes of a refugee in the United States shows the struggle of integrating into a new society.

Global Citizens

PLURAL+ 2016 AFS Intercultural Award

(Alejandro Gonzalez Permingeat, Indonesia, live action, 2016, 4:40 min, in Spanish with English subtitles)

The experience of an Argentinian student traveling to Indonesia to study has changed his perspectives on cultures, and the barriers between them.

A Letter to My Unborn Daughter

PLURAL+ Reel Grrls Male Feminist Award

(DaeQuan Collier, US, live action, 2016, 5 min, in English)

A powerful message about racism and sexism, both in the past and future.

I Want to Be Me

PLURAL+ 2016 FilmAid Award

(Ather, Yemen, live action, 2016, 3:52 min, in Arabic with English subtitles)

Lebanese Refugees spanning generations explain the struggles of the refugee community, and the longing to return to Palestine.

I Am Aliya

Silk Road Award, PLURAL+ International Jury Award PLURAL+ 2016 Insight Award PLURAL+ 2016

(Matic Carl, Martin Deisinger, and Mojca Spik, Slovenia, live action, 2016, 3:01 min, in English)

For Aliya, a Syrian refugee, life has gone still as she reflects on her experiences and her hopes.

American Seoul

PLURAL+ Reel Grrls Best Animation Award

(Jeeyoon Lee, US, live action, 2016, 3:04 min, in English)

Migration to the United States is tough for this Korean Family, yet a silver lining exists in a tasty idea.

We Will Rise (Nous nous soulèverons)

PLURAL+ Tribeca Film Institute 2016 Creative Direction Award

(Natasha Kanapé Fontaine, Canada, live action, 2016, 4:13 min, in French & Innu with English subtitles)

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In an inspired and powerful text, the talented Innu poet Natasha Kanapé Fontaine invites us to rise up to bring light to the world.

Notes for parents: some of the films contain content related to gun violence, poverty, incarceration, and the effects of war. There are a few coarse words. All the films are great springboards for conversation, and a springboard to activism and getting involved in both national and world issues.

MONSTERS ARE *REEL*

SUNDAY, JAN. 29 @ 1:30PM

(76 min)

Ages 10+

These shorts show kids confronting their fears. The “monsters” in these films can be as ordinary as an iPhone, trying to stay awake in class, your own reflection, or as extraordinary as a malevolent spirit stalking the high-rise residences of Dubai. Get ready for some chills!

I’m Scared

(Pete Levin, US, animated, 2015, 5 min, in English) West Coast premiere! 8-year-old insomniac Ralf describes to his little brother all of the dangers that lurk in the shadows. Watch the trailer>

Violet

(Maurice Joyce, UK, animated, 2015, 8 min, in English) Seattle premiere! A girl’s mirror reflection trades places with her when she can’t take any more insults.

All Your Favorite Shows!

(Danny Madden, US, animated, 2015, 5 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Anything you wanna watch in the palm of your hands… crazy convenient. Crazy.

Afternoon Class

(Oh Seoro, South Korea, animated, 2015, 4 min, no dialogue) One boy’s quest to stay awake after lunch. Watch the trailer>

Ogress of the Gravelbank

(Neil Christopher, Canada, animated, 2015, 2:29 min, in English) Seattle premiere! A wicked land spirit from Inuit oral history lures children to her lair and traps them, where they become animated spirits.

It’s All in Your Head

(Greg Jeffs, Canada, live action, 2016, 6 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Sarah Lynn knows the monster in the closet is real. Watch the trailer>

Ugly Pretty Heart

(Gregory Casares, Switzerland, animated, 2015, 12 min, no dialogue) West Coast premiere! Rosie has only ever wanted to be pretty. One day she meets a witch who makes her wish come true… Watch the trailer>

Fight the Fear

(Vishnu Venugopal, United Arab Emirates, 2016, 15 min, in English) North American premiere! Youth-made at the Children’s International Film Festival Dubai! Who believes in ghosts? One boy sees one stalking his apartment building in Dubai.

The Darkness Keeper

(Rodrigo Atiénzar Jiménez, Spain, live action, 2016, 18:41 min, in English) Seattle premiere! May is afraid of the dark and she has a plan to trap it. But she’s forgetting a small detail: when night falls, darkness is everywhere… Watch the trailer>

Notes to parents: True to theme, this program contains monsters, skeletons, and creepy imagery. “The Darkness Keeper” includes a few intensely scary scenes.

NO BULLIES ALLOWED

SATURDAYS, JAN. 28 @ 7PM & FEB. 4 @ 5:30PM

(76 min)

Ages 8+

These kids use their smarts and their compassion to defeat bullying in creative ways. From buzzing robot drones to daisy chains to introspection and friendship, the heroes in this program find opportunities to stand up for themselves and others, and in so doing teach us about how to make the world a kinder and more just place.

Litterbugs

(Peter Stanley-Ward, UK, live action, 2016, 15 min, in English) West Coast premiere! Helped by her self-made flying mechanical creatures, a young inventor and a pint-sized superhero defeat the town bullies and find an unexpected friendship. Watch the trailer>

Daisy Chain

(Galvin Scott Davis, Australia, animated, 2015, 5 min, in English) A girl falls victim to nasty posts until her love of daisy chains helps bring kindness to the playground. Narrated by Kate Winslet.

Confessions of a Social Bully

(Lisa Cohen, US, live action, 2016, 15 min, in English) World premiere! Filmmaker in attendance! In this documentary, Natasha bravely reflects on how she used her popularity to punish a talented classmate as a distraction from her own insecurity. See the Trailer here>

Through the Trees

(Tamara Janke, The Netherlands, animated, 2016, 3 min, no dialogue) World premiere! Faced with the expectations of her domineering teacher, an aspiring artist finds her own way through the forest.

Shirin’s Dream

(Maryam Abdoli, Iran, live action, 2016, 15 min, in Farsi with English subtitles) World Premiere! Director in Attendance! (Jan. 28th only) After a young girl is turned down for a part in the school play, her teacher learns a lesson about persistence and ingenuity.

Super Chef

(Rochelle Rose, USA, live action, 2015, 11 min, in English) Seattle Premiere! A boy with allergies and a passion for organic food finds an ally at a flavorless summer camp. Watch the trailer>

The Debt

(Helen Flanagan, Ireland, live action, 2016, 12 min, in English) North American premiere! Ten-year-old Daithi is afflicted with a serious crush, but will his feelings get in the way of his loyalty to his best friend?

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Notes to parents: Several of the films contain mean and hurtful behavior that is addressed in a thoughtful, constructive way. “Litterbugs” contains some mild bad language. In “Super Chef,” a boy has an allergic reaction that includes throwing up. “The Debt” includes a kid who threatens to pull people’s teeth (but he doesn’t follow through!)

PURE IMAGINATION             SATURDAY, JAN. 28 @ 1PM & SUNDAY, FEB. 5 @ 11:30AM

(68 min)

Ages 8+

Ever wondered how a forest full of talking trees and fish would look? What if tiny musical bands filled our lives with marvelous melodies? Put on your favorite imagination cap, and join in on this journey through magical worlds filled with love and adventure.

The Orchestra

(Mikey Hill, Australia, animated, 2015, 15 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! In a world filled with beautiful harmonious music Vernon always seems to strike the wrong note. Watch the trailer>

Bobo’s Metamorphoses

(Daria Kopiec, Poland, animated, 2015, 16:35 min, in Polish with English subtitles) West Coast premiere! Filmmaker in attendance on Jan. 28! Story of a boy turned into a fly as a punishment for his laziness.

Iron Egg

(Viktoria Traub, Hungary, animated, 2015, 12:31 min, in Hungarian with English subtitles) Seattle premiere! The adventures of Benedek and the iron hen finding their way home from the forest of the singing trees, through the swamp of the giant carp. Watch the trailer>

The Tree

(Lucie Sunkova, Czech Republic/France, animated, 2015, 14:45 min, no dialogue) West Coast premiere! A metaphor on the parallels between the lives of trees and people, a poem on birth and death, an ode to the passage of time. Watch the trailer>

The Little Seed

(Chaïtane Conversat, France/Switzerland, animated, 2013, 9:56 min, no dialogue) West Coast premiere! In a curious world full of insects and plants, a little girl catches floral patterns with a magic cloth and uses them to make her own pretty dresses. One day, a seed drops into her mouth and a young shoot sprouts from her navel… Watch the trailer>

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Notes to parents: The girl in “The Little Seed” briefly takes off clothes, but no explicit body parts are shown. “Iron Egg” contains some scary images of monsters that may be frightening to some children. The story of “The Orchestra” (an uplifting film) includes a man that dies, and some smoking.

TRUE TO YOURSELF      SATURDAY, JAN. 28 @ 1:30PM & WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 @ 1:30PM

(75 min)

Ages 12+

This extraordinary collection of live action films focuses on integrity and doing the right thing. What does it mean to be true to yourself? How do you put that ideal into practice in everyday life? Meet a father and son who find a lost wallet, a gender non-conforming teen facing their traditional Muslim family, a girl who thinks out loud about self-expression, and a boy whose soccer coach asks him to lie. These finely-scripted films will leave you with fodder for a great conversation on the trip home.

A Well Spent Afternoon

(Martin Turk, Slovenia/Croatia, 2016, 7:30 min, in Slovenian with English subtitles) West coast premiere! After failing another job interview, a father spends the afternoon with his young son when something unexpected happens. Watch the trailer>

Nasser

(Melissa Martens, The Netherlands, 2015, 19:11 min, in Dutch and Arabic with English subtitles) Thirteen-year-old Dutch-Moroccan Nasser is figuring out their own identity, and fights with Mom over dresses and haircuts don’t help.

Ninnoc

(Niki Padidar, The Netherlands, 2015, 19 min, in Dutch with English subtitles) Seattle premiere! What does “normal” mean to you? In this beautifully-produced documentary, a teen girl dances, sings, and opens up about her struggles with individuality. Watch the trailer>

Slush Ice

(Søren Grinderslev Hansen, Denmark, 2016, 29:40 min, in Danish with English subtitles) North American premiere! When 12-year-old Tobias is asked to lie by his soccer coach, he faces the hardest decision of his life. This powerful and important film shows what happens when kids are called on to be smarter and stronger than the adults around them. Watch the trailer>

Notes to parents: “Nasser” has a minor scene referring to puberty. “Ninnoc” includes serious discussion of mental health challenges. “Slush Ice” includes frequent strong language.

SAVE THE EARTH           SUNDAY, JAN. 29 @ 5:30PM & WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 @ 11:30AM

(73 min)

Ages 8+

The earth is our only home, so let’s take care of it! In this program, you’ll travel through forests and the cosmos, animated dreamscapes, funny animal adventures, and stories about scientists, just to end up back at home, ready to change our environmental future.

Ampersand

(Erin Shea, USA, 2016, animated, 2016, 3:11 min, no dialogue) Seattle Premiere! Filmmaker in attendance on Jan. 29th! Go on a playful musical journey from the subatomic to the galactic, that touches on science ideas including wave particle duality, evolution and pollination.

Cinema Dehors

(Tatiana Poliektova and Filippo Rivetti, Russia/Australia, animated, 2014, 2:40 min, no dialogue) US premiere! Sometimes we’re so busy we forget that the real beauty of this world is right in front of our eyes.

The Children of the Earth (Awaskinawason)

(Antony Dubé, Atikamekw Nation/Canada, animated, 2015, 3 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! Awaskinawason is made up of the Atikamekw words awacic (child), aski (earth) and takonawason (having the responsibility for). The film calls on us to respect the great circle of life. Watch the trailer>

Forest Guards

(Maris Brinkmanis, Latvia, animated, 2015, 12 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! When a man dumps his trash near the Forester’s home, his animal friends decide to teach the litterbug a lesson.

The Red Herring

(Leevi Lemmetty, Ireland/Finland, animated, 2015, 6:30 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! A group of penguins get too greedy for their own good, and it’s up to one little ice fisher to stop them. Watch the trailer>

The Earth at My Hands – Without Water

(Nicolas Conte, Argentina, animated, 2016, 4:22 min, in Spanish with English subtitles) International premiere! What would happen if we ended up without drinkable water? Mara finds out, with help from her cat. Watch the trailer>

Impressions of Life

(Ehsan Masoom, Iran, animated, 2016, 1:40 min, no dialogue) A dream of humanity’s destruction of its ancient inheritance, inspired by a 14th-century Persian carpet.

The Garden

(Idil Ar Ucaner, Turkey, animated, 2016, 7:17 min, no dialogue) US premiere! A girl who grows up surrounded by nature makes a frustrating change to city living as an adult.

Me … Jane

(Paul and Sandra Fierlinger, US, animated, 2014, 8:40 min, in English) Budding young scientist Jane Goodall and her stuffed chimpanzee explore the natural world. Based on the book by Patrick McDonnell.

Pork Chops

(Bárbara Balsategui, Mexico, live action, 2013, 15 min, in Spanish with English subtitles) Valentina is bored of rural farm life until she meets Carnitas, a sweet little pig. But her family has other plans for him…

Bright Spots

(Jilli Rose, Australia, animated, 2016, 7:47 min, in English) Pacific Northwest premiere! A lushly animated portrait of scientist Nick Holmes and his work preventing extinctions on islands. Watch the trailer>

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Notes to parents: In “Pork Chops,” a family considers eating a beloved family pig, but there’s a happy ending. There is brief imagery of dead animals in “Bright Spots.”

SHINE ON                           SUNDAY, JAN. 29 @ 11AM & SATURDAY, FEB. 11 @ 11AM

(68 min)

Ages 2+

What makes you shine? The characters in these sweet and funny films have special things that make them glow and grow. Join them as they play with words, make new friends, tend a garden, and dig themselves out of holes and take journeys to near and far. If you close your eyes and make a wish, you might even be able to join them on a trip to the moon! See the trailer for this program here.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Boom! Boom! Boom!

(Walter Santucci, US, live action, 2016, 2 min, in English) World premiere! A magic fairy helps two monsters working in a factory resolve an argument about the best way to approach their job.

Party Bus

(Rohitash Rao, USA, animated, 2016, 3 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Jordan Geary, from Sesame Workshop, in attendance on Jan. 29! The wheels go round and round when it’s party time.

Konigiri-Kun Shopping

(Mari Miyazawa, Japan, animated, 2015, 5 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! Konigiri-Kun is a small rice ball who lives in a food case. One morning, he sets out to shop for sesame seeds, and has a lot of adventures along the way.

Silence! For Pete’s Sake!

(Kai Pannen, Germany, animated, 2015, 7:39 min, no dialogue) West Coast premiere! Mr. Bumble would like to take a little nap. But it’s hard, because his friends are making so much noise!

Party Mouth

(Todd St. John, US/England, 2016, 1:50, in English) Seattle premiere! Jordan Geary, from Sesame Workshop, in attendance on Jan. 29! Get out your toothbrush and your dancing shoes because this massive song is about to get you brushing up, down, and all around.

Polka Dott

(Cynthia Pepper, USA, live action, 2016, 6:36 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Director in attendance on Jan. 29! Dott loves puns, jokes and she cannot say “know” to ice cream. She spends the day exploring her wonderful life of becoming a mermaid, a princess or living inside a dream.

The Teeny Weeny Fox

(Alne Quertain & Sylwia Szkiladz, France, animated, 2015, 8:22 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! In the middle of a luxuriant garden, a wee little fox meets a darling girl who grows giant plants. Watch the trailer>

Little Shimajiro

(Isamu Hirabayashi, Japan, animated, 2015, 8:45 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! When a mischievous little tiger boy, living in a quiet forest, falls into a hole, many of the forest’s residents try to help him out. By the time he is rescued, he has learned what kindness is, and how he has the potential for kindness inside of him, too. Watch the trailer>

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Waves from the Sky

(Gildardo Sontoyo del Castillo, Mexico, animated, 2015, 8:38 min, no dialogue) A bird and a turtle discover that their unlikely friendship is something to dance about!

Akouo

(Claire Souquet, Sophie Annibal, Sophie Stanculescu, Nina Degrendel, & Sophie Heidenreich
France, animated, 2015, 3:25 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! In a silent universe, a young girl meets a curious creature, and brings an amazing and colorful world to life. Watch the trailer>

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Sissy’s Dream

(Fabrizio Gammardella, Italy, animated, 2015, 2 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! Sissy, a sweet girl who loves pasta, her parents and her big fluffy companion dog, dreams of flying through the sky.

Moon Wolves

(Nima Yousefi, Sweden, animated, 2016, 12 min, no dialogue) West coast premiere! Every night, the Moon Wolves stare at the moon. But one night, their longing grows so intense they must do something. They must go there. Watch the trailer>

STORY WORLD                  SUNDAY, JAN. 29 @ 3:30PM & SATURDAY, FEB. 4 @ 3:30PM

(83 min)

Ages 10+

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Prepare to be fascinated and inspired. With a mixture of both carefully drawn images and stop-motion critters, these animated films present various ideas about our world as characters explore their own worlds. Watch as these colorful stories unfold in front of you, and open up your eyes and heart to beautiful stories about aspects of love and adventure both light and dark.

Mijndert
(Janneke Swinkels and Tim Frijsinger, Netherlands, animated, 2015, 5:08 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! Mijndert is a young man from the South of the Netherlands who is about to begin his first working day in the mines. Watch the trailer>
First Snow
(Lenka Ivančíková, Czech Republic, animated, 2015, 13:34 min, no dialogue) West Coast premiere! First Snow is a fairy tale about the curious little Hedgehog who gets lost in snowy woods, and must head out for a dangerous adventure to find his home. Watch the trailer>
Of Shadows and Wings…
(Elice Meng and Eleonora Marinoni, France/Switzerland, animated, 2015, 12:55 min, in French with English subtitles) Seattle premiere! In the midst of a group of birds, the Moann feels her body changing. Friend and nihilist, Ciobeck tries to protect her, but how can one survive in a barren land, populated by imprisoned-minded people? Watch the trailer>
Chika, the Dog in the Ghetto
(Sandra Schießl, Germany, animated, 2016, 16:20 min, in German with English subtitles) West Coast premiere! Chika the dog and a five-year-old boy Mikasch are the heroes of this story which is set in a Jewish ghetto of an unnamed Polish city.
Indigo
(Amanda Spotted Fawn Strong, Michif/Canada, animated, 2014, 9 min, no dialogue) An Indigo child and her companion, a mechanical spider, struggle between worlds — the here and now, and the afterlife. What’s real and what’s imagined?
Notes from a Small Japanese Town
(Magnus Fredriksson, Sweden, animated, 2015, 4 min, no dialogue) Seattle premiere! Come along and experience a hot summer day in the small Japanese town Misato, north of Tokyo. Watch the trailer>
The Story of the Fox Who Lost His Mind
(Christian Asmussen and Matthias Bruhn, Germany, animated, 2015, 11:10 min, in German with English subtitles) West Coast premiere! A poetic animated film about growing old and the communal life of generations.
Tea Time
(Guillaume Blanchet, France, animated, 2015, 4:02 min, in French with no subtitles) US premiere! Millions leave from many places, fleeing danger and conflict. Most of the time, they risk their lives. Their dreams are often shattered, but they keep on trying. We are all made of hope.
Blind Vaysha
(Theodore Ushev, Canada, animated, 2015, 8 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Nominated for the 2017 Academy Award® for Best Animated Short Film! Little Vaysha has a left eye that sees the past and a right eye that sees the future, preventing her from living in the present. Watch the trailer>​​​Notes to parents: Some of the themes explored in this program might be uncomfortable or difficult for some children. These themes include dementia in “The Story of the Fox that Lost His Mind” and anti-semitism in “Chika, the Dog in the Ghetto” (Nazis, guns). It should also be noted that “First Snow” includes a scene where an eagle kills a fox, and “Indigo” has scary moments.
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WILD CHILD                 SUNDAY, JAN. 29 @ 11:30AM & WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 @ 3:30PM

(77 min)

Ages 7+

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Let your creativity run wild! In this collection of imaginative films, experience a meerkat rescue mission, get captured by your own toy, explore a dangerous universe in a taxi, and befriend a giant, gentle beast. Open your eyes to the wild adventures the world has to offer.

Piglet, Babysitter(Natalya Berezovaya, Russia, animated, 2014, 6:14 min, in Russian with English subtitles) North American premiere! Our little pig’s life is full of good luck. So when his parents have to leave, there is someone who takes care of him and his brothers.
Catch It(Paul Bar, Marion Demaret, Nadège Forner, Pierre-Baptiste Marty, Julien Robyn & Jordan Soler, France, animated, 2015, 5:19 min, no dialogue) A group of meerkats takes care of a beloved and unique fruit, and when a vulture snatches it away, the meerkats launch a high-stakes rescue operation.
Moroshka(Polina Minchenok, Russia, animated, 2015, 7:45 min, no dialogue) US premiere! A girl befriends a gentle, giant beast.