Ages 11+
This program celebrates beautiful and complex stories of identity and diversity — just like you, the people you will meet in this program are one-of-a-kind, living fiercely in their authentic selves, rejecting stereotypes and reaching out to others who respect and affirm their journeys.
78 min.
Ages 8+
In this program of exquisitely animated short films from nine countries, you’ll travel over moonscapes and take wing across technicolor skies. These films, all nonverbal, invite you to linger in the cool shadow of dreams.
77 min.
Ages 11+
These live-action and animation films are about the earth, its future, and Gen Z heroes who are willing to fight for it.
77 min.
** March 1st screening will include guest speaker Jesse Nichols!**
Jesse Nichols is a video producer for Grist. He makes explainer videos about climate change, science, and urbanism. He graduated from Western Washington University, where he studied visual journalism and ran the student environmental magazine. He also started making videos when he was in 5th grade.
Ages 7+
Enter a beautifully animated wonderland of timeless tales, fables and fantastic yarns. You’ll meet a kitten who masters the briny deep, creatures who live a world made of wool, two lemurs who take a voyage to the beyond, a jungle where animals and humans coexist in peace, a place in the woods where friendly monsters live, and a cyclist who keeps the world spinning round.
Content advisory: Fairy tales and fables sometimes explore fears and dangers, but all these films have happy endings! In Land Without Evil, a boy bleeds very briefly in a non-graphic way after being bitten by a non-graphic snake, then quickly heals completely. In Dark, Dark Woods, monsters seem a little scary for a few seconds but really, they are friendly. In The Theory of Sunset, the figure of Death makes an appearance in a non-frightening way. In Two Balloons, friends have an adventure that seems fraught with danger at times. Pepita and Max has content involving Christian mythology.
71 min.
(Joanna Polak, Poland, animation, 2018, 10 min, English) Washington State premiere!
Mr. Wooly likes is a world made of wool, and he is the only person who knows how to keep the place from unraveling. He is, however, old and tired and he wants his life to change. Unfortunately… his wish gets granted.
(Uzi Geffenblad, Sweden, animation, 2018, 9 min, nonverbal) North American premiere!
A kitten is hungry, and can’t catch anything tasty when she goes out fishing. But in a moment of illumination, she finds a creative solution, and a helper.
(Rahel Ilona Eisenring & Stephanie Knöbl, Switzerland, animation, 6 min, Swiss German with English subtitles) West Coast premiere!
When little Max loses his giraffe Monsier Raf, his smart cousin Pepita knows just how to help him with a marvelous alpine blessing, an ancient Swiss tradition.
(Mark C. Smith, US, animation, 2017, 9 min, nonverbal)
Two travelers have an adventurous journey to a place crossed by stars and clouds where love is at the beginning of everything.
(Katalin Egely, Hungary & Argentina, animation, 2017, 4 min, nonverbal, with unsubtitled song in Guarani) Seattle premiere!
Based on Guaraní mythology, this film asks, what if the real paradise is inside us and lies in the harmony and unity of everything alive?
(Martina Holcová, Czech Republic, animation, 2017, 4 min, English) North American premiere!
It’s a brave new world: Little Red and Grandma aren’t afraid of the wolf at all.
(Emile Gignoux, Denmark, animation, 2017, 6 min, nonverbal)
Fed up by an endless routine of duties and lessons, princess Maria escapes to the dark, dark woods full of friendly monsters.
(Roman Sokolov, Russia, animation, 2017, 9 min, nonverbal) Seattle premiere!
Deep in the night, a dedicated cyclist traverses the wintry forest. The challenge: make sure the new day gets off to a fresh and timely start.
(Tatiana Kiseleva, Russia, animation, 2018, 14 min, Russian with English subtitles) North American premiere!
A mischievous gnome helps save horribly obedient children from excessive mannerliness.
Ages 5+
Some days seem made for saying “hip-hip-hooray,” but others times can bring more challenges and hills to climb. These animated films are filled with stories of breakthroughs and learning to appreciate how our friends and families can make the world go around in the most magical way.
68 min.
(JC Little, Canada, animation, 2017, 2 min, nonverbal) Seattle premiere!
Somebody gets themselves in a pickle when they steal some flowers to woo a new friend.
(Sergei Ryabov, Russia, animation, 2018, 3 min, Russian, with English subtitles) Seattle premiere!
An inseparable girl and cat are on a long journey, playing checkers. The girl keeps winning, until the cat gets a lucky break.
(Giselle Pérez, Guatemala & Canada, animation, 2018, 2 min, nonverbal) US premiere!
Tasty family fun happens when a little girl and her grandmother try to make a typical Guatemalan dish.
(Ivana Guljasevic Kuman, Croatia, animation, 2018, 5 min, nonverbal) US premiere!
A sweet witch spends a month perfecting her cackle to show off to all her monster friends.
(Jeremy Collins, South Africa, animation, 2018, 5 min, nonverbal) Seattle premiere!
Persistence pays off when a brave girl who is learning to dive is unperturbed when another swimmer steals the spotlight.
(Milen Vitanov & Vera Trajanova, Germany & Bulgaria, animation, 2016, 9 min, Bulgarian with English subtitles) West Coast premiere!
Two kids overcome prejudice on an unexpected New Year’s Eve journey on the shoulders of a giant.
(Michael Farnon, UK, animation, 2018, 4 min, English) US premiere!
A young detective, specializing in the recovery of lost toys, doesn’t always have the best of luck in bringing lost treasures back to their owners. But she knows what she does makes a difference.
(Tisha Deb Pillai, Canada, animation, 2018, 6 min, English)
Lila, age 8, learns that she can ride a bike, and her parents can overcome their challenges too.
(Jonas Forsman, Sweden, animation, 6 min, nonverbal) Seattle premiere!
Two robots can do anything except get wet. So how will they save a beautiful whale?
(Edmunds Janson, Latvia, animation, 2017, 25 min, English) Seattle premiere!
To win back her parents’ attention, a 6-year-old girl and her imaginary friend come up with a clever plan to send her baby brother and grandma to the moon.
Linda Hambäck, Sweden, 2017, 1h 5m
All ages
(animation, Swedish with English subtitles)
(Mekeminne Clinckspoor, Sweden/Netherlands/Belgium/Norway, live action, 2017, 77 min, Dutch, Swedish and Sami with English subtitles)
For ages 9+
West Coast premiere!
Twelve-year-old city boy Niilas has been living with his father for as long as he can remember and barely knows his Swedish mother. This summer, Niilas has to travel to Lapland where his mother and her new family live amongst the Sami, an indigenous reindeer-herding people. Despite a warm welcome, Niilas retreats inwards. The only one who can get through to him is his half-sister Sunnà. The reindeer migration is fully underway and Niilas has to lend a helping hand. When a reindeer goes missing, Niilas joins in the search, and an impressive moose keeps crossing his path at the most unexpected moments. Gradually he discovers his roots, which prove to be stronger than he ever could have imagined.
Content advisory: deals with issues of divorce and attachment, scenes with animals being herded and sequences of slight danger.
(Maria Blom and Christian Ryltenius, Sweden, animation, 2016, 65 min, in Swedish with English subtitles)
For ages 5+
Co-presented with Seattle’s Nordic Heritage Museum! US Premiere!
Sweden’s most popular comic book character, the world’s strongest bear Bamse, is back for another film adventure! In this charming animated tale, Croesus Vole finds gold in the beavers’ dam. To demolish the dam and get the gold, he tricks the witch’s daughter, Lova, to conjure away Bamse . With Bamse gone, it’s up to the children to save the dam and Bamse — but first, they must learn to get along with each other! Full of magic and lessons, this film celebrates friendship, tolerance and love of the environment.