The holidays are over, but there are fun times ahead with the Children’s Film Festival at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque from October 26 – 29, 2011. This is one of my favorite festivals, screening excellent films that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, and featuring special projects and workshops. This year the festival will expand its activities with screenings in Sderot and Nazereth during the Hannukah holiday.
In addition to films made for a young audience, the festival features screenings of films made by aspiring young writers and directors participating in film programs for youths. The two programs “Children Making Movies” in cooperation with HOT and “Life as a Movie” in cooperation with YES, invited kids to send in screenplays. The selected screenplays were then developed into films, the young writers developing their ideas under the guidance of mentors from the film industry, writing, casting and turning the works of their imagination into an onscreen reality.
Channel 1 is sponsoring the premiere of short films from around the world that focus on children confronting significant challenges in their lives, and Keshet is sponsoring a program of “Creating with Keshet.”
Opening the festival will be the film I am Kalam, a film from India, directed by Nila Madhab Panda. The film tells the story of Chhotu, a Rajasthani boy with a strong desire to learn to read. The film premiered at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival and has won critical acclaim and awards at festivals worldwide.
This year will be the first time that the festival will show films for the very, very young – from the age of two! To enhance the viewing pleasure of these very young audiences, booster seats will be available in the theatre.
Eight films will participate in the competition for Best Film, with two teams of judges: the traditional film industry professionals, headed by director Eli Cohen, and a team of youths who participated in a special training workshop. The films in competition are:
Lionel (Switzerland, 86 min. 2010), directed by Mohammed Soudani. Lionel is an African-Swiss boy who loves nothing more than spending time with his grandfather, who teaches him stories and traditions of his native land. When grandfather dies, Lionel begins seeing lions everywhere—and on a fateful class trip to the zoo, a lion asks Lionel to help him escape to Africa. How far will Lionel go to maintain his special relationship with his grandfather? Cultural heritage meets current surroundings, as Lionel learns to reconcile his past and present in this affecting film.
On The Sly (Belgium/France, 73 min, 2011), directed by Olivier Ringer, who will be a guest of the festival, as will the film’s young star – his daughter Wynona. Suspecting she is invisible to her parents, six-year-old Cathy decides to test the theory by disappearing into the forest. Winner of the Children’s Jury Award at the Montreal International Children’s Film Festival.
Kapi (Thailand, 87 min, 2010), directed by Nitivat Cholvanichsiri, is about a boy who lives with his uncle and a monkey called Kapi. When the uncle dies, the boy is threatened by a real estate tycoon who want to buy their land and turn it into a resort. The boy has to train Kapi to enter a coconut-picking competition, with their land at stake.
I Am Kalam (India, 87 min, 2010),
Aurelie LaFlamme’s Diary (Canada, 108 min, 2011), directed by Christian Laurence. Aurelie Laflamme feels alone in the world, especially since her father’s death five years ago. What if her father had been an alien who left Earth to return to his own planet? In that case, Aurelie would be an alien too. That would explain many things, such as why she feels different from others, why she can’t string two words together without making a mistake, and why boys really get on her nerves. Through the pages of her diary, Aurelie confides her joys and sorrows, successes and failures, love and friendships, and tries to find her place.
Twigson Ties the Knot (Norway, 78 min, 2010), directed by Martin Lund. Sure, normal friends are great but when you want to go on amazing adventures – or when you need someone to think outside the box – an imaginary friend is obviously the best choice.
In “Twigson Ties the Knot” we revisit Lillebror and his friend – Knerten – in the living garden. Alfons has Mållgan, Calvin has Hobbes, Max has an entire army of wild things and what’s happening with Karlsson up on that roof anyway? Imaginary friends are everywhere in movies, books and on tv – and most of us have to admit that we’ve had one when we were younger.
Knerten is on the other hand a very special imaginary friend. A living tree branch that not only speaks but is always on Lillebror’s side. But this time they are up against an entirely new set of problems when Lillebror’s mother is the victim of a hit and run. Now it’s up to Lillebror and Knerten to put on their detective hats and break out the magnifying glass to get to the bottom of the mystery. But Knerten’s attention is split ever since he met an extremely cute little birch tree branch. What are you supposed to do when your imaginary friend has gone and gotten a big old crush?
The Strongest Man in Holland (Holland, 80 min, 2011), directed by Mark de Cloe. Twelve-year old Luuk always thought his father was the world’s strongest man. His mother Dorien, who raised him on her own, would tell him the most amazing stories about his father. When Luuk meets René, a participant at a local strongest man competition, he suspects the man to be his father. But Luuk’s mom finally tells him the truth…
Vespa (Hungary, 84 min, 2010), directed by Diana Groó. Lali, a twelve year old gypsy living in poverty with his mother, wins a chocolate bar in a card game that makes him eligible for another prize – a scooter. However, in order to collect his prize, he must go to Budapest.
There will be a special focus on Canada this year, as well as a panorama of films from different countries. The full festival program is available on the Children’s Film Festival site. Tickets are 40 NIS, 60 NIS for parent + one child up to the age of 4. To order call: 03-6060800.
