Features

VALO
Kaija Juurikkala, Finland, live-action, 2005, 84 mins.
Finnish with English subtitles

In the early 1900s in a small village, a nine-year-old boy establishes a secret school for children. Despite the ongoing resistance of adults, Valo builds hope for a better future with the village’s homeless children whose rights are continually ignored.

GETTIN’ GROWN
Aaron Greer, USA, live-action, 2004, 75 mins.
In this brilliant exploration of the perils of growing up, twelve-year-old Eric is sent to fill a prescription for his grandmother. On his journey through the neighborhood, things get unexpectedly complicated as he is forced to make decisions that bring him to the brink of danger and the threshold of adulthood. “Rights of the Child Award,” Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, 2004

Screens with HAMLET
Anya Rose USA, animation, 2001, 8 mins.
Experience Shakespeare’s play in only 8 minutes, with the hilarious and candid commentary of two young girls.

BAZI (THE PLAY)
Gholamreza Remezani, Iran, 2005, live-action, 60 mins.
Farsi with English subtitles

Child’s play is serious business for the charming Saraya, whose fondest dream is to find a playmate. She can hear children next door and begs to join them, though her mother denies her. One day she is rewarded when a bright blue beach ball comes flying over the courtyard wall. It is the beginning of a grand game that forever changes Saraya’s life.

“Grain d’Or for Best Feature-Length Film,” Du Grain à Démoudre Festival, 2005

Animated and Live-Action Shorts Programs

ANIMATED GENIUS: THE FILMS OF KOJI YAMAMURA
Award-winning Japanese animator Koji Yamamura creates a unique visual universe by combining modeling clay, three-dimensional figures, photography and line drawings. From bustling city streetscapes to the banks of the Nile River, Yamamura shows us a world of hardship overcome by humor. His free-spirited creativity and detailed drawing style have garnered numerous honors at international competitions and film festivals. This retrospective includes ten short films that span his career to date, including his Academy Award-nominated Mt. Head.

The Elevator 1991, House 1989, The Sandwiches 1993, Kid’s Castle 1995, Kipling, Jr. 1995, Bavel’s Book 1996, Your Choice 1999, Pieces 2003, Mt. Head 2002, and The Old Crocodile 2005.

RAVENS, FROGS, DOGS AND MORE!
A collection of live-action and animated international short films.

Truck Nicole de Coteau, USA, live-action, 2005, 2 mins.
An exceptional short film set to a supremely catchy tune.

A Slippery Tale Susanne Seidel, Germany, animation, 2004, 7 mins.
It’s love at first croak when a frog floating down a stream spies an enticingly lovely frog on the shore.

The Breezes “Cherries” Grega Mastnak, Slovenia, animation, 2003, 5 mins.
The Breezes go to hilarious lengths to enjoy some very tempting fruit.

Garpenfargle Bill Kersey & Edward Kim, USA, live-action, 2004, 4 mins.
The world’s cutest dog struggles against K-9 instinct in an effort to do the right thing.
“Best All-Ages Film,” San Diego International Children’s Film Festival, 2005

The Bunny Project Ingrid Veninger, Canada, live-action, 2004, 6 mins.
An eight-year-old dressed in a bunny suit hopes to change the world. Will he succeed?

Red Planet Blues David H. Brooks USA, animation, 2004, 11 mins.
Enjoy the antics of a little blue alien as he prepares for tourists from Earth.

What Robots Bear Natt Thangvijit, USA, animation, 2005, 2 mins.
A scary robot confronts a cute, huggable teddy bear, set on winning him over.

The Brave Cat and The Phantom’s Opera Various, Mexico, animation, 2005, 7 mins.
Spanish with English subtitles. Short films created by young filmmakers take us to the Arctic and beyond.

Raven Tales Chris Kientz Canada, animation, 2004, 22 mins.
The comic retelling of an ancient Native American tale in stunning 3-D animation.
“Best Children’s Film,” National Film Board of Canada

Stranger in the Woods Natt Thangvijit, USA, live-action, 2004, 2 mins.
A simple walk in the woods turns into part fairy tale, part horror show!

REEL KIDS
Live-action shorts introduce a world of amazing kids.

The Red Toy Dany Rosenberg, Israel, live-action, 2004, 13 mins.
A young boy is our guide to the old city of Jerusalem in this vivid portrait.

The New Beginning Sundhaker, Reddy India, live-action, 2004, 10 mins.
Two boys’ fight over a kite serves as a metaphor for much bigger problems.

Savior Erla Skuladottir, Iceland, live-action, 2003, 28 mins.
A lonely teenage girl discovers the one person she can depend upon in the vast Icelandic wilderness.

Binta and The Great Idea Javier Fesser, Spain, live-action, 2004, 30 mins. French and Diola with English subtitles
Binta is a seven-year-old Senegalese girl who gratefully attends school, while worrying about her cousin Soda who does not have the same good fortune. “Best Film or Video by an Emerging Director,” Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, 2005.

THE WHEELS ON THE BUS
A selection of short films and animation designed for the youngest of cineophiles.

Train Nicole de Coteau, USA, live-action, 2005, 2 mins.
The fun, adventure and magic of toy and model trains.

Archie The Anteater Peter Elbling, USA, animation and live-action, 2003, 9 mins.
Fed up with eating ants, Archie goes to Paris to become an artist.

Diary Of A Worm Gene Deitch, USA/Czech Rep., animation, 2004, 10 mins.
The adventures, milestones and life lessons of a worm, narrated by Alexander Gould -- the voice of Nemo.

The Dot Gary Goldberger & John Lechner, USA/Canada, animation, 2004, 8 mins.
Vashti thinks she can’t draw worth beans, yet she finds endless creative expression.

Eskimo Inka Friese, Germany, animation, 2003, 5 mins.
An ice-fishing mishap leaves an Inuit man and a penguin stranded on an iceberg.

No Roses for Harry Virginia Wilkos, USA, animation, 2004, 12 mins.
Celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Harry, the white dog with black spots.

This Is The House That Jack Built Konstantin Bronzit, USA/Russia, animation, 2004, 7 mins.
A zany adaptation of the well-known children’s story.

The Wheels On The Bus Gary McGivney, USA/New Zealand, animation, 2004, 6 mins.
The children’s song comes to life in a film that will leave you singing!