Felix

 The 6th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival, which runs September 25 to October 9, 2014 at the Landmark Oriental Theatre, Landmark Downer Theatre, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill and Times Cinema, announced its critically acclaimed line-up for the Rated K: For Kids program. Presented by Mary and Ted Kellner, Rated K: For Kids offers a selection of award-winning features and shorts from around the world, ideal for ages 3 to 12 but equally enjoyable for all ages.

“We’re very lucky to feature such unique, high quality films as part of Rated K: For Kids this year. These fantastic films wouldn’t normally screen at a multiplex theater so we’re thrilled to bring them to Milwaukee and give families the opportunity to experience them together. We’re especially excited to screen the enchanting, hand-drawn French animated feature, Ernest & Celestine which was nominated for the Best Animated Feature at the 2013 Academy Awards,” says Cara Ogburn, Education Director and programmer of Rated K: For Kids for Milwaukee Film.

Five feature films and three shorts programs spanning live action, animation and even a sing-a-long comprise this year’s exciting lineup. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Rated K: For Kids will screen the sing-a-long version of the beloved 1964 classic, Mary Poppins in 35mm. To further enhance the movie-watching experience, the screening includes complimentary popcorn and interactive fun packs for kids and adults in costume. Rated K: For Kids also features three separate short film showcases, programmed for age-specific audiences: Size Small (ages 3+), Size Medium (ages 6+), and Size Large (ages 9+).

2014 MILWAUKEE FILM FESTIVAL

RATED K: FOR KIDS

AninA (Ages 8+)

(Uruguay, Columbia / 2013 / Director: Alfredo Soderguit)

Trailer

http://vimeo.com/57799150

Anina Yatay Salas, so named by her palindrome-loving father, goes on an imaginative journey of self-discovery in this animated film that served as Uruguay’s official Oscar submission. A playground skirmish leads to a visit to the principal’s office and “the weirdest punishment in the history of weird punishments-” a black envelope that Anina is tasked with not opening the entire week she is suspended from school. The week away allows her imagination to run wild with the (sometimes frightening) possibilities of what the envelope might contain, and filmmaker Alfredo Soderguit runs equally wild with beautiful hand-drawn animation capturing his protagonist’s unique perspective. Subtitles will not be read aloud.

 

Ernest & Celestine (Ages 3+)

(France, Luxembourg, Belgium / 2012 / Directors: Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar, Benjamin Renner) 

http://youtu.be/25GBE13A49k

Bears live above, mice live below, and that’s simply the way things are. At least, until independently minded orphan mouse Celestine makes the acquaintance of grumpy/hungry loner bear Ernest. With each helping the other commit acts of petty larceny, a simple, sweet friendship is struck. This Oscar-nominated animated feature (presented here in its star-studded English-dubbed version) is gorgeously rendered by the creators of The Secret of Kells and A Town Called Panic, infusing this tale of unexpected friendship with moments of heartrending beauty alongside riotous sequences of comic anarchy, a combination that will appeal to your youngest and oldest alike.

 

Felix (Ages 10+)

(South Africa / 2013 / Director: Roberta Durrant)

http://youtu.be/4XC2YXTxuhQ

Fourteen-year-old Felix dreams of following in his late father’s footsteps as a musician in post-apartheid South Africa, but first he must overcome the trepidations of his mother and peers to succeed in this winning story filled to the brim with irresistible musical performances. Granted entrance to a prestigious private school via scholarship, Felix struggles to fit in with his classmates due to differences of class and race. But the school’s jazz ensemble provides Felix with the opportunity to persevere if only he can convince his protective mother that the jazz music that she blames for her husband’s passing has the ability to bring together a community.

 

Kids Shorts: Size Small (Ages 3+)

This all-animated program for all ages is filled with kids and animals expressing themselves through music and displaying their creative selves in order to solve their problems. Filled with a multitude of animation styles, the stories include a bear’s unexpected journey toward retrieving his missing hat and the brave Numberlys who bring letters to a world governed by math.

Cloudy Goats (Iran / 2014 / Director: Hamid Karimian)

The Delirious Tales: The Chicken, the Elephant and the Snake (France / 2012 / Director: Fabrice Luang-Vija)

Goose Trouble (Poland / 2013 / Director: Monika Dovnar)

I Want My Hat Back (USA / 2013 / Director: Galen Fott)

Into Spring (Netherlands / 2012 / Director: Udo Prinsen)

My Little Chicken (Canada / 2011 / Directors: Jeremy Diamond, Alex Hawley)

My Mom is an Airplane (Russia / 2013 / Director: Yulia Aronova)

The Numberlys (USA / 2013 / Directors: William Joyce, Brandon Oldenburg)

Sky Color (USA / 2012 / Director: Peter H. Reynolds)

Slowly but Surely (USA / 2012 / Director: Eli Balser)

Winter Has Come (Russia / 2012 / Director: Vassiliy Shlychkov)

 

Kids Shorts: Size Medium (Ages 6+)

This program for slightly older kids is packed with stories of children forging their own paths through life, learning valuable lessons and generating lots of laughs along the way, in a series of films filled with not-so-scary monsters and numerous award-winning shorts that have wowed kid audiences the world over. Some subtitles are involved, but they are not necessary for understanding.

At the Opera (Argentina / 2010 / Director: Juan Pablo Zaramella)

Beep, Beep, Beep (Canada / 2012 / Director: Jeremy Diamond)

The Dam Keeper (USA / 2013 / Directors: Robert Kondo, Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi)

The Mole at the Sea (Russia / 2012 / Director: Anna Kadykova)

Monster Symphony (Germany / 2012 / Director: Kiana Naghshineh)

Mushroom Monster (Norway / 2013 / Director: Aleksander Leines Nordaas)

The New Species (Czech Republic / 2013 / Director: Kateřina Karhánková)      

Gnarly in Pink­-Featuring the Pink Helmet Posse (USA / 2014 / Directors: Benjamin Mullinkosson, Kristelle Laroche)

Rabbit and Deer (Hungary / 2013 / Director: Péter Vácz)

The Whale Bird (France / 2011 / Director: Sophie Roze)

Wombo (Germany / 2013 / Director: Daniel Acht)

 

Kids Shorts: Size Large (Ages 9+)

This program for your oldest children features kids coming to terms with differences and triumphing over obstacles through good humor and creativity. All lighthearted, these short films (including the all-kids musical epic Sweet Love that will have you and yours dancing in their seats) are sure to put a smile on your face. Subtitles will not be read aloud.

Cootie Contagion (USA / 2012 / Director: Josh Smooha)

Dancing with Style (Netherlands / 2012 / Director: Xander de Boer)

Girl with the World in her Hair (United Kingdom / 2011 / Director: Debbie Howard)

Hedgehogs and the City (Latvia / 2013 / Director: Evalds Lacis)

Matilde (Italy / 2013 / Director: Vito Palmieri)

My Strange Grandfather (Russia / 2012 / Director: Dina Velikovskaya)

Sniffles (USA / 2013 / Directors: Jeremy Galante, David Cowles)

Sweet Love (Netherlands / 2012 / Director: Albert Jan van Rees)

Twins in Bakery (Japan / 2013 / Director: Mari Miyazawa)

Mary Poppins Sing-A-Long (All Ages) (USA / 1964 / Director: Robert Stevenson)

http://youtu.be/fRBCPwgu1qM

Disney’s supercalifragilisticexpyalidoc ious spoonful of cinematic sugar is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and MFF is marking this occasion in style with an unforgettable 35mm sing-a-long screening. Come dressed in character and receive free popcorn, then belt out each musical number along with on-screen lyrics as well as interactive audience kits that will immerse you in the Poppins like never before! Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke are unforgettable in this magical tale of bottomless carpetbags, animated penguins and the importance of bird-feeding. Make this the first big screen experience of your kid’s life and she’ll be hooked, and you can take that to the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank.

Windstorm (Ages 9+)

(Germany / 2013 / Director: Katja von Garnier)

Trailer:

http://vimeo.com/84118342

Rebellious teenager Mika’s summer plans are dashed when she’s sent away to spend her entire vacation at her grandmother’s horse stable and riding school. It’s here that the underachieving teen discovers an uncanny ability to connect with and speak to an untamable stallion by the name of Windstorm. In discovering her passion for horse whispering and finding a kindred spirit in this majestic creature, Mika must ride Windstorm in competition to disprove their wild reputations. A generational drama that honestly portrays the teenage experience (with a touch of adult language), Windstorm is a stirring portrait of animal rights and one girl’s discovery of her inner voice. Subtitles will not be read aloud.

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 The Amazing Catfish (Los Insolitos Peces Gatos)

The 6th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival which runs September 25 to October 9, 2014 at the Landmark Oriental Theatre, Landmark Downer Theatre, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill and Times Cinema, announced Mexico as the spotlight country for its fourth annual Passport program. Featuring a selection of eight films set in Mexico (with seven of the eight made by Mexican filmmakers), Passport: Mexico includes an eclectic mix of award-winning films ranging from comedies and hard hitting dramas to revealing documentaries and poignant coming-of-age tales.

In tandem with Passport: Mexico is a keynote address from Professor Frederick Aldama of The Ohio State University. Aldama is the author of nineteen books on Latin American popular culture and cinema and is a preeminent scholar of contemporary Mexican cinema. His most recent book, the highly acclaimed Mex-Ciné (2013), offers a multidisciplinary exploration of Mexican national cinema, its historical contexts and the transnational production-consumption models of the Mexican film industry. Details on the date, time and location of the keynote address are forthcoming.

2014 MILWAUKEE FILM FESTIVAL

PASSPORT: MEXICO 

This year we turn our focus to the landscape and culture of modern Mexico. To highlight Mexico’s growing success both in Hollywood and major international film festivals, this program will feature the best cinema of one of our closest neighbors.

The Amazing Catfish (Los Insolitos Peces Gatos)
(Mexico, France / 2013 / Director: Claudia Sainte-Luce)

http://youtu.be/ujD9FAcy7YU

A celebration of family in all of its messy beauty, The Amazing Catfish is a gorgeously shot, female-driven dramedy. Claudia, 22 and completely alone, meets Martha, terminally ill and mother of four. A chance placement of adjoining hospital beds binds these two women together, with Claudia growing as she becomes caretaker for Martha and her tightly knit brood. This story about finding family in the least likely of places is filled with a generosity of spirit and meaningful exploration of love and loss buoyed by emotionally precise performances from its leads.

Club Sandwich
(Mexico / 2013 / Director: Fernando Eimbcke)

http://youtu.be/1PCzjhT5DIE

Single mother Paloma and her 15-year-old son, Hector, are spending a lazy vacation taking advantage of their destination’s special off-season pricing. But the arrival of Jazmin at this resort heralds the awakening of Hector’s nascent sexuality, thus beginning one of the most silent courtships in cinema history. Director Fernando Eimbcke (Lake Tahoe, MFF 2009) lets this deadpan comedy play out with tender restraint and comic minimalism, realizing this is a coming-of-age story for both a young boy in the throes of puberty as well as his overly possessive mother and embracing all of the awkwardness true teen romances and mother/son relationships entail.

Heli
(Mexico / 2013 / Director: Amat Escalante)

http://youtu.be/qfcNTCn9k5g

Heli is a brutal, ceaselessly escalating story of one family’s efforts to escape Mexico’s drug-related violence. Heli ekes out a hardscrabble existence at a car factory and lives with his wife, child, sister, and father in a modest home. When his sister’s police cadet boyfriend makes the life-altering decision to stash stolen drugs in their home, it precipitates a descent into hellish violence that threatens to consume them all. Racking up multiple awards (including Best Director at the 2013 Cannes festival), Heli is an unforgettable journey whose wanton violence and cruelty are certainly not for the squeamish among us. Warning: This film contains extreme violence.

Last Call (Tercera llamada)
(Mexico / 2013 / Director: Francisco Franco Alba) 

http://youtu.be/w_fTLl6DYVs

Opening night fast approaches for a Mexican theater company’s production of Camus’ existential epic Caligula, but behind the curtains chaos is unfolding—a director on the verge of a nervous breakdown, her drug-addled failed actress assistant, and a male stripper turned stagehand are just a few of the colorful characters that comprise the comedic ensemble of Last Call. This stage door farce (which pulled off a clean sweep of the Guadalajara Film Festival) allows for multiple stars to shine while also granting moments of genuine pathos amid its comic revelry as actors leave, sets are scrapped and a bona fide stage disaster appears imminent.

Purgatorio: A Journey Into the Heart of the Border (Purgatorio: Viaje al Corazón de la Frontera)

Purgatorio: A Journey Into the Heart of the Border (Purgatorio: Viaje al Corazón de la Frontera)
(USA, Mexico / 2013 / Director: Rodrigo Reyes)

Trailer: http://vimeo.com/73270818

A haunting sketch of the scorched-earth beauty that surrounds both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, Purgatorio chronicles the untold thousands who attempt to make their way across the border every year despite the dark realities that lay ahead of them. Winner of the Best Documentary award at the Ann Arbor Film Festival, this portrait of an anthropologically arbitrary dividing line is full of stark images of haunting beauty and fascinating characters (coroners, police, border crossers) on both sides that aim to detonate any preconceived notions about life on either side of the massive steel fence that separates us.

Que Caramba es la Vida

Que Caramba es la Vida
(Germany / 2014 / Director: Doris Dörrie)

Trailer: http://vimeo.com/85734992

Historically speaking, mariachi music is a tradition steeped in machismo and male posturing, not exactly the easiest business for women to break into. But for a hard-nosed few who are able to wade through the sexism and exclusionary tactics of their peers, life as a female mariachi is attainable. Following the stories of powerful women who have to balance traditional expectations of female roles such as motherhood alongside their powerful folk music performances (set against the backdrop of the Dia de los Muertos celebration), we see how these women have broken into this predominantly male field and used their struggles as fuel for success.

We Are the Nobles (Nosotros los Nobles)
(Mexico / 2013 / Director: Gaz Alazraki)

http://youtu.be/ynA5nXZyZxU

The 1% is made to live like the 99% in this uproarious farce, the biggest box office success in Mexican history. As self-made millionaire German looks back on his life, he realizes the luxury and comfort he has swaddled his three children in have turned them into monsters of privilege. This calls for drastic measures: staging his company’s bankruptcy and convincing his none-too-bright progeny that they are all fugitives from the law. He moves the children into a dilapidated home in a working-class area and leads them to do something for the first time in their lives—work. Catch this riotous comedy now before the inevitable American remake!

Workers

Workers
(Mexico, Germany / 2013 / Director: Jose Luis Valle)

Trailer: http://vimeo.com/75869321

On his final day of work after three decades of employment, Rafael learns he won’t be earning a pension due to his tenuous immigrant status. Lidia has spent those 30 years as a maid for a wealthy woman who funnels all of her affection toward her dog, Princess, even bequeathing the diminutive pooch everything after her passing, leaving Lidia the ward of a dog millionaire. Tackling class inequality with a deadpan sensibility reminiscent of Jim Jarmusch, director Jose Luis Valle captures the irony and absurdity of the characters’ respective situations without ever losing sight of the prideful humanity at his film’s core.

 

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