Born in China

33 Documentaries Win Sundance Institute Documentary Fund and Stories of Change Grant

Thirty-three nonfiction works from seventeen countries comprise the latest Sundance Institute Documentary Fund and Stories of Change Grantees. 81% of the supported projects have at least one woman producer or director; 48% originate from outside the US. That support takes the form of grants to films in the development, production, post-production and audience engagement stages, and includes custom grants from The Kendeda Fund, which provides specific support for projects addressing environmental themes or the challenges of gun violence; John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which provides specific support for journalistic projects, prioritizing diverse, Native and Indigenous voices; and the Stories of Change Fund, a creative partnership with the Skoll Foundation, which supports social entrepreneurs and independent storytellers. This slate of Institute grantees join those supported by Science Sandbox, a collaboration with the Simons Foundation, and the Art of Nonfiction Fellowship and Fund, announced last month. “From renowned Argentinian director Lucrecia Martel addressing the legacy of 500 years of colonial history in her first feature documentary, to first-time Chinese director Runze Yu exploring a profoundly intimate domestic space, these are the vivid individual threads that form the narrative tapestry of our culture and we are proud to support them.” said Tabitha Jackson, the Documentary Film Program’s Director. “These wildly diverse projects from around the globe encompass a staggering scope of subjects,” said Hajnal Molnar-Szakacs, the Documentary Fund’s Director. “We are thrilled that our grants and tailored support opportunities can play a catalytic role across the lives of these projects, from developing creative languages to securing additional funding and finally launching the films on the world stage.” Sundance Institute has a long history and firm commitment to championing the most distinctive nonfiction films from around the world. Recently-supported films include Shirkers, Hale County This Morning, This Evening; Minding the Gap; The Silence of Others; I Am Not Your Negro; Last Men in Aleppo; Casting JonBenet; Strong Island; Hooligan Sparrow.
Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Grantees

DEVELOPMENT
Chocobar (Argentina / US) Dir. Lucrecia Martel Prod. Benjamin Domenech, Joslyn Barnes, Santiago Gallelli, Matías Roveda Javier Chocobar was shot dead fighting the removal of his indigenous community from their ancestral land in Argentina. His death appeared in a video on YouTube. This film unravels the 500 years of “reason” that led to this shooting, both with a gun and a camera, and contextualizes it in the system of land tenure that emerged across Latin America. Cowboy Love (Argentina / Mexico) Dir. Manuel Abramovich Prod. Manuel Abramovich A gay cowboy community in Mexico reinvents the classical heteronormative cowboy figure. Like a documentary remake of ‘Brokeback Mountain’ with the tone of Mexican telenovela, ‘Amor vaquero’ is the movie these cowboys always wanted but never had: the one about their own love stories. Democrats II (Denmark) Dir. Camilla Nielsson Prod. Signe Byrge Sørensen Zimbabwe is at a crossroads. The new leader of the opposition party, MDC, Nelson Chamisa, challenges the old guard, ZANU-PF, represented by the acting president Emmerson Mnangagwa, also known as ‘the crocodile’. The election is the ultimate test for both the party in power and of the opposition. How do they interpret the principles of democracy in a post-Mugabe era – in discourse and in practice? Untitled Dystopia Film (US / UK) Dir. Malika Zouhali-Worrall Caught in a modern day dystopia, a novelist uses fiction to examine the very real brutality and absurdity of authoritarian rule. Gabi (Sweden) Dir. Engeli Broberg Prod. Anna J. Ljungmark and Jacob Eklund Gabi just wants to be Gabi. A simple wish one would think, but as it turns out, it is not. Showing the perspective of a child that refuses to be put in a box, we follow Gabi from age eight to thirteen, struggling to find a place in a society dictated by adult rules and gender categorizations. Mayor (US) Dir. David Osit Prod. David Osit With startling and unprecedented access, Mayor follows a charismatic leader’s quixotic quest to build the city of the future in a land paralyzed by its past. My Mom and My Little Secret (China) Dir. Runze Yu Prod. Runze Yu This film is an intimate portrait of the relationship between the closeted filmmaker himself and his estranged mother. In a fast-changing society like China, where traditional values collide with the new ones. Will revealing the secret bring the family together or rip it apart? Until I Find You (Mexico / France) Dir. Ludovic Bonleux Prod. Ludovic Bonleux and Sonia Paramo Until I Find You tells the story of Ana, a Honduran mother in search of her son, who disappeared in Mexico on his way to the United States.
PRODUCTION
Alabamaland (US) Dir. April Dobbins Prod. April Dobbins, Moira Griffin, Trevite Willis Jones Farm is a lush, 688-acre farm situated in the heart of western Alabama. Three generations of black women explore their very different ties to this place that shaped them and continues to exert a strange hold on their identities. This is the same plot of land that their ancestors once worked as slaves—a history that is important to their identities and to how they navigate the world. Aleph (US / Croatia) Dir. Iva Radivojevic Prod. Madeleine Molyneaux, Vilka Alfier, Iva Radivojevic Aleph is a mysterious portal that contains the entire universe. The portal is hidden in a splintered labyrinth of magic and meaning and encompasses the thoughts, ideas and dreams of ten protagonists in ten countries, spanning five continents. These collective stories serve as pieces of a puzzle that lead to what the writer Jorge Luis Borges called “the unimaginable universe.” The Fight (Bolivia & Australia) Dir. Violeta Ayala Prod. Redelia Shaw, Daniel Fallshaw, Fernando Barbosa, Andrea Monasterios People with disabilities are amongst the most discriminated in Bolivia, with the majority living in dire poverty. Fed up with being ignored, a group of them decide to take their fight to the streets; Feliza and her husband Marcelo lead the way, as the protest grows into a movement. They embark on an unimaginable journey, marching 260 miles over the Andean mountains in their wheelchairs to go toe-to-toe with the Bolivian government. Heaven Through the Backdoor (US) Dir. Anna Fitch and Banker White Prod. Sara Dosa Heaven Through the Backdoor is a multi-platform documentary that explores identity, judgement and family bonds through the experience of Swiss émigré Yo (Yolanda Shae), a fiercely independent 88-year old woman who we meet as she prepares for her next great adventure: death. The project juxtaposes cinematic interpretations of Yo’s stories using intricately built sets and miniatures,with raw, intimate documentary footage her present life. Just a Band (Kenya / Canada) Dir. Anjali Nayar, Wanuri Kahiu Prod. Katie Doering, Senain Kheshgi Just a Band is a story about four nerdy Nairobians, who drop out of university and form an Afro-electric pop band, a counter narrative to the lives expected of them by their middle-class families. Playing on popular band movie tropes (the story of every great band that’s ever broken up), while borrowing from a post-modern cultural mishmash of Sun Ra, Kung Fu Movies, Hip Hop and a thousand other bits of detritus, the film Just a Band presents a fresh coming-of-age story in the midst of the post-dictatorship art renaissance in Kenya. Outta The Muck (US) Dir. Ira McKinley & Bhawin Suchak Prod. Tracy Rector, Bhawin Suchak, Ira McKinley, Sam Pollard Family, football, and the forgotten history of the Deep South come to life in this intimate portrait of generational struggle and resilience in Pahokee, Florida. Outta The Muck tells a story about the power of community, the echoes of trauma, and the strength of Black families in rural America. Softie (Kenya) Dir. Sam Soko Prd. Toni Kamau and Sam Soko A young idealistic Kenyan challenges the status quo, facing questions on the cost of sacrifices made, past and present. Through the Night (US) Dir. Loira Limbal Prod. Loira Limbal To make ends meet, Americans are working longer hours across multiple jobs. This modern reality of non-stop work has resulted in an unexpected phenomenon: the flourishing of 24-hour daycare centers. Through the Night is a vérité documentary that explores the personal cost of our modern economy through the stories two working mothers and a childcare provider – whose lives intersect at a 24-hour daycare center.
POST-PRODUCTION
Advocate (Israel / Canada / Switzerland) Dir. Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaiche Prod. Philippe Bellaiche, Rachel Leah Jones, Paul Cadieux, Joelle Bertossa Lea Tsemel defends Palestinians: from feminists to fundamentalists, from non-violent demonstrators to armed militants. As a Jewish-Israeli lawyer who has represented political prisoners for nearly 50 years, Tsemel, in her tireless quest for justice, pushes the praxis of a human rights defender to its limits. Born in China (US / China) Directors: Nanfu Wang, Jialing Zhang Prod. Julie Goldman, Chris Clements, Carolyn Hepburn, Christoph Jorg First-time mother and filmmaker Nanfu Wang uncovers the untold history of China’s One-Child policy and the generations of parents and children forever shaped by this social experiment. The Last Out (US) Dir. Sami Khan and Michael Gassert Prod. Michael Gassert, Jonathan Miller, Sami Khan Three young Cuban baseball players are pushed to their limits as they flee their homeland, leaving their families and everything they’ve ever known behind, to chase their dreams of playing in the Major Leagues. The Letter (Kenya) Dir. Maia Lekow and Chris King Prod. Maia Lekow and Chris King In coastal Kenya, a frenzied mix of consumerism & christianity is turning hundreds of families against their elders, branding them as witches as a means to steal their land. Filmed with a gentle pace and incredible closeness, The Letter is an intimate family portrait that weaves a complex story of shakespearean proportions. The Kendeda Fund Provides specific support for projects addressing environmental themes or the challenges of gun violence
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT
Charm City (US) Dir. Marilyn Ness Prod. Katy Chevigny Charm City delivers a candid portrait of citizens, police, community advocates, and government officials on the frontlines during three years of unparalleled, escalating violence in Baltimore. The film highlights the positive actions undertaken by groups and individuals, optimistically offering humanity as common ground. Harvest Season (US) Dir. Bernardo Ruiz Prod. Bernardo Ruiz and Lauren Capps Rosenfeld Like studio musicians or backup singers, the behind-the-scenes players in the premium California wine industry are essential, yet rarely recognized for their efforts or contributions. Following three people whose lives and livelihoods are intimately tied to winemaking in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, Harvest Season delves into the “backstage” action over the course of one dramatic grape harvest and during a period of of rapid change for the California wine industry. Inventing Tomorrow (US) Dir. Laura Nix Prod. Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, Laura Nix Meet passionate teenage innovators from around the globe who are creating cutting-edge solutions to confront the world’s environmental threats – found right in their own backyards – while navigating the doubts and insecurities that mark adolescence. Take a journey with these inspiring teens as they prepare their projects for the largest convening of high school scientists in the world, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), a program of the Society for Science & the Public.
PRODUCTION
As Goes Parkland… (US) Dir. Kim A Snyder Prod. Lori Cheatle, Maria Cuomo Cole, Kim A. Snyder In the wake of the February 14, 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida–the worst school shooting since Newtown–Parkland students ignite the largest student movement since the 1960s to address gun violence in America and demand change. Hollow Tree (US) Dir. Kira Akerman Prod. Monique Walton Three teenagers come of age in Southeast Louisiana’s fragile delta; a parable for climate adaptation. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Provides support for journalistic projects, prioritizing diverse, Native and Indigenous voices
PRODUCTION
And She Could Be Next (US) Dir. Grace Lee, Marjan Safinia, Yoruba Richen, Amber Fares, Deb Esquenazi, Geeta Gandbhir. Anayansi Prado, Ramona Emerson Prod. Grace Lee, Marjan Safinia, Jyoti Sarda In a polarized America, where the dual forces of white supremacy and patriarchy threaten to further erode democracy, women of color are claiming power by running for political office. And She Could be Next, made by a team of women filmmakers of color, asks whether democracy itself can be preserved — and made stronger — by those most marginalized. Untitled Puerto Rico Documentary (US) Dir. Cecilia Aldarondo Prod. Cecilia Aldarondo, Ines Hofmann Kanna A kaleidoscopic portrait of the aftermath of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico. Untitled Race & Criminal Justice Project (US) Dir. Ursula Liang Prod. Rajal Pitroda & Chanelle Aponte Pearson A nuanced look at how two communities of color navigate an uneven criminal justice system, anchored by one polarizing New York City case. Stories of Change Fund A creative partnership with the Skoll Foundation, which supports social entrepreneurs and independent storytellers. Untitled Water Inequality in Kenya Project (Kenya), scripted short Dir. Judy Kibinge Prod. Emily Wanja A young women working as a house help in a middle class home in Kenya discovers that her affluent employers are paying less for water than she and her community do. She soon discovers the source of the problem is far closer to home. First Time Stories (India), feature documentary Directors: Shirley Abraham, Amit Madheshiya Deep inside the Amazon, rainforests flourish untouched from horizon to horizon, guarded by mountains never climbed, and cut by rivers unmapped. And yet, they have all been claimed by stories told by elders around a fire. Keepers of the oral storytelling tradition in Suriname for 300 years, frail Matawai elders seek to pass them to the young, who are lured away by gold mining, far from the secrets of the forest. Mystery of Epilogue (Denmark/Syria), feature documentary Dir. Feras Fayyad Prod. Kirstine Barfod In the chaotic war-torn world of Syria, three lawyers and judges attempt to re-establish the rule of law amid the collapse of the justice in the ongoing civil war. Untitled Government Technology Project (US) Prod. Kate Osborn, Josh Penn, Elizabeth Lodge Stepp A comprehensive look at our nation’s contemporary infrastructure that matters most: technology. Examining how government works in this digital age, largely at the expense of the American people. The Widow Champion (US), short documentary Dir. Heather Courtney Evicted from their land and homes by their in-laws, widows in Kenya are forced to live destitute with their children in empty market stalls, or even under trees out in the open. But now these women are coming together to fight for what is rightfully theirs — their land, their homes and their lives.
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141 Scores in Contention for Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards

[caption id="attachment_23776" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] BATTLE OF THE SEXES[/caption] 141 scores from eligible feature-length films released in 2017 have qualified to be nominated in the Original Score category for the 90th Academy Awards. To be eligible, the original score must be a substantial body of music that serves as original dramatic underscoring, and must be written specifically for the motion picture by the submitting composer. Scores diluted by the use of preexisting music, diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs or any music not composed specifically for the film by the submitting composer, or assembled from the music of more than one composer shall not be eligible. Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. The 90th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. The eligible scores along with their composers are listed below, in alphabetical order by film title: “Alien: Covenant,” Jed Kurzel, composer “All I See Is You,” Marc Streitenfeld, composer “All the Money in the World,” Daniel Pemberton, composer “Annabelle: Creation,” Benjamin Wallfisch, composer “Band Aid,” Lucius, composer “Battle of the Sexes,” Nicholas Britell, composer “Baywatch,” Christopher Lennertz, composer “Beauty and the Beast,” Alan Menken, composer “The Big Sick,” Michael Andrews, composer “Blade Runner 2049,” Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer, composers “The Book of Henry,” Michael Giacchino, composer “Born in China,” Barnaby Taylor, composer “The Boss Baby,” Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro, composers “Boston,” Jeff Beal, composer “Brad’s Status,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer “Brawl in Cell Block 99,” Jeff Herriott and S. Craig Zahler, composers “The Breadwinner,” Mychael Danna and Jeff Danna, composers “Breathe,” Nitin Sawhney, composer “Brigsby Bear,” David Wingo, composer “Brimstone & Glory,” Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin, composers “Captain Underpants The First Epic Movie,” Theodore Shapiro, composer “Cars 3,” Randy Newman, composer “The Circle,” Danny Elfman, composer “Coco,” Michael Giacchino, composer “Cries from Syria,” Martin Tillman, composer “A Cure for Wellness,” Benjamin Wallfisch, composer “Darkest Hour,” Dario Marianelli, composer “Despicable Me 3,” Heitor Pereira, composer “The Disaster Artist,” Dave Porter, composer “A Dog’s Purpose,” Rachel Portman, composer “Downsizing,” Rolfe Kent, composer “Drawing Home,” Ben Holiday, composer “Dunkirk,” Hans Zimmer, composer “Earth: One Amazing Day,” Alex Heffes, composer “A Fantastic Woman,” Matthew Herbert, composer “The Fate of the Furious,” Brian Tyler, composer “Father Figures,” Rob Simonsen, composer “Ferdinand,” John Powell, composer “Fifty Shades Darker,” Danny Elfman, composer “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool,” J. Ralph, composer “First They Killed My Father,” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders, composers “Get Out,” Michael Abels, composer “A Ghost Story,” Daniel Hart, composer “Gifted,” Rob Simonsen, composer “The Glass Castle,” Joel P. West, composer “Going in Style,” Rob Simonsen, composer “Good Time,” Daniel Lopatin, composer “Goodbye Christopher Robin,” Carter Burwell, composer “Gook,” Roger Suen, composer “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” Tyler Bates, composer “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” Atli Ӧrvarsson, composer “Hostiles,” Max Richter, composer “Human Flow,” Karsten Fundal, composer “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,” Jeff Beal, composer “It,” Benjamin Wallfisch, composer “Jane,” Philip Glass, composer “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” Henry Jackman, composer “Justice League,” Danny Elfman, composer “Kepler’s Dream,” Patrick Neil Doyle, composer “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” Daniel Pemberton, composer “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson, composers “Kong: Skull Island,” Henry Jackman, composer “LA 92,” Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, composers “LBJ,” Marc Shaiman, composer “Lady Bird,” Jon Brion, composer “Lake of Fire,” Qutub-E-Kripa, composer “Last Flag Flying,” Graham Reynolds, composer “The Lego Batman Movie,” Lorne Balfe, composer “The Lego Ninjago Movie,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer “The Leisure Seeker,” Carlo Virzì, composer “Let It Fall,” Mark Isham, composer “Life,” Jon Ekstrand, composer “Logan,” Marco Beltrami, composer “The Lost City of Z,” Christopher Spelman, composer “Loveless,” Evgueni Galperine and Sacha Galperine, composers “Loving Vincent,” Clint Mansell, composer “The Man Who Invented Christmas,” Mychael Danna, composer “Mark Felt – The Man Who Brought Down the White House,” Daniel Pemberton, composer “Marshall,” Marcus Miller, composer “Mary and the Witch’s Flower,” Takatsugu Muramatsu, composer “Maudie,” Michael Timmins, composer “Molly’s Game,” Daniel Pemberton, composer “Moomins and the Winter Wonderland,” Łukasz Targosz, composer “The Mountain between Us,” Ramin Djawadi, composer “Mudbound,” Tamar-kali, composer “The Mummy,” Brian Tyler, composer “Murder on the Orient Express,” Patrick Doyle, composer “My Cousin Rachel,” Rael Jones, composer “Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer,” Jun Miyake, composer “Okja,” Jaeil Jung, composer “Oklahoma City,” David Cieri, composer “The Only Living Boy in New York,” Rob Simonsen, composer “Only the Brave,” Joseph Trapanese, composer “Our Souls at Night,” Elliot Goldenthal, composer “Paris Can Wait,” Laura Karpman, composer “Patti Cake$,” Geremy Jasper and Jason Binnick, composers “Phantom Thread,” Jonny Greenwood, composer “The Pirates of Somalia,” Andrew Feltenstein and John Nau, composers “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” Geoff Zanelli, composer “The Post,” John Williams, composer “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women,” Tom Howe, composer “The Promise,” Gabriel Yared, composer “Pulimurugan,” Gopi Sundar, composer “Raw,” Jim Williams, composer “Roman J. Israel, Esq.,” James Newton Howard, composer “Saban’s Power Rangers,” Brian Tyler, composer “Same Kind of Different as Me,” John Paesano, composer “The Second Coming of Christ,” Navid Hejazi, Ramin Kousha and Silvia Leonetti, composers “Served Like a Girl,” Michael A. Levine, composer “The Shack,” Aaron Zigman, composer “The Shape of Water,” Alexandre Desplat, composer “Slipaway,” Tao Liu, composer “Smurfs: The Lost Village,” Christopher Lennertz, composer “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” Michael Giacchino, composer “Split,” West Dylan Thordson, composer “The Star,” John Paesano, composer “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” John Williams, composer “Step,” Laura Karpman and Raphael Saadiq, composers “Stronger,” Michael Brook, composer “Suburbicon,” Alexandre Desplat, composer “Swing Away,” Tao Zervas, composer “Thank You for Your Service,” Thomas Newman, composer “Their Finest,” Rachel Portman, composer “Thelma,” Ola Fløttum, composer “Thor: Ragnarok,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri,” Carter Burwell, composer “Tickling Giants,” Paul Tyan, composer “Tommy’s Honour,” Christian Henson, composer “Trafficked,” David Das, composer “Transformers: The Last Knight,” Steve Jablonsky, composer “XXX: Return of Xander Cage,” Brian Tyler and Robert Lydecker, composers “Victoria & Abdul,” Thomas Newman, composer “Voice from the Stone,” Michael Wandmacher, composer “Wakefield,” Aaron Zigman, composer “War for the Planet of the Apes,” Michael Giacchino, composer “Wilson,” Jon Brion, composer “Wind River,” Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, composers “Wonder,” Marcelo Zarvos, composer “Wonder Woman,” Rupert Gregson-Williams, composer “Wonderstruck,” Carter Burwell, composer “Year by the Sea,” Alexander Janko, composer
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170 Documentary Feature Films Submitted for 90th Academy Awards

[caption id="attachment_25315" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Gaga: Five Foot Two[/caption] One hundred seventy features have been submitted for consideration in the Documentary Feature category for the 90th Academy Awards. A shortlist of 15 films will be announced in December. Films submitted in the Documentary Feature category may also qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture, provided they meet the requirements for those categories. Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. The 90th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide. The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are: Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Aida’s Secrets Al Di Qua All the Rage All These Sleepless Nights AlphaGo The American Media and the Second Assassination of President John F. Kennedy And the Winner Isn’t Angels Within Architects of Denial Arthur Miller: Writer Atomic Homefront The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography Bang! The Bert Berns Story Bending the Arc Big Sonia Bill Nye: Science Guy Birthright: A War Story Bobbi Jene Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story Born in China Born to Lead: The Sal Aunese Story Boston Brimstone & Glory Bronx Gothic Burden California Typewriter Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A Bad Boy Story Casting JonBenet Chasing Coral Chasing Trane Chavela Citizen Jane: Battle for the City City of Ghosts Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives Cries from Syria Cruel & Unusual Cuba and the Cameraman Dawson City: Frozen Time Dealt The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson Destination Unknown Dina Dolores Dream Big: Engineering Our World A Dying King: The Shah of Iran Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends) Earth: One Amazing Day 11/8/16 Elian Embargo Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars Escapes Everybody Knows… Elizabeth Murray Ex Libris – The New York Public Library Extraordinary Ordinary People Faces Places The Farthest The Final Year Finding Oscar 500 Years Food Evolution For Ahkeem The Force The Freedom to Marry From the Ashes Gaga: Five Foot Two A German Life Get Me Roger Stone Gilbert God Knows Where I Am Good Fortune A Gray State Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story Hearing Is Believing Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS Human Flow I Am Another You I Am Evidence I Am Jane Doe I Called Him Morgan Icarus If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast The Incomparable Rose Hartman An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power Intent to Destroy Jane Jeremiah Tower The Last Magnificent Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond – Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower Karl Marx City Kedi Keep Quiet Kiki LA 92 The Last Dalai Lama? The Last Laugh Last Men in Aleppo Legion of Brothers Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982 – 1992 Let’s Play Two Letters from Baghdad Long Strange Trip Look & See Machines Man in Red Bandana Mr. Gaga: A True Story of Love and Dance Motherland Mully My Scientology Movie Naples ’44 Neary’s – The Dream at the End of the Rainbow Night School No Greater Love No Stone Unturned Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press Nowhere to Hide Obit Oklahoma City One of Us The Paris Opera The Pathological Optimist Prosperity The Pulitzer at 100 Quest Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman The Rape of Recy Taylor The Reagan Show Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan Risk A River Below Rocky Ros Muc Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World Santoalla School Life Score: A Film Music Documentary Served Like a Girl The Settlers 78/52 Shadowman Shot! The Psycho Spiritual Mantra of Rock Sidemen: Long Road to Glory The Skyjacker’s Tale Sled Dogs Soufra Spettacolo Step Stopping Traffic: The Movement to End Sex-Trafficking Strong Island Surviving Peace Swim Team Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton Take My Nose… Please! They Call Us Monsters 32 Pills: My Sister’s Suicide This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous Tickling Giants Trophy Twenty Two Unrest Vince Giordano – There’s a Future in the Past Voyeur Wait for Your Laugh Wasted! The Story of Food Waste Water & Power: A California Heist Whitney. Can I Be Me Whose Streets? The Work
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TIFF Kids International Film Festival Unveils 2017 Lineup, Opens with SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE

[caption id="attachment_21360" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Smurfs: The Lost Village[/caption] From April 7 through 23, TIFF Bell Lightbox welcomes the next generation of film lovers for the 20th anniversary of TIFF Kids, the premier festival for children ages 3 to 13. The TIFF Kids International Film Festival kicks off on Opening Night with the premiere of Kelly Asbury’s animated film Smurfs: The Lost Village. In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. The festival’s Closing Night screening is the Canadian premiere of the first four episodes of Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter, directed by Goro Miyazaki of the acclaimed Studio Ghibli and featuring a lead voiceover performance by Gillian Anderson. Other highlights include the 15th anniversary screening of the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award winner Whale Rider. This year’s shorts consist of 18 diverse programs showcasing over 125 Canadian and international live-action and animated films that address important issues faced by kids such as making new friends, exploring new cultures, and embracing diversity — in both families and circumstances. The films deal with a range of themes including resilience, empathy, exploration, home, and self-discovery.
FEATURES
Opening Night! Smurfs: The Lost Village dir. Kelly Asbury | USA | English Recommended for ages 6 and up. Recommended for ages 6 and up
Rabbit School (Die Häschenschule – Jagd nach dem goldenen Ei) dir. Ute Von Münchow-Pohl | Germany | English | North American Premiere Richard the Stork dirs. Toby Genkel, Reza Memari | Germany/Belgium/Luxembourg/Norway | English | North American Premiere Recommended for ages 7 and up Ballerina dirs. Eric Warin, Eric Summer | Canada/France | English Mr. Frog (Meester Kikker) dir. Anna van der Heide | Netherlands | Dutch | Canadian Premiere Rock Dog dir. Ash Brannon | USA/China | English | Toronto Premiere Recommended for ages 8 and up Born in China dir. Lu Chuan | USA | English | Canadian Premiere Revolting Rhymes dirs. Jakob Schuh, Jan Lachauer | United Kingdom | English | Canadian Premiere Recommended for ages 9 and up Cloudboy dir. Meikeminne Clinckspoor | Belgium/Sweden/Netherlands | Dutch, Swedish, Sami | International Premiere Ivan Tsarevitch and the Changing Princess (Ivan Tsarévitch et la Princesse Changeante) dir. Michel Ocelot | France | French | International Premiere Mr. Twister at the Pitch (Mees Kees langs de lijn) dir. Aniëlle Webster | Netherlands | Dutch | International Premiere Red Dog: True Blue dir. Kriv Stenders | Australia | English | Canadian Premiere Swallows and Amazons dir. Philippa Lowthorpe | United Kingdom | English The Day My Father Became a Bush (Toen mijn vader een struik werd) dir. Nicole van Kilsdonk | Netherlands/Belgium/Croatia | Dutch | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival Recommended for ages 10 and up Into the Rainbow dir. Norman Stone | China/New Zealand | English | International Premiere Not Without Us! (Nicht ohne uns!) dir. Sigrid Klausmann | Germany | German, Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Icelandic, Japanese, Laos, Nepali, Xhosa, Spanish | Canadian Premiere TRIO – The Hunt for the Holy Shrine (TRIO – Jakten på Olavsskrinet) dir. Eva F. Dahr | Norway | Norwegian, English | International Premiere Recommended for ages 11 and up At Eye Level (Auf Augenhöhe) dirs. Joachim Dollhopf, Evi Goldbrunner | Germany | German | Toronto Premiere

Fanny’s Journey (Le voyage de Fanny) dir. Lola Doillon | France/Belgium | French

Heartstrings (Le Coeur en braille) dir. Michel Boujenah | France | French | Toronto Premiere

Mountain Miracle – An Unexpected Friendship (Amelie rennt) dir. Tobias Wiemann | Germany/Italy | German | International Premiere

On Wheels (Sobre Rodas) dir. Mauro D’Addio | Brazil | Portuguese | North American Premiere

Room 213 (Rum 213) dir. Emelie Lindblom | Sweden | Swedish | North American Premiere Recommended for ages 12 and up Jeffrey dir. Yanillys Perez | Dominican Republic/France | Spanish | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

Little Wing (Tyttö nimeltä Varpu) dir. Selma Vilhunen | Finland/Denmark | Finnish | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

My Life As A Courgette (Ma Vie de Courgette), dir. Claude Barras | Switzerland/France | French | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

Plastic China (Su Liao Wang Guo) dir. Jiu-liang Wang | Hong Kong/China | Mandarin | Canadian Premiere SHORTS Reel Rascals: Animated Tales Reel Rascals: Animated Tales features a lively assortment of animated short stories from all around the world, carefully selected for young audiences. Join us for thrills, spills, and animal antics; whether that’s riding through the snow with a squirrel on a sled, stomping along with the elephants to the music of They Might Be Giants, or helping a little bird fend off a hungry caterpillar who’s trying to eat its favourite leaf. Recommended for ages 3 and up. A Rhino Named Paul: Everybody Sleeps, dirs. Dave Schlafman, Mike Annear | USA | English Elephants dirs. Jeremy Galante, David Cowles | USA | English Goats (Kozly) dir. Yekaterina Filippova | Russia | No dialogue | North American Premiere Hare’s Big Day (Zaku liela diena) dir. Dace Riduze | Latvia | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Hey Duggee: The Making Music Badge dir. Grant Orchard | United Kingdom | English | North American Premiere Judith dir. Henning M. Lederer | Germany/United Kingdom/Canada | No dialogue Kiwi & Strit: Wash day dir. Esben Toft Jacobsen | Denmark | No dialogue Konigiri-Kun Shopping (Konigiri-Kun Okaimono) dir. Mari Miyazawa | Japan | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Leaf (Feuille) dirs. Dante Zaballa, Vaiana Gauthier | Germany | No dialogue | North American Premiere Little Flower dir. Brigette Heffernan | Ireland | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Moonlight Storytime: Wooly Dragon dirs. Kirsten Lepore, Villamor Cruz, Jr. | USA | English | Toronto Premiere Seven Siblings dir. Julia Ocker | Germany | English | Toronto Premiere The Klumz dir. Neshama Ryman | USA | English | World Premiere The Little Bird and the Caterpillar (Der kleine Vogel und die Raupe) dir. Lena von Döhren | Switzerland | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere The Sled (Belchonok i sanki) dir. Olesya Shchukina | Russia | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Tiger dir. Kariem Saleh | Germany | No dialogue Reel Rascals Senior: Pack Your Bags! Bring your passport and travel the world in this series of international animated shorts that are certain to charm and entertain. Recommended for ages 5 and up. A hole (El agujero) dir. Maribel Suarez | Mexico | English | Canadian Premiere DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver dir. Kjell Boersma | Canada | No dialogue In a Cage (La Cage) dir. Loic Bruyere | France | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Joining Dots dir. Fiona Ryan | Ireland | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Kiwi & Strit: Football (Kiwi & Strit: Fodbold) dir. Esben Toft Jacobsen | Denmark | No dialogue Klump dirs. Johannes Weiland, Paul Cichon, Michael Bohnenstingl | Germany/United Kingdom | English | International Premiere Melia and Jo: Marshmallow Castle dirs. Jennifer Oxley, Billy Aronson, Brett Hall, Robert Powers | USA | English Silence! For Pete’s Sake! (Ruhe. ZumDonnerwetternocheinmal!) dir. Kai Pannen | Germany | German | Canadian Premiere Simon’s Cat: Bed Sheets dir. Simon Tofield | United Kingdom | No dialogue The Pocket Man (Le Petit Bonhomme de poche) dir. Ana Chubinidze | France/Switzerland/Georgia | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Unsung Hero dir. Lynton Levengood | South Africa | English | Canadian Premiere New York International Children’s Film Festival: Birthday Shorts Also celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, our neighbours to the south present a selection of new and classic shorts from their two-decade history, filled with stories of growth, change, transformation… and the occasional party hat! Recommended for ages 6 and up. Me Up Front Sometimes it takes a friend to solve a problem or realize ones’ potential. It’s only when we’re encouraged by those around us that we realize the true value of being ourselves. Recommended for ages 6 and up. DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver dir. Kjell Boersma | Canada | No dialogue Groomed dir. Samantha Armiger | USA | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Alike dirs. Daniel Martínez Lara, Rafa Cano Méndez | Spain | No dialogue Lost in Spring dir. Fred Leao Prado Wall | United Kingdom | English | Canadian Premiere Picke, dir. Kelsey Snelling | USA | English | Canadian Premiere Sammy Paramaribo: Bittersweet (Sammy Paramaribo: Bitterzoet) dir. Barbara Bredero | Netherlands, Dutch | Canadian Premiere The day I beat the sky (Le jour où j’ai battu le ciel) dir. Hughes Valin | France | French | Canadian Premiere Travel Companions dir. Alex Anderson-Kenney | USA | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Uka dir. Valle Comba Canales | Spain | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Through the Woods: A Snow Morning dir. J. Meeka Stuart | USA | English | Canadian Premiere Loot Bag Junior: Animation On Adventure! Embark on action-packed international adventures in several of the year’s best animated shorts! Whether soaring through the night skies in search of a moon gone missing, brewing magical potions in search of the mythical unicorn, or learning the most outrageously intricate secret handshake ever conceived, these shorts know no limits. Recommended for ages 7 and up. Animation (According to Children) dir. Daniela Monzon Leotaud | Canada | English, French | Toronto Premiere The Big Adventure of A Little Line (La grande histoire d’un petit trait) dir. Antoine Robert | France | French, English | North American Premiere The Lost Letter dir. Kealan O’Rourke | Ireland | English | Canadian Premiere Desert Critters dir. Li Wen Toh | USA | No dialogue Ampersand dir. Erin Shea | USA | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Peppercorn Babycorn Unicorn dir. Makoto Koji | Australia | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Moroshka dir. Polina Minchenok | Russia | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Moon of a Sleepless Night (Nemurenai Yoru no Tsuki) dir. Takeshi Yashiro | Japan | Japanese Once Upon a Blue Moon dir. Steve Boot | United Kingdom | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere The Secret Handshake dirs. Susie Webb, Jackson Read, | USA | No dialogue Closing Night! Ronja: The Robber’s Daughter Directed by Goro Miyazaki — and winner of the 2016 International Emmy Kids Award for Animation — Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter follows the adventures of a young girl raised in a mountain fort by her parents and a loving band of robbers. Based on Astrid Lindgren’s book of the same name, this all-new series beautifully blends the classic storytelling of the original with the magical visual style of Studio Ghibli. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Episode 1 – Born in the Storm dir. Goro Miyazaki | Japan | English | Canadian Premiere Episode 2 – First Trip to the Forest dir. Goro Miyazaki | Japan | English | Canadian Premiere Episode 3 – Fear in the Forest dir. Goro Miyazaki | Japan | English | Canadian Premiere Episode 4 – Hearing the Whistle dir. Goro Miyazaki | Japan | English | Canadian Premiere On the Inside Whether coming from within, or driven by a family member, these young protagonists find the confidence within to overcome self-doubt and thrive in challenging situations. Recommended for ages 8 and up. A Well Spent Afternoon (Dobro unovceno popoldne) dir. Martin Turk | Slovenia | Slovene | Canadian Premiere Amelia’s Closet dir. Halima Lucas | USA | English | International Premiere Broken Pines dir. Annie Pace | USA | English | International Premiere Catch (Agkistri) dir. Giorgos Evangelou | Cyprus | Greek | World Premiere Mr. & Mrs. Kim dir. Jaehuen Chung | USA | English, Korean | Canadian Premiere The Crab (Kakkutta) dir. Ishani Jayamaha | Sri Lanka/USA | Sinhalese | Canadian Premiere Soy Yo dir. Torben Kjelstrup | Denmark | Spanish The Reel Deal Offering a window into the real lives of young people from around the world, this collection of short documentaries tracks their progress on the precipice of changes that will affect their futures. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Chickens for Kimaru (Kippen voor Kimaru) dirs. Eriss Khajira, Anne van Campenhout | Netherlands | Dutch, Swahili, Kikuyu, English | International Premiere Emil and the Bridge Divers (Emil und die Brückenspringer von Mostar) dir. Friedemann Hottenbacher | Germany | Bosnian | North American Premiere KOJO: A Short Documentary dir. Michael Fequiere | USA | English | Canadian Premiere Safia’s Summer (Safia’s Zomer) dir. Els Van Driel | Netherlands | Dutch, Arabic | International Premiere Creativity Within The protagonists in this collection of short films use creativity to approach life’s challenges. Their quick thinking and creative problem solving inspire self confidence and acceptance. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Get Up Kinshasa! (Debout Kinshasa !) dir. Sébastien Maitre | France/Ivory Coast | French | North American Premiere Litterbugs dir. Peter Stanley-Ward | United Kingdom | English | Toronto Premiere Sleepover (La Invitación) dir. Susana Casares | Spain | Spanish | Toronto Premiere The Debt dir. Helen Flanagan | Ireland | English | Canadian Premiere Waterbaby dir. Pia Shah | India | English, Konkani | Toronto Premiere Loot Bag Senior: Inspiration x Imagination This international collection of films explores exciting worlds, including a mysterious cloudy mountain, the first magical twilight snowfall in a wintry forest, a wild chase in the streets of London, and a supernova explosion in the depths of infinite space. Jam-packed with laughs, adventures, and thrills, the films in Loot Bag Sr. invite you to experience creative inspiration and imagination. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Nimbus, The Cloud Catcher (Nimbus, o caçador de nuvens) dir. Marco Nick | Brazil | No dialogue | International Premiere Dust Buddies dirs. Beth Tomashek, Sam Wade | USA | No dialogue First Snow (První sníh) dir. Lenka Ivancikova | Czech Republic | English | Toronto Premiere Eagle Blue dir. Will Rose | United Kingdom | No dialogue Novae dir. Thomas Vanz | France | No dialogue Spring Jam dir. Ned Wenlock | New Zealand | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Nanuuq dir. Jim Lachasse | France | No dialogue | North American Premiere Jubile dirs. Coralie Soudet, Charlotte Piogé, Marion Duvert, Marie El Kadiri, Agathe Marmion | France | No dialogue | North American Premiere The Gossamer (Pautinka) dir. Natalia Chernysheva | Russia | Russian | North American Premiere Order from Chaos dir. Maxime Causeret | France | No dialogue Sausage (Wurst) dir. Josefine Häßler | Germany | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere The Cat and its Artist dir. Maike Mahira Koller | Germany | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere A Small Escape (Den lilla flykten) dir. David Sandell | Sweden | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Selfie Cat dirs. Geoffrey Assie, Emeline Bernard, Elsa Divet | France | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere The Heart of Matters Families come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing is universal: each member plays an important role in supporting the others. They try to solve problems for one another and support each other in difficult times. Each protagonist in this programme demonstrates this important quality. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Chalk (Tiza, Craie) dir. Jocelyne Flores | Mexico | Spanish | World Premiere Good Luck, Orlo! (Srečno, Orlo!) dir. Sara Kern | Slovenia/Croatia/Austria | Slovenian | North American Premiere Lost & Found dir. Liam O’Neill | Ireland | English | Canadian Premiere Mdudu Boy dir. Ella Smith | United Kingdom | Swahili | Canadian Premiere Prickly Pear (Bajtra tax-Xewk) dir. Alex Camilleri | Malta/USA | Maltese | English | World Premiere Shahzad dir. Haya Waseem | Canada | English, Urdu | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival A Place Here In a time where questions of nationality, citizenship, and belonging are at the height of debate on political stages, social media, and the news, film has the power to inform and share stories across the globe. This collection of short films explores how prejudice at home can lead to national conflict, as experienced by young people. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Baka dir. Arvid Klapper | Germany/France | Serbian, German | International Premiere DISPLACED dir. Christian Ghazal | Australia | English | International Premiere Halim dir. Werner Fiedler | Austria | Arabic, German | World Premiere THE SLED (LA SLITTA, LA LUGE) dir. Emanuela Ponzano | Italy | Italian | Canadian Premiere True to Me Pressure from classmates, family, and friends can make us feel isolated and rejected. These short films reveal the courage it takes to explore who you really are, regardless of what others may think or feel. Recommended for ages 11 and up. Crush dir. Rosie Westhoff | United Kingdom/Australia | English Invitation dir. Bo-seung Kang | South Korea | Korean | Canadian Premiere The Threshold (Daaravtha) dir. Nishant Roy Bombarde | India | Marathi, Hindi TRiGGA dir. Meloni Poole | United Kingdom | English | International Premiere Reflections Growing up is complicated. The characters and subjects in this programme are striving to assert their independence and explore their self-identity, but extenuating circumstances and self-doubt often get in the way. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Battalion To My Beat dir. Eimi Imanishi | Algeria/USA/Western Sahara | Arabic | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival Chenelva & Sheneeva dir. Léon Bellaart | Netherlands | Dutch | Canadian Premiere Frances Tiafoe dir. Kirk Fraser | USA | English | International Premiere Proxy dir. Eric Schuman | USA | English | International Premiere The Girl of 672K (Het meisje van 672k) dir. Mirjam Marks | Netherlands | Dutch, English | Canadian Premiere First Step Forward The protagonists in these films are all struggling with events in their pasts while attempting to move forward. The challenging circumstances will shape them — and give them the strength they need to regain a sense of control and take that first step forward. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Cast Off (Larguer les amarres) dir. Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers | Canada | French | Toronto Premiere Flying Rats (Vliegende Ratten) dir. Emiel Sandtke | Belgium | Dutch | North American Premiere Jellyfish dir. Danielle Bayliss | Canada | English | Canadian Premiere The Loudest Silence (El más fuerte de los silencios) dir. Eduardo Bertaina | Argentina | Spanish | Toronto Premiere When Grey Is a Colour (Grijs Is Ook Een Kleur) dir. Marit Weerheijm | Netherlands | Dutch | North American Premiere CANADA ON SCREEN In celebration of Canada’s sesquicentennial, TIFF continues its free year-long programme Canada on Screen – A co-production between TIFF and three core project partners — Library and Archives Canada, the Cinémathèque québécoise, and The Cinematheque in Vancouver. Highlights at TIFF Kids include the following FREE programming: a special screening of the Canadian classic coming-of-age mini-series Anne of Green Gables with an introduction by director Kevin Sullivan, a screening of The Dog Who Stopped the War and Canada on Screen: Short and Animated programme that showcases some of the best Canadian animated shorts such as The Sweater, Cameras Take Five, and Log Drivers Waltz. All of these titles appear on Canada on Screen’s TIFF’s Essential 150 list. In addition, TIFF Kids will host screenings of classic Canadian films on REEL CANADA’s National Canadian Film Day 150 on April 19th and construct Northern Lights, a collaborative arts project that will take over the third floor of TIFF Bell Lightbox. SELECT SCREENINGS FROM CANADA ON SCREEN’S ESSENTIAL 150 LIST Anne of Green Gables dir. Kevin Sullivan | Canada | English TIFF Kids welcomes director Kevin Sullivan to give an extended introduction onstage prior to a free screening of his Canadian classic coming-of-age mini-series Anne of Green Gables. Recommended for ages 7 and up. The Dog Who Stopped The War dir. André Mélançon | Canada | French, English Dubbed The Dog Who Stopped the War is the story of two rivalry groups from a rural Canadian town who find themselves in a week-long snowball war. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Canada on Screen: Short and Animated The Canada on Screen: Short and Animated programme showcases some of the best award-winning short films from Canada’s rich animated history. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Begone Dull Care, dirs. Norman McLaren, Evelyn Lambart | Canada | No dialogue Black Soul (Âme noire), dir. Martine Chartrand | Canada | French Cameras Take Five, dir. Steven Woloshen | Canada | No dialogue Canada Vignettes: Log Driver’s Waltz, dir. John Weldon | Canada | English The Sand Castle (La Château de sable), dir. Co Hoedeman | Canada | French The Sweater, dir. Sheldon Cohen | Canada | English When The Day Breaks, dirs. Amanda Forbis | Wendy Tilby | Canada | No dialogue MORE CANADA ON SCREEN HIGHLIGHTS AT TIFF KIDS Collaborative Art Project: Northern Lights by Molly Grundy Molly Grundy is a Toronto-based artist and designer who works in everything from stop-motion animation and illustration to costume design and installation. Molly is delighted to be teaming up with TIFF Kids in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday! This Canada on Screen collaborative art project will transform the third floor of the TIFF Bell Lightbox using 16mm animation filmstrips made by TIFF Kids participants. National Canadian Film Day 150 In celebration of National Canadian Film Day 150 (NCFD 150) on April 19th, TIFF will offer free screenings of Canadian features and shorts for elementary school students, including Sheldon Cohen’s beloved animated short The Sweater (1980). NCFD 150, a one-day, coast-to-coast celebration of Canadian cinema in honour of Canada’s sesquicentennial, is presented by REEL CANADA. For more information on other ways to participate in NCFD 150, visit CanFilmDay.ca. Watermark dirs. Jennifer Baichwal, Edward Burtynsky | Canada | English, Spanish, Hindi, Bengali, Mandarin Following their acclaimed collaboration Manufactured Landscapes, photographer Edward Burtynsky and filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal reunite to explore the ways in which humanity has shaped, manipulated and depleted one of its most vital and compromised resources: water. Recommended for Grades 6 to 8. The Legend of Sarila dir. Nancy Florence Savard | Canada | English Three young Inuit go in search of Sarila, a promised land, hoping to save their clan from famine. It is also the story of a fight to the death between two shamans, the young Markussi who finds Sarila and the aged Croolik who feels that his power is threatened. Recommended for Grades 3 to 5. Ballerina dirs. Eric Warin, Eric Summer | Canada/France | English, French Two best friends — one an aspiring ballet dancer, the other a fledgling inventor — pursue their dreams in 1880s Paris, in this charming animated adventure from Quebec. Recommended for ages 7 and up. The Good Ol’ Hockey Game 2017 marks both Canada’s 150th birthday and the centennial of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Maple Leafs, so it’s a natural opportunity to celebrate Canada’s Game on film. Hockey holds a special place in the hearts of many young Canadians – enthusiastic fans and aspiring players alike. It also teaches us valuable lessons in teamwork, cooperation, and perseverance. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Faith’s Goal, dir. Elizabeth Lee | Canada | English HA’Aki, dir. Iriz Paabo | Canada | No dialogue P.K. SUBBAN SKATE PAST THE NOISE SPECIAL EDITION (P.K. SUBBAN PATINER DROIT DEVANT ÉDITION SPÉCIALE), dirs. Alexandra Toulch, Jack Hackel | Canada | English The Rink, dir. Thelon Deming | Canada | English The Sweater, dir. Sheldon Cohen | Canada | English

CANADA À L’ÉCRAN

Toute l’année, le TIFF poursuit son programme gratuit Canada à l’écran, organisé à l’occasion du 150e anniversaire du Canada. Cette initiative est coproduite par le TIFF et trois partenaires de présentation : Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, la Cinémathèque québécoise et The Cinematheque (Vancouver). Parmi les présentations GRATUITES dans le cadre de TIFF Kids : une projection spéciale d’Anne… la maison aux pignons verts, minisérie canadienne classique sur le passage vers l’âge adulte, avec une introduction par son réalisateur Kevin Sullivan; une projection de La guerre des tuques; et un programme de courts métrages d’animation (Canada on Screen : Short and Animated) qui met en vedette certains des meilleurs films brefs canadiens, tels que Le chandail, Cameras Take Five et La valse du maître-draveur. Tous ces titres font partie de la liste des 150 œuvres essentielles Canada à l’écran du TIFF. De plus, TIFF Kids organisera des projections de classiques du cinéma canadien lors de la Journée du cinéma canadien 150 de REEL Canada. Il montera également le projet d’art collaboratif Northern Lights au troisième étage du TIFF Bell Lightbox.

PROJECTIONS SÉLECTIONNÉES : SELON LA LISTE DES 150 ŒUVRES ESSENTIELLES CANADA À L’ÉCRAN

Anne… la maison aux pignons verts réal. Kevin Sullivan, Canada, anglais Le festival TIFF Kids accueille Kevin Sullivan, qui montera sur scène pour introduire la projection gratuite d’Anne… la maison aux pignons verts, sa minisérie classique sur le passage vers l’âge adulte. Âge recommandé : 7 ans et +.

La guerre des tuques réal. André Mélançon, Canada, français doublé en anglais La guerre des tuques est l’histoire de deux groupes rivaux dans un village rural du Canada. Pendant toute une semaine, ceux-ci se livrent une bataille de boules de neige. Âge recommandé : 9 ans et +.

Canada on Screen : Short and Animated Le programme Canada on Screen : Short and Animated présente certains des meilleurs courts métrages primés de l’histoire du cinéma d’animation canadien. Âge recommandé : 9 ans et +.

Begone Dull Care (Caprice en couleurs) réal. Norman McLaren, Evelyn Lambart | Canada | sans dialogue

Black Soul (Âme noire) réal. Martine Chartrand | Canada | français

Cameras Take Five réal. Steven Woloshen | Canada | sans dialogue

Canada Vignettes : Log Driver’s Waltz (Canada vignettes : La valse du maître-draveur) réal. John Weldon | Canada | anglais

The Sand Castle (Le château de sable) réal. Co Hoedeman | Canada | français

The Sweater (Le chandail) réal. Sheldon Cohen | Canada | anglais

When The Day Breaks réal. Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby | Canada | sans dialogue

AUTRES ACTIVITÉS CANADA À L’ÉCRAN AU FESTIVAL TIFF KIDS

Projet d’art collaboratif : Northern Lights, par Molly Grundy Molly Grundy est une artiste et designer torontoise qui œuvre dans une foule de domaines, dont l’animation image par image, l’illustration, la conception de costumes et les installations artistiques. Molly est ravie de faire équipe avec TIFF Kids pour célébrer le 150e anniversaire du Canada! Ce projet d’art collaboratif de Canada à l’écran transformera le troisième étage du TIFF Bell Lightbox à l’aide de bandes de films d’animation en 16 mm créées par les participants de TIFF Kids.

Journée du cinéma canadien 150 Afin de célébrer la Journée du cinéma canadien 150, le TIFF présentera le 19 avril des projections gratuites mettant en vedette des longs et des courts métrages du Canada destinées aux élèves du primaire, dont le populaire court métrage d’animation Le chandail (1980) de Sheldon Cohen. La Journée du cinéma canadien 150 est présentée par REEL CANADA.

Watermark (Trajectoires) réal. Jennifer Baichwal, Edward Burtynsky | Canada | anglais, espagnol, hindi, bengali, mandarin Après leur collaboration triomphale sur Manufactured Landscapes, le photographe Edward Burtynsky et la documentariste Jennifer Baichwal refont équipe afin d’explorer comment l’humanité a façonné, manipulé et appauvri l’une de nos ressources les plus essentielles et fragiles : l’eau. Niveaux recommandés : 6e à 8e année.

The Legend of Sarila (La légende de Sarila) réal. Nancy Florence Savard | Canada | anglais Trois jeunes Inuits partent à la recherche de Sarila, une terre promise, dans l’espoir de sauver leur peuple de la famine. Ce film raconte aussi un redoutable combat entre deux chamans : le jeune Markussi qui trouve Sarila, et Croolik, un homme plus âgé qui sent que son pouvoir est menacé. Niveaux recommandés : 3e à 5e année.

Ballerina réal. Eric Warin, Eric Summer | Canada/France | anglais, français À Paris, dans les années 1880, deux meilleurs amis – une future ballerine et un aspirant inventeur – décident de réaliser leur plus grand rêve dans cette charmante aventure animée réalisée au Québec. Âge recommandé : 7 ans et +. Ce bon vieux hockey En plus de marquer le 150e anniversaire du Canada, 2017 correspond aussi au 100e anniversaire de la Ligue nationale de hockey et des Maple Leafs de Toronto. Il était donc naturel de célébrer le sport préféré des Canadiens au cinéma. Le hockey occupe une place inconditionnelle dans le cœur de plusieurs jeunes Canadiens, qu’ils soient des admirateurs ou des hockeyeurs eux-mêmes. C’est aussi un sport qui enseigne le travail d’équipe, la collaboration et la persévérance. Âge recommandé : 9 ans et +. Faith’s Goal, réal. Elizabeth Lee | Canada | anglais HA’Aki, réal. Iriz Paabo | Canada | sans dialogue P.K. SUBBAN SKATE PAST THE NOISE SPECIAL EDITION (P.K. SUBBAN PATINER DROIT DEVANT ÉDITION SPÉCIALE), réal. Alexandra Toulch, Jack Hackel | Canada | anglais The Rink, réal. Thelon Deming | Canada | anglais The Sweater (Le chandail), réal. Sheldon Cohen | Canada | anglais

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