Plastic China

At a recycling center in the Chinese countryside, two families survive between seas of plastic bottles and wrappers shipped from the U.S. and other countries; processing this waste has become their burden, and yet for their children, they dream of a better life.

Directed by Jiu-liang Wang

Genre(s) Documentary Film

Jean Tsien to be Feted with Tribute at Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

Jean Tsien.(Kristina Bumphrey)

Award-winning editor and producer Jean Tsien will be honored with the 2025 Full Frame Tribute at the 27th annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival taking place April 3-6, in Durham. The festival will also screen a curated selection from her significant body of work.

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BRIMSTONE AND GLORY , CITY OF GHOSTS and STRONG ISLAND Lead Cinema Eye Honors Nominations

[caption id="attachment_24386" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Brimstone & Glory[/caption] Three films – Viktor Jakovleski’s Brimstone & Glory, Matthew Heineman’s City of Ghosts and Yance Ford’s Strong Island – lead the 2018 Cinema Eye Honors nominations with 4 apiece. Five films received three nominations: Yuri Ancarani’s The Challenge, Jeff Orlowski’s Chasing Coral, Agnès Varda and JR’s Faces Places, Brett Morgen’s Jane and Jonathan Olshefski’s Quest. City of Ghosts, Faces Places, Quest and Strong Island are joined in the Outstanding Nonfiction Feature category by Frederick Weisman’s Ex Libris: The New York Public Library and Feras Fayyad’s Last Men in Aleppo. Kitty Green (Casting Jon Benet) joins the aforementioned Yuri Ancarani, Yance Ford, Matthew Heineman, Agnés Varda and JR, and Frederick Wiseman as a nominee in the Outstanding Achievement in Direction category. With his nomination, Frederick Wiseman becomes the first filmmaker in Cinema Eye history to be nominated three times for Outstanding Direction, having been previously nominated for La Danse – The Paris Opera Ballet and In Jackson Heights. He also received Cinema Eye’s 2012 Legacy Award for his 1967 classic Titicut Follies. Agnès Varda won the Outstanding Direction Award in 2010 for The Beaches of Agnés. Outstanding Direction nominees Kitty Green and Yuri Ancarani were both previously nominated for Outstanding Nonfiction Short, Green in 2016 for The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul and Ancarani was nominated twice for Il Capo (2012) and Da Vinci (2014). Chasing Coral received three nominations, including a nod for Outstanding Cinematography for director Jeff Orlowski, an Honor he won in 2013 for Chasing Ice. Stefan Nadelman, nominated for his Graphic Design work on the Grateful Dead documentary Long Strange Trip, won the same award in 2016 for Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck. Ten films were nominated for the annual Audience Choice Prize, which includes many of the year’s most popular and talked about nonfiction films, notably Brett Morgen’s Jane, Ceyda Torun’s Kedi, Amanda Lipitz’ Step, Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis’ Whose Streets? and Gethin Aldous and Jairus McLeary’s The Work. The winner in this category is voted on by the general public. This year’s Broadcast Nonfiction Filmmaking category includes a number of notable filmmakers, among them a previous Cinema Eye winner and a nominee. Fisher Stevens, a winner for Outstanding Production and Feature for The Cove (2010), is nominated this year with his co-director Alexis Bloom for Bright Lights: Starring Carrie FIsher and Debbie Reynolds (HBO). Ryan White, who was nominated for Production in 2015 for The Case Against 8, is up this year for his Netflix series The Keepers. Oscar nominee Ava DuVernay received her first Cinema Eye nomination for her Netflix film 13th, while veteran filmmaker Kristi Jacobson gets her first nod for the HBO feature doc Solitary: Inside Red Onion State Prison. This year’s winners will be announced at the 2018 Honors Awards Ceremony on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. The ceremony will be hosted, for the third consecutive year, by award-winning nonfiction filmmaker Steve James (The Interrupters, Life Itself, Hoop Dreams), who is a Cinema Eye nominee this year for his latest film, Abacus: Small Enough to Jail.
2018 Cinema Eye Honors Award Nominations

Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking
City of Ghosts Directed and Produced by Matthew Heineman Ex Libris: The New York Public Library Directed and Produced by Frederick Wiseman Faces Places Directed by Agnès Varda and JR (Director) | Produced by Rosalie Varda Last Men in Aleppo Directed by Feras Fayyad | Produced by Kareem Abeed, Stefan Kloos and Søren Steen Jespersen Quest Directed by Jonathan Olshefski | Produced by Sabrina Schmidt Gordon Strong Island Directed by Yance Ford | Produced by Joslyn Barnes and Yance Ford
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Kitty Green | Casting JonBenet Matthew Heineman | City of Ghosts Yuri Ancarani | The Challenge Frederick Wiseman | Ex Libris: The New York Public Library Agnès Varda and JR | Faces Places Yance Ford | Strong Island
Outstanding Achievement in Editing
Bill Morrison | Dawson City: Frozen Time Joe Beshenkovsky | Jane TJ Martin | LA92 Keith Fraase and John Walter | Long Strange Trip Lindsay Utz | Quest Francisco Bello, Daniel Garber and David Barker | The Reagan Show
Outstanding Achievement in Production
Nominees to be Determined | Brimstone and Glory Matthew Heineman | City of Ghosts Heino Deckert, Ai Weiwei and Chin-Chin Yap | Human Flow Kareem Abeed, Stefan Kloos and Søren Steen Jespersen | Last Men in Aleppo Brenda Coughlin, Yoni Golijov and Laura Poitras | Risk
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography
Tobias von dem Borne | Brimstone and Glory Yuri Ancarani, Luca Nervegna and Jonathan Ricquebourg | The Challenge Andrew Ackerman and Jeff Orlowski | Chasing Coral TBD | Human Flow Rodrigo Trejo Villanueva | Machines
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score
Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin | Brimstone and Glory Francesco Fantini and Lorenzo Senni | The Challenge Alex Somers | Dawson City: Frozen Time Philip Glass | Jane Dan Deacon | Rat Film Hildur Gudnadóttir and Craig Sutherland | Strong Island
Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design or Animation
Chad Herschberger | 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene Matt Schultz and Shawna Schultz | Chasing Coral Grant Nellessen | Citizen Jane: Battle for the City Daniel Gies and Emily Paige | Let There Be Light Stefan Nadelman | Long Strange Trip
Audience Choice Prize
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail |Directed by Steve James City of Ghosts | Directed by Matthew Heineman Chasing Coral | Directed by Jeff Orlowski Faces Places | Directed by Agnès Varda and JR Jane | Directed by Brett Morgen Kedi | Directed by Ceyda Torun Quest | Directed by Jonathan Olshefski Step | Directed by Amanda Lipitz Whose Streets? | Directed by Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis The Work | Directed by Gethin Aldous and Jairus McLeary
Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film
Viktor Jakovleski | Brimstone and Glory Anna Zamecka | Communion Rahul Jain | Machines Theo Anthony | Rat Film Yance Ford | Strong Island
Outstanding Achievement in Broadcast Nonfiction Filmmaking
13th Directed by Ava DuVernay | Produced by Ava DuVernay & Howard Barish | For Netflix: Executive Producers Ben Cotner, Adam Del Deo and Lisa Nishimura Abortion: Stories Women Tell Directed and Produced by Tracy Droz Tragos | For HBO Documentary Films: Executive Producer Sheila Nevins, Senior Producer Sara Bernstein Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds Directed by Alexis Bloom & Fisher Stevens | Produced by Alexis Bloom, Fisher Stevens, Julie Nives & Todd Fisher | For HBO Documentary Films: Executive Producer Sheila Nevins, Senior Producer Nancy Abraham Five Came Back Directed by Laurent Bouzereau | Produced by John Battsek & Laurent Bouzereau | For Netflix: Executive Producers Ben Cotner, Adam Del Deo and Lisa Nishimura The Keepers Directed by Ryan White | For Netflix: Executive Producers Ben Cotner, Jason Springarn-Koff and Lisa Nishimura Solitary: Inside Red Onion State Prison Directed and Produced by Kristi Jacobson | Produced by Katie Mitchell and Julie Goldman | For HBO Documentary Films: Executive Producer Sheila Nevins, Senior Producer Nancy Abraham
Spotlight Award
Donkeyote | Directed by Chico Pereira An Insignificant Man | Directed by Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle | Directed by Gustavo Salmerón Plastic China | Directed by Jiuliang Wang Stranger in Paradise | Directed by Guido Hendrikx Taste of Cement | Directed by Ziad Kalthoum
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking
Edith+Eddie | Directed by Laura Checkoway Heroin(e) | Directed by Elaine McMillion Sheldon Little Potato | Directed by Wes Hurley and Nathan M. Miller Polonaise | Directed by Agnieszka Elbanowska The Rabbit Hunt | Directed by Patrick Bresnan Ten Meter Tower | Directed by Maximilien Van Aertryck & Axel Danielson
The Unforgettables | Non-competitive Honor
Chanterelle Sung, Hwei Lin Sung, Jill Sung, Thomas Sung & Vera Sung |Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Bobbi Jene Smith | Bobbi Jene Abdalaziz Alhamza, Hamoud Almousa and Mohamad Almusari | For City of Ghosts Ola Kaczanowska | Communion Dolores Huerta | Dolores Dina Buno and Scott Levin | Dina Agnès Varda | Faces Places Daje Shelton | For Ahkeem Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov | Icarus Dr. Jane Goodall | Jane Jim Carrey | Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond Christine’a Rainey, Christopher “Quest” Rainey, PJ Rainey and William Withers | Quest Yance Ford | Strong Island Jennifer Brea | Unrest Brian, Charles, Chris, Dark Cloud, Kiki and Vegas | The Work
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STRAWBERRY DAYS and PLASTIC CHINA Win Golden Tine Awards at Devour! The Food Film Fest

[caption id="attachment_25361" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Strawberry Days[/caption] Eight Filmmakers from around the globe have become the winners of the coveted Golden Tine Awards as the seventh edition of Devour! The Food Film Fest comes to a close in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Strawberry Days, directed by Wiktor Ericsson, won Best Feature Drama for shining an intimate light on a part of the food industry we don’t often see up close; and Jiu-liang Wang’s Plastic China won Best Feature Documentary for tackling a massive global issue and bringing it right down to a human, in fact child size, level. Shingo Usami received the Golden Tine Award in the Best Short Drama category for Riceballs, a film built on small moments around food for a father and son. Best Short Documentary went to Patrick Bresnan for The Rabbit Hunt which follows a family on a rabbit hunt as sugar cane fields are being burned. Best Animation went to Fabio Friedli’s In a Nutshell, a clever and creative film that makes unexpected but legitimate links. Honourable mentions go to Aube Giroux for her film Modified and Kevin Kossowan for his short, Kill Day. The jurors were impressed by the way Giroux’s film wove together a political and personal story, ambitiously assembling an assortment of footage and techniques from home movies to interviews. The Devour! jury was incredibly moved by Kevin Kossowan’s Kill Day. Never has a butcher so eloquently summed up the somewhat conflicted, ongoing struggle to put ethically sourced meat on the table. Kossowan takes a topic so many people would rather look away from and brings it to life in a very poetic and poignant way. The Nourish Nova Scotia Youth Food & Film Challenge winner was also awarded at today’s brunch. Presented by CBC’s Tom Murphy, Christelinda Laureijs took home the $500.00 Nourish Nova Scotia Youth Food & Film Challenge prize to support a healthy eating initiative in their school/community for her film, Food for the Planet. Laureijs was also gifted a brand-new CBC prize, a $500 GoPro Kit. The eighth edition of Devour! will take place October 24 to 28, 2018.
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2017 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Award Winners, QUEST Wins Grand Jury Award

[caption id="attachment_19922" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Quest[/caption] The 2017 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Award Winners were announced this afternoon at the festival’s annual Awards Barbecue, and QUEST, directed by Jonathan Olshefski was awarded the Grand Jury Award.
2017 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Award Winners
The Reva and David Logan Grand Jury Award The Reva and David Logan Grand Jury Award was presented to QUEST, directed by Jonathan Olshefski. The jury gave an honorable mention to Last Men in Aleppo, directed by Feras Fayyad. The jurors, Chris Clements, Penelope Falk, and Yoruba Richen, stated, “We would like to recognize a film that documents the commitment of a heroic group of men who refuse to abandon their humanity even while living in dire circumstances. We are proud to award an Honorable Mention to Last Men in Aleppo. For the Grand Jury Prize, we chose a film that is a poignant character study that gave insight into the society we live in and the one we would like to work toward – the Grand Jury Prize goes to the beautifully edited, emotionally complex film, QUEST.” Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short The Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short was given to Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405, directed by Frank Stiefel. The Full Frame jury gave an honorable mention to The Great Theater by Sławomir Batyra. Full Frame is a qualifying event for nominations for the Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject and The Producers Guild of America Awards. The jurors, Claire Aguilar, Whitney Dow, and Aaron Schock, stated, “We awarded Honorable Mention to a beautifully rendered visual journey into the inner workings of the Grand Theatre. This film reminded us that sometimes the most effective, and affecting, storytelling requires no words at all. We are presenting the Jury Award for Best Short to Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405, a film for its incredibly intimate access to a remarkable subject and its ability to allow the viewer to profoundly enter into her world. The jury came to not only love the subject but the film’s ability to creatively marry her story to her art.” Full Frame Audience Award – Feature The Full Frame Audience Award – Feature was presented to Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer, directed by David Barba and James Pellerito. Full Frame Audience Award – Short The Full Frame Audience Award – Short was presented to Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405, directed by Frank Stiefel. Center for Documentary Studies Filmmaker Award The Center for Documentary Studies Filmmaker Award was presented to Strong Island, directed by Yance Ford. Representatives from the Center for Documentary Studies juried the prize: Randolph Benson, Wesley Hogan, Katie Hyde, Caitlin Johnson, Lynn McKnight, Dan Partridge, Rahima Rahi, Elena Rue, April Walton. Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award The Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award was presented to Strong Island, directed by Yance Ford. Provided by the Charles E. Guggenheim family, this prize honors a first-time documentary feature director. Patricia Benabe, Lyric R. Cabral, and Cynthia Hill participated on the jury. Full Frame Environmental Award The Full Frame Environmental Award was presented to Samuel in the Clouds, directed by Pieter Van Eecke. The jury gave an honorable mention to Plastic China, directed by Jiu-liang Wang. Full Frame Inspiration Award The Full Frame Inspiration Award was presented to Last Men in Aleppo, directed by Feras Fayyad. This award is presented to the film that best exemplifies the value and relevance of world religions and spirituality. Brad Barber, Jan Krawitz, and Sarah Masters participated on the jury. Full Frame President’s Award The Full Frame President’s Award was presented to The Earth Did Not Speak, directed by Javier Briones. Representatives on behalf of the President’s Office of Duke University juried the prize, awarded to the best student film. Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights The Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights was presented to QUEST, directed by Jonathan Olshefski. Provided by the Julian Price Family Foundation, this award is presented to a film that addresses a significant human rights issue in the United States. Representatives from the Kathleen Bryan Edwards family juried the prize: Anne Arwood, Laura Edwards, Clay Farland, Margaret Griffin, Pricey Harrison.
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Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Announces New Docs and Invited Program Lineups

[caption id="attachment_21639" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 116 Cameras[/caption] The 2017 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, revealed its NEW DOCS lineup of 48 films – 27 features and 21 shorts; and the Invited Program lineup featuring 23 films – 22 features and 1 short— screening out of competition. “We are proud to present 71 new titles at the festival this year,” said Full Frame artistic director Sadie Tillery. “These selections represent a wide breadth of current work, and illuminate the many forms that documentary film can take. Festival attendees are in for an extraordinary experience that is fitting of our 20th anniversary.” The 20th Annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival will be held April 6 to 9, 2017, in Durham, North Carolina.
NEW DOCS
116 Cameras (Director: Davina Pardo) Surrounded by a twinkling constellation of cameras, Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss records her stories for an interactive hologram project, preserving her experience for future generations. World Premiere All Skate, Everybody Skate (Director: Nicole Triche) Tucked away in picturesque Topsail Island, N.C., Miss Doris’s roller skating rink pops with energy as she leads her customers in games and skates, as she’s done for over 50 years. Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer (Directors: David Barba, James Pellerito) Praised for the sublime way he partners ballerinas, Marcelo Gomes is the center of this intimate film that takes us inside his world to chart a luminous 20-year career with American Ballet Theater. Asiyeh (Director: Leila Merat) An intelligent, no-nonsense bonesetter in northern Iran has been healing the people in her community for as long as anyone can remember. US Premiere Balloonfest (Director: Nathan Truesdell) In 1986, the United Way of Cleveland sets out to break a world record, releasing over a million balloons in the air, but the event has unexpected consequences when the lift off doesn’t go as planned. The Botanist (ботаник) (Directors: Maude Plante-Husaruk, Maxime Lacoste-Lebuis) This breathtaking short follows Raimberdi as he ingeniously constructs a hydroelectric generator to better survive in the mountains of Tajikstan. City of Ghosts (Director: Matthew Heineman) Captivating in its immediacy, City of Ghosts follows the journey of “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently,” a group of anonymous Syrian activists who band together to document the Islamic State’s crimes after the city is taken by ISIS. Depth Two (Dubina Dva) (Director: Ognjen Glavonić) This suspenseful illumination of long-buried war crimes, which began in 1999 with NATO bombings in Serbia, is told in a harrowing combination of narrated testimonies and present-day images of the sites in suburban Belgrade where the crimes took place. Donkeyote (Director: Chico Pereira) The grandest adventure of all is afoot for a Spanish septuagenarian and his mischievous dog and stalwart donkey, if only they can survive chronic arthritis, impertinent travel agents, and just one more bridge. Dysphoria: Inside the Mind of a Holocaust Survivor (Director: Joseph Edward) This poetic and visually arresting exploration of one man’s memories takes an inventive and sensory approach, immersing the viewer in his experiences. World Premiere The Earth Did Not Speak (La Tierra No Habló) (Director: Javier Briones) Survivors of the 1982 government-sponsored massacre in Rio Negro, Guatemala, share their stories as the camera quietly pans across seemingly tranquil places that once were home. Far Western (Director: James Payne) Fueled by music and personal charisma, Charlie Nagatani embodies Japan’s obsession with American country and western music. North American Premiere The Force (Director: Peter Nicks) A riveting, on-the-ground look at the Oakland Police Department during a period of intense scrutiny and reform, as a new sergeant aims to correct protocol in the wake of charges of misconduct and abuse. Funne – Sea Dreaming Girls (Le ragazze che sognavano il mare) (Director: Katia Bernardi) A whimsical tale of a group of elderly women in a small Italian village who get creative while trying to raise funds for a trip to the sea, which many of them have never seen. North American Premiere The Great Theater (Wielki Teatr) (Director: Sławomir Batyra) A meandering camera takes a graceful, evocative journey through the spaces and operations of Warsaw’s Grand Theatre as it presents the opera Madama Butterfly. Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405 (Director: Frank Stiefel) Animated drawings and extraordinary shots of Mindy Alper’s sculptures create a lovely portrait of the artist as she unabashedly examines her experiences with a mental disorder (that prevented her from speaking) while discussing art, love, and life. I’M OKAY (Director: Pia Lenz) Adult themes unfold through the perspective of young protagonists in this beautifully photographed feature that captures the experiences of two refugee families struggling to rebuild their lives in Germany. North American Premiere Island Soldier (Director: Nathan Fitch) Through the intimate stories of two soldiers, this film explores the high cost of opportunity. In the Federated States of Micronesia—an “associated state” of the U.S.—a high proportion of residents serve in the American military, with few resources to support their lives after duty ends. World Premiere The Kodachrome Elegies (Director: Jay Rosenblatt) A short and lyrical ode to Kodachrome film stock that reflects on family, loss, and the end of an era. Last Men in Aleppo (Director: Feras Fayyad) Urgent and harrowing, this film follows the White Helmets’ unrelenting efforts to save fellow Syrians. When air strikes devastate homes, they descend on the wreckage to rescue buried men, women, and children, refusing to leave their people or their city behind. The Last Pig (Director: Allison Argo) This lyrical film follows an introspective farmer as his beliefs undergo a dramatic shift, from believing that there are more humane ways to slaughter animals to questioning the premise of his life’s work. US Premiere Life in Riva (Tra ponente e levante) (Director: Lorenzo Giordano) An aging resident imparts the history of his seaside Italian town. His recollections, and a trove of impeccably photographed artifacts, reveal the evolutions of one place over time. North American Premiere Luis & I (Directors: Roger Gómez, Dani Resines) The wife of a human cannonball describes their life in the circus and the ways their love has endured decades of this itinerant lifestyle. Mommy’s Land (Director: Garret Atlakson) As the Cambodian government demolishes homes, and arrest counts and brutal police violence increase, elder resident “Mommy” and other neighborhood women prove to be peaceful, and vivacious, resisters. World Premiere My Father’s Film (Director: Priscilla Gonzalez Sainz) A daughter crafts a portrait of her father through the spaces he occupied, a meditation shaped by the tools he left behind. World Premiere One October (Director: Rachel Shuman) Filmed in the final weeks of the 2008 presidential campaigns, this city symphony follows a radio reporter as he takes to the streets to invite fellow New Yorkers to share their thoughts and opinions in a time of great uncertainty. World Premiere The Original Richard McMahan (Director: Olympia Stone) A visionary artist painstakingly recreates the masterpieces of others, producing thousands of intricate miniature replicas of works made across centuries, from Van Gogh’s The Starry Night to King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Plastic China (Director: Jiu-liang Wang) At a recycling center in the Chinese countryside, two families survive between seas of plastic bottles and wrappers shipped from the U.S. and other countries; processing this waste has become their burden, and yet for their children, they dream of a better life. QUEST (Director: Jonathan Olshefski) This thoughtful and incisive observation of the Rainey family over the course of ten years seamlessly captures pivotal life experiences as well as issues of poverty, politics, and gun violence in a North Philadelphia neighborhood. The Rain Will Follow (Director: Eugene Richards) From his chair in a retirement home, 90-year-old Melvin Wisdahl shares poignant recollections of wartime and strife in this deeply personal account set aglow by beautiful images of North Dakotan farmland. Samuel in the Clouds (Director: Pieter Van Eecke) Samuel Mendoza continues the family tradition of operating the ski lift in a Bolivian Andes resort, while a melting glacier below threatens everyone’s way of life. Shivani (Director: Jamie Dobie) In this unique tale of grief and healing, three-year-old Dolly Shivani, believed by her parents to be the reincarnation of their dead son, trains as an Olympic archer. World Premiere Slowerblack (Director: Jessica Edwards) A hand-poke tattoo artist in Brooklyn reflects on her unique style and approach to inking. World Premiere Socotra, the Island of Djinns (Socotra, la Isla de lod Genios) (Director: Jordi Esteva) In this extraordinary black-and-white account, a group of camel herders travel inland on the island of Socotra to avoid the rainy season while sharing nighttime tales of supernatural djinns. US Premiere Still Tomorrow (摇摇晃晃的人间) (Director: Jian Fan) In rural China, a determined, courageous woman balances her fame as an eloquent and frank poet with societal expectations around disability, independence, and family obligation. Storyboard P, a stranger in Sweden (Director: Matthew D’Arcy) In this mesmerizing vignette, a dynamic Brooklyn street dancer travels to Sweden to teach and perform—a journey that tests his devotion to the art form. Strong Island (Director: Yance Ford) Director Yance Ford rigorously unpacks the events surrounding the death of his brother, who was shot in 1992. Profoundly cinematic and deeply personal, their family story is a powerful examination of race in America. The Submarine (Director: Wenceslao Scyzoryk) A 95-year-old cinematographer returns to his lab each day to perfect his invention—a machine that repairs celluloid damage. The Swirl (El Remolino) (Director: Laura Herrero Garvin) As the largely abandoned town of El Remolino in Chiapas, Mexico, struggles to yield viable crops and keep its school open, two siblings remain to battle the rainy season and their painful childhood. They Took Them Alive (Director: Emily K. Pederson) In 2014, 43 students disappeared from a bus traveling in Iguala, Mexico. Their families seek answers as the official investigation comes to a troubling and suspicious halt. World Premiere Through the Repellent Fence (Director: Sam Wainwright Douglas) The artist collective Postcommodity examines lines, origins, and the people to whom land really belongs with a two-mile-long installation of inflatable spheres high above the U.S.–Mexico border. Timberline (Director: Elaine McMillion Sheldon) This short documents a West Virginia town caught between transitional pressures: an abandoned naval base is up for auction, and the NSA occupies a station just down the road. What will become of the locals for whom this place is home? World Premiere Tribal Justice (Director: Anne Makepeace) Two dynamic Native American women—chief judges for the state’s largest tribes—draw on tradition and village wisdom to help defendants rebuild their lives, encouraging healing over jail time and punishment. Two Worlds (Dwa Swiaty) (Director: Maciej Adamek) In this expressive study of family relationships, a daughter helps her two deaf parents navigate the world—as she has since she was three—and balances life between school, home, and self. Waiting for Hassana (Director: Ifunanya Maduka) Jessica, an escapee, recollects a friendship shattered by the 2014 kidnapping of 276 Nigerian girls by the Boko Haram. Winter’s Watch (Director: Brian Bolster) The longtime winter caretaker of the Oceanic Hotel off the coast of New England welcomes months of solitude, relishing the opportunity for introspection and productivity. Zaatari Djinn (Director: Catherine van Campen) This incandescent portrait documents four children in a refugee camp who are transformed by the light of imagination and possibility despite numerous hardships. North American Premiere Zuzana: Music Is Life (Directors: Peter Getzels, Harriet Getzels) The life story of eminent Czech harpsichordist Zuzana Ruzickowva transcends the personal in a deeply affecting look at the redemptive power of art throughout the Czech Republic’s turbulent 20th century. World Premiere
INVITED PROGRAM
500 Years (Director: Pamela Yates) A sweeping examination of resistance movements in Guatemala, including the recent uprising, and a chronicle of the country’s first trial for war crimes committed against the Mayan people. Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (Director: Steve James) In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the only U.S. bank accused of mortgage fraud was the family-owned Abacus Federal Savings in Manhattan’s Chinatown. This stunning film chronicles the Sungs’ legal battle as they fight to defend their business and their family name. Austerlitz (Director: Sergei Loznitsa) In vivid black and white, tourists and guides visit concentration camps. In observing their interactions, Austerlitz provides a powerful meditation on the (often imperfect) ways human beings connect, remember, and reflect. Bronx Gothic (Director: Andrew Rossi) With a blend of performance footage and penetrating discussions about her purpose and process, this film follows Okwui Okpokwasili as she tours her powerful one-woman play around the country. World Premiere Buzz One Four (Director: Matt McCormick) In 1964, a B-52 long-range bomber crashed on a Maryland mountainside with two thermonuclear bombs on board. This suspenseful account, crafted by the pilot’s grandson, skillfully weaves archival footage with personal recollections. The Challenge (Director: Yuri Ancarani) Miles of barren desert provide the backdrop for this surreal compilation of images: private jets, race cars, exquisite birds, and even a pet cheetah descend on the Qatar dunes to take part in a remote falconry tournament. Dina (Directors: Dan Sickles, Antonio Santini) At once tender and triumphant, humorous and hard, Dina introduces a woman in love as she navigates complex expectations in the days leading up to her impending nuptials. EXPRMNTL (Director: Brecht Debackere) This lively overview of the legendary EXPRMNTL film festivals held in Belgium from 1949 to 1974 interweaves archival footage with the recollections of the makers who defined experimental cinema. US Premiere The Good Postman (Director: Tonislav Hristov) An inspired citizen decides to run for mayor on a daring platform: that embracing the arrival of refugees may be the key to revitalizing his Bulgarian village. The Grown Ups (Director: Maite Alberdi) Adult students with Down Syndrome question their unknown futures. After attending the same school for decades, is there anything left to be discovered in this place, and what opportunities exist in the outside world? In Loco Parentis (Directors: Neasa Ní Chianáin, David Rane) For more than 40 years, John and Amanda Leyden have taught elementary-age children at a remote Irish boarding school. Filmed over the course of a year, the teachers bring wonder to their classrooms and roll with the joys and challenges that the changing seasons bring their young pupils. An Insignificant Man (Directors: Khushboo Ranka, Vinay Shukla) With unimaginable access, this film follows the turbulent campaign of Arvind Kejriwal, a businessman turned politician who formed India’s Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man’s Party) in 2012, as he runs for his country’s top office. Life – Instruction Manual (Leben – Gebrauchsanelitung) (Directors: Joerg Adolph, Ralf Buecheler) Featuring short excerpts from a wide range of classes, from childbirth to end-of-life care, this film reflects on the myriad ways that we depend on learning, particularly from others. North American Premiere Long Strange Trip (Director: Amir Bar-Lev) Personal interviews, performances, and never-before-seen footage create a multifaceted portrait of the Grateful Dead. They were more than a band. They were a movement. May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers (Directors: Judd Apatow, Michael Bonfiglio) Personal, rich, and from the soul, this film follows the equally soulful Avett Brothers as they record a new album, reflect on the creative process, and navigate strong ties while managing lives spent on the road. Project X (Directors: Laura Poitras, Henrik Moltke) Rami Malek and Michelle Williams understatedly narrate guidelines from a top-secret NSA handbook, as the viewer travels from stark and isolated spots in the National Business Park to a windowless skyscraper in downtown Manhattan. Purple Dreams (Director: Joanne Hock) This film follows six students at the Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, N.C., who thrive as performers in the first-ever high school musical production of The Color Purple while grappling with difficult and stressful issues in their own lives. World Premiere STEP (Director: Amanda Lipitz) This inspiring film follows three members of the Lethal Ladies step-dance team at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women. With the support of their intrepid coach and an uncompromising counselor, they are determined to attend college. TAKE EVERY WAVE: The Life of Laird Hamilton (Director: Rory Kennedy) In sparkling cinematography and intimate interviews, this epic look at the surfing legend’s life in and out of the waves is also a no-holds-barred illustration of one man’s dedication to continually reigniting his passion. Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities (Director: Stanley Nelson) A monumental, essential, and compelling survey of the history and cultural significance of HBCUs in America. This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous (Director: Barbara Kopple) Gregory Lazzarato to Gregory Gorgeous to Gigi Gorgeous—family members and millions of followers support the makeup and beauty YouTube star before, during, and after her transition. Trophy (Director: Shaul Schwarz, Co-Director: Christina Clusiau) This revelatory and exquisitely photographed investigation into conservation practices and big game hunting invites nuanced scrutiny and debate. Whose Streets? (Director: Sabaah Folayan, Co-Director: Damon Davis) This unflinching story of the Ferguson uprising is told by the activists who were there, chronicling the birth of a new generation of resisters in America.
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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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