Tito and the Birds (Tito e os Pássaros)

  • MIRAI, TITO AND THE BIRDS, ISLE OF DOGS Among Nominees for 46th Annie Awards

    [caption id="attachment_32260" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Tito and the Birds / Tito e os Pássaros Tito and the Birds / Tito e os Pássaros[/caption] The nominations were announced today for the 46th Annual Annie Awards™ recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation with the year’s Best Animated Feature nominations include: Early Man, Incredibles 2, Isle of Dogs, Ralph Breaks The Internet and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Best Animated Feature-Independent, spotlighting features with a much smaller distribution footprint than major studio releases, include: Ce Magnifique Gâteau!, MFKZ, Mirai, Ruben Brandt, Collector and Tito and the Birds. The Annie Awards™ cover 36 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Feature-Independent, Special Productions, Commercials, Short Subjects, Student Films and Outstanding Individual Achievements, as well as the honorary Juried Awards. The winners will be announced at a black tie ceremony on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Juried Awards will also be presented honoring unparalleled achievement and exceptional contributions to animation. Three Winsor McCay Award recipients have been selected by the ASIFA-Hollywood Board of Directors for their exemplary industry careers – Academy Award-winning director, animator and art director, Ralph Eggleston; Frank Braxton (posthumously), the first African-American animator, animation director and guild president; and casting director, voice director and voice actress Andrea Romano. The June Foray Award will be presented to veteran animator, Adam Burke (posthumously) for his significant and benevolent impact on the animation community. Ton Roosendaal, Dutch software developer and film producer, will accept the Ub Iwerks Award for Blender Open Source Animation Software; and a Certificate of Merit will be presented to dedicated ASIFA volunteer, Jason Jones.

    46th Annie Awards Nominations

    Annie Award for Best Animated Feature

    Early Man Aardman Animations Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studios Isle Of Dogs Fox Searchlight Pictures / Indian Paintbrush / American Empirical Pictures Ralph Breaks The Internet Walt Disney Animation Studios Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sony Pictures Animation

    Annie Award for Best Animated Independent Feature

    Ce Magnifique Gâteau ! Beast Animation, Vivement Lundi !, Pedri Animation MFKZ Ankama / Studio 4ºC Mirai Studio Chizu Ruben Brandt, Collector Hungarian National Film Fund Tito and the Birds Bits Productions, Split Studio

    Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production

    Back to the Moon Google Spotlight Stories, Google Doodles, Nexus Studios Mary Poppins Returns Walt Disney Studios The Emperor’s Newest Clothes HBO / Starburns Industries The Highway Rat Magic Light Pictures

    Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject

    Grandpa Walrus Caïmans Productions Lost & Found Wabi Sabi Studios SOLAR WALK Nørlum Untravel Production: Film House Baš Čelik, Serbia Co-production: BFilm, Bratislava / Your Dreams Factory, Bratislava Weekends past lives productions

    Annie Award for Best Virtual Reality Production

    Age of Sail Google Spotlight Stories, Broad Reach Pictures Battlescar AtlasV Crow: The Legend Baobab Studios Mind Palace Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH Moss Polyarc

    Annie Award for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Commercial

    Goldfish at the Fair Stoopid Buddy Stoodios Greenpeace ‘There’s a Rang-Tan In My Bedroom’ Passion Animation Studios Grinch / 40 / Olympics Spot Illumination JD.com, ‘Joy and Heron’ Passion Pictures The Fearless Are Here Nexus Studios

    Annie Award for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children

    Ask the StoryBots JibJab Bros. Studios for Netflix Dinotrux: Supercharged DreamWorks Animation Television Hey Duggee Studio AKA PJ Masks Frog Box Entertainment One Tumble Leaf Amazon Studios and Bix Pix Entertainment

    Annie Award for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Children

    Hilda Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury Filmworks Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny DreamWorks Animation Television Little Big Awesome Amazon Studios Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nickelodeon Animation Studio Tales of Arcadia: Trollhunters DreamWorks Animation Television

    Annie Award for Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production

    Big Mouth Netflix Bob’s Burgers 20th Century FOX Television/Bento Box Entertainment BoJack Horseman Tornante Productions, LLC for Netflix Human Kind Of Cartuna, Facebook Watch The Venture Bros. Adult Swim / Titmouse, Inc.

    Annie Award for Best Student Film

    A Blink of An Eye Anke Kletsch Best Friend Luce Grosjean FACING IT Sam Gainsborough Hors Piste Luce Grosjean Sister Siqi Song

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production

    DreamWorks Theatre Presents Kung Fu Panda DreamWorks Animation Nominees: Zach Glynn, Chyuan Huang, Michael Losure, K.C. Ong, Alex Timchenko Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nickelodeon Animation Studio Nominees: Jeffrey Lai SuperMansion Stoopid Buddy Stoodios Nominees: Mike Spitzmiller, Steve Gallant, Iain Collins, Daniel Craven, Lynda Rollins Tales of Arcadia: Trollhunters DreamWorks Animation Television Nominees: David M.V. Jones, Vincent Chou, Clare Yang Watership Down 42 / Biscuit Entertainment with Netflix Nominees: Philip Child, Nilesh Sardesai

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an an Animated Feature Production

    Early Man Aardman Animations Nominees: Howard Jones, Dave Alex Riddett, Grant Hewlett, Pat Andrew, Elena Vitanza Chiarani Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation Sony Pictures Animation Nominees: Patrick Witting, Kiel Gnebba, Spencer Lueders, Joe Pepper, Sam Rickles Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Greg Gladstone, Tolga Göktekin, Jason Johnston, Eric Lacroix, Krzysztof Rost Next Gen Baozou with Alibaba Pictures Inc. in association with Tangent Animation for Netflix Nominees: So Ishigaki, Graham Wiebe Ralph Breaks The Internet Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Cesar Velazquez, Marie Tollec, Alexander Moaveni, Peter DeMund, Ian J. Coony

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    Age of Sail Google Spotlight Stories, Broad Reach Pictures Nominees: Sikand Srinivas Back to the Moon Google Spotlight Stories, Google Doodles, Nexus Studios Nominees: Lucas Vigroux Hilda Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury Filmworks Nominees: Scott Lewis Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure Walt Disney Television Animation Nominees: Juliane Martin Tumble Leaf Amazon Studios and Bix Pix Entertainment Nominees: Dan MacKenzie

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production

    Early Man Aardman Animations Nominees: Laurie Sitzia Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studio Nominees: Lance Fite Isle of Dogs Fox Searchlight Pictures / Indian Paintbrush / American Empirical Pictures Nominees: Jason Stalman Ralph Breaks The Internet Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Vitor Vilela Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sony Pictures Animation Nominees: David Han

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production

    Avengers: Infinity War Marvel Nominees: Paul Story, Sidney Kombo-Kintombo, Eteuati Tema, Jacob Luamanuvae-Su’a, Sam Sharplin Christopher Robin Walt Disney Pictures Nominees: Arslan Elver, Laurent Laban, Kayn Garcia, Claire Blustin, Marc-André Coulombe Mary Poppins Returns Walt Disney Pictures Nominees: Chris Sauve, James Baxter, Sandro Cleuzo Paddington 2 StudioCanal, Heyday Films, Marmalade Films Ltd Nominees: Pablo Grillo, Laurent Laban, Kyle Dunlevy, Stuart Ellis, Liam Russell The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Walt Disney Studios Nominees: Richard Oey, Adrien Annesley, Allison Orr, Wei Liang Yap, Shan Hao

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Video Game

    God of War Santa Monica Studio Nominees: Erica Pinto, Mehdi Yssef, Bruno Velazquez GRIS Nomada Studio Nominees: Adrian Miguel, Adrian Garcia, Adrian Miguel Marvel’s Spider-Man Insomniac Games Nominees: Bobby Coddington Moss Polyarc Nominees: Richard Lico Shadow of The Tomb Raider Square Enix Nominees: David Hubert, Jacob Gardner, Giovanni Spinelli, Marco Foglia, Jean-Philippe Chaurette

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    Age of Sail Google Spotlight Stories, Broad Reach Pictures Nominees: Bruno Mangyoku Niko and the Sword of Light Amazon Studios Nominees: Jim Bryson Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure Walt Disney Television Animation Nominees: Amanda Jolly The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle DreamWorks Animation Television Nominees: Chris Mitchell The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle DreamWorks Animation Television Nominees: Keiko Murayama

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production

    Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Matt Nolte Mary Poppins Returns Walt Disney Studios Nominees: James Woods Next Gen Baozou with Alibaba Pictures Inc. in association with Tangent Animation for Netflix Nominees: Marceline Tanguay Ralph Breaks The Internet Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Ami Thompson Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sony Pictures Animation Nominees: Shiyoon Kim

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    Ask the StoryBots JibJab Bros. Studios for Netflix Nominees: Evan Spiridellis Disney Mickey Mouse Disney Television Animation Nominees: Eddie Trigueros Niko and the Sword of Light Amazon Studios Nominees: Sung Jin Ahn SuperMansion Stoopid Buddy Stoodios Nominees: Nick Simotas Tales of Arcadia: 3Below DreamWorks Animation Television Nominees: Guillermo del Toro, Rodrigo Blaas

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production

    Early Man Aardman Animations Nominees: Nick Park Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation Sony Pictures Animation Nominees: Genndy Tartakovsky Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Brad Bird Ralph Breaks The Internet Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Rich Moore, Phil Johnston Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sony Pictures Animation Nominees: Bob Persichetti , Rodney Rothman , Peter Ramsey

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    Back to the Moon Google Spotlight Stories, Google Doodles, Nexus Studios Nominees: Mathieu Alvado Disney Mickey Mouse Disney Television Animation Nominees: Christopher Willis Elena of Avalor Disney Television Animation Nominees: Tony Morales, John Kavanaugh, Craig Gerber, Silvia Olivas, Rachel Ruderman Tangled: The Series Walt Disney Television Animation Nominees: Alan Menken, Glenn Slater, Kevin Kliesch The Tom and Jerry Show Warner Bros. Animation Nominees: Vivek Maddala

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production

    Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Illumination Nominees: Danny Elfman, Tyler, The Creator Early Man Aardman Animations Nominees: Harry Gregson-Williams, Tom Howe, Harry Gregson-Williams, Tom Howe Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Michael Giacchino Ralph Breaks The Internet Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Henry Jackman, Alan Menken, Phil Johnston, Tom MacDougall, Dan Reynolds Smallfoot Warner Bros. Pictures / Warner Animation Group Nominees: Heitor Pereira, Karey Kirkpatrick, Wayne Kirkpatrick

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    Age of Sail Google Spotlight Stories, Broad Reach Pictures Nominees: Céline Desrumaux, Jasmin Lai Disney Mickey Mouse Disney Television Animation Nominees: Justin Martin Little Big Awesome Amazon Studios Nominees: Antonio Canobbio, Art Director, Howard Chen, Background Layout , Ivan Louey, Background Layout Supervisor, Crystal Yoori Son, Background Paint Niko and the Sword of Light Amazon Studios Nominees: Antonio Canobbio, Art Director, Bobby Walker, Background Paint, Michelle Rhee, Background Layout, Richard Chang, Background Paint, Joseph Martinez, Background Layout The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle DreamWorks Animation Television Nominees: Chris Mitchell, Chris Turnham, Tor Anut, DanBob Thompson, Aaron Spurgeon

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production

    Early Man Aardman Animations Nominees: Matt Perry, Richard Edmunds Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation Sony Pictures Animation Nominees: Scott Wills Isle of Dogs FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES INDIAN PAINTBRUSH AMERICAN EMPIRICAL PICTURES Nominees: Adam Stockhausen , Paul Harrod Mary Poppins Returns Walt Disney Studios Nominees: jeff turley Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sony Pictures Animation Nominees: Justin K. Thompson

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    Ben 10 Cartoon Network Studios Nominees: Will Patrick Big Hero 6: The Series Walt Disney Television Animation Nominees: Trey Buongiorno Disney Mickey Mouse Disney Television Animation Nominees: Ramirez Ramos Alonso Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nickelodeon Animation Studio Nominees: Kevin Molina-Ortiz Star vs. The Forces of Evil Walt Disney Television Animation Nominees: Sabrina Cotugno

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production

    Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Illumination Nominees: Habib Louati Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Dean Kelly Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Bobby Alcid Rubio Mary Poppins Returns Walt Disney Studios Nominees: Ovi Nedelcu Ralph Breaks The Internet Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Michael Herrera

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    BoJack Horseman Tornante Productions, LLC for Netflix Nominees: Will Arnett F is for Family Wild West Television in association with Gaumont Television for Netflix Nominees: Debi Derryberry Pete the Cat Amazon Studios, Alcon Television Group, LLC Nominees: Juliette Donenfeld Skylanders Academy Activision Blizzard Studios Nominees: Patrick Warburton Unikitty Warner Bros. Animation Nominees: Tara Strong

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production

    Early Man Aardman Animations Nominees: Eddie Redmayne Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Holly Hunter Isle of Dogs Fox Searchlight Pictures / Indian Paintbrush / American Empirical Pictures Nominees: Bryan Cranston Next Gen Baozou with Alibaba Pictures Inc. in association with Tangent Animation for Netflix Nominees: Charlyne Yi Ralph Breaks The Internet Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Sarah Silverman

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    Big Mouth Netflix Nominees: Emily Altman Craig of the Creek Cartoon Network Studios Nominees: Matt Burnett, Ben Levin, Shauna McGarry, Jeff Trammell, Tiffany Ford Hilda Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury Filmworks Nominees: Stephanie Simpson Star vs. The Forces of Evil Walt Disney Television Animation Nominees: Dominic Bisignano, Aaron Hammersley, Amy Higgins, John Infantino, Daron Nefcy We Bare Bears Cartoon Network Studios Nominees: Mikey Heller , Sang Yup Lee, Louie Zong

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production

    Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Brad Bird Mirai Studio Chizu Nominees: Mamoru Hosoda, Mamoru Hosoda, Stephanie Sheh Ralph Breaks The Internet Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Phil Johnston, Pamela Ribon Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sony Pictures Animation Nominees: Phil Lord , Rodney Rothman Teen Titans Go! to the Movies Warner Bros. Animation Nominees: Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    Big Hero 6: The Series Walt Disney Television Animation Nominees: Charles Jones, Joe Molinari, Dao Le, Vartan Nazarian, David Vazquez Puppy Dog Pals Wild Canary Animation / Disney Junior Nominees: Adam Rickabus SpongeBob SquarePants Nickelodeon Animation Studio Nominees: Estrella Miyakawa Capin, Christopher Hink, Bob Tomlin, Rick Dominicus Tales of Arcadia: 3Below DreamWorks Animation Television Nominees: John Laus, Graham Fisher The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants DreamWorks Animation Television Nominees: Steve Downs, John Wall, Adam Smith, Collin Erker

    Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production

    Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Illumination Nominees: Chris Cartagena Incredibles 2 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Stephen Schaffer, ACE, Anthony J. Greenberg, Katie Schaefer Bishop Ralph Breaks The Internet Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Jeremy Milton, Fabienne Rawley, Jesse Averna, John Wheeler, Pace Paulsen Ruben Brandt, Collector Hungarian National Film Fund Nominees: Milorad Krstic, Marcell Laszlo, Laszlo Wimmer, Danijel Daka Milosevic Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sony Pictures Animation Nominees: Bob Fisher , Andrew Leviton, Vivek Sharma

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  • Film Society of Lincoln Center Announces 3rd My First Film Fest for Young People

    [caption id="attachment_32260" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Tito and the Birds / Tito e os Pássaros Tito and the Birds / Tito e os Pássaros[/caption] The third edition of My First Film Fest, a weekend-long showcase of classic and new cinematic works that speak to the experiences and curiosity of young people, returns November 9 to 11, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. My First Film Fest is the Film Society’s home for the next generation of movie lovers, nurturing the sense of discovery, excitement, and education of the film festival experience while shining a light on the indelible significance of the moving image. This year’s slate includes premieres of outstanding recent offerings from around the world alongside repertory classics that exemplify turning points in film history. Featuring free educational screenings as well as in-cinema discussions and introductions, this is an opportunity for children, teenagers, and young adults alike to actively engage with our growing film culture. Highlights of this year’s festival include the New York premiere of Gustavo Steinberg, Gabriel Bitar, and André Catoto’s dazzling animated film Tito and the Birds, with Steinberg in person; richly human documentary A Polar Year, a fish-out-of-water tale of a young man who leaves his family farm to teach Danish in remote Greenland, with director Samuel Collardey in person for the New York premiere; Wanuri Kahiu’s Rafiki, a tender tale of young love and acceptance shot on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya; Naoko Yamada’s A Silent Voice, based on the manga by Yoshitoki Oima; and a selection of clever and thought-provoking narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated short films for audiences 13 and up. Featured repertory titles include Yasujirô Ozu’s Good Morning, a playful, loose remake of the director’s silent classic I Was Born, But…; Don Siegel’s mid-century sci-fi classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, presented on 35mm; Czech animator Jiri Trnka’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in a special encore screening from FSLC’s Trnka retrospective The Puppet Master; and the captivating, visually stunning Porco Rosso, from Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki. FILMS & DESCRIPTIONS A Polar Year / Une année polaire Samuel Collardey, France, 2018, 94m Inuktitut and Danish with English subtitles New York Premiere In search of adventure, 28-year-old Anders leaves his family farm in Denmark to teach Danish in a remote village of Greenland. Cue cultural whiplash, as the bewildered Anders finds himself an outsider in a forbidding tundra where his rambunctious students would rather be dog-sledding than stuck in school. But gradually, as he immerses himself in the traditions of the Inuit community—and bonds with a boisterous 8-year-old boy—Anders discovers his place in the village. Showcasing the dazzling, otherworldly beauty of Greenland’s arctic vistas, this richly human documentary celebrates our capacity for cross-cultural connection. Ages 11 and up Friday, November 9, 6:30pm (Q&A with director Samuel Collardey) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=830ginDdFTE Rafiki Wanuri Kahiu, Kenya, 2018, 83m English and Swahili with English subtitles Strikingly shot on the streets of Nairobi, this tender tale of young love and acceptance is a vibrant, hopeful look at growing up gay in contemporary Kenya. Though their fathers are political rivals, Kena and Ziki—spirited, ambitious young women determined to make something of their lives—forge a connection that leaves their friends and neighbors gossiping. As their friendship deepens into a romance, they must withstand the virulent homophobia that surrounds them while remaining true to themselves and their love. Suffused with gorgeously expressive light, color, and music, Rafiki is a bold statement of compassion from one of Kenyan cinema’s brightest talents. Ages 15 and up Friday, November 9, 9:00pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAWuMuumDQ A Midsummer Night’s Dream / Sen noci svatojanske Jiri Trnka, Czechoslovakia, 1959, 35mm, 72m English version Revered as the pioneer of a remarkable new genre of animation that utilized puppets, Czech animation master Jiri Trnka had enormous impact on the development of animation in his country, and he inspired the careers of an entire generation of filmmakers around the globe. In this bewitching adaptation of Shakespeare’s romantic fairy tale—perhaps Trnka’s masterpiece—the love lives of mortals and forest sprites mingle during one magical moonlit evening. For his final feature, Trnka deploys the full force of his imagination and technical wizardry to evoke the story’s enchanted-woodlands setting, a garlanded, pastel dreamscape awash in starry-night atmosphere, colorful festoons of flowers, and exquisitely wrought fantasy creatures. All ages Saturday, November 10, 5:00pm Encore screening selected from our April retrospective The Puppet Master: The Complete Jiri Trnka. Tito and the Birds / Tito e os Pássaros Gustavo Steinberg, Gabriel Bitar & André Catoto, Brazil, 2018, 73m Portuguese with English subtitles New York Premiere As a pandemic of (literally) paralyzing mass hysteria sweeps over his city—fueled by fear-mongering corporations, TV news, and politicians—one brave boy, 10-year-old Tito, sets out to stop the madness. Could the secret to saving his community really lie with the pigeons with whom he’s formed a unique bond? What could the birds be trying to tell humanity? Dazzlingly animated in a bold, painterly style, this child’s-eye parable for our anxiety-ridden times issues a much-needed reminder: we are infinitely stronger when we refuse to let fear divide us. A Shout Factory release. Ages 11 and up Saturday, November 10, 6:45pm (Q&A with director Gustavo Steinberg) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aMR9dWWar0 Porco Rosso / Kurenai no buta Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 1992, 94m Japanese with English subtitles The great Hayao Miyazaki brings his wondrous visual imagination to this rip-roaring blend of comic strip thrills, classic Hollywood-style romance, and boisterous comedy. In a storybook vision of 1930s Italy, the eponymous porcine aviator soars across the skies as he tangles with bumbling air pirates, takes on a spirited young woman as his sidekick, and vies with an upstart rival for ultimate daredevil bragging rights. Interweaving rollicking action with heartfelt pro-feminist, anti-fascist themes, Porco Rosso is a captivating, one-of-a-kind aerial adventure as only Studio Ghibli could dream up. All ages Saturday, November 10, 8:45pm Good Morning / Ohayô Yasujirô Ozu, Japan, 1959, 35mm, 94m Japanese with English subtitles Graced with an impish wit and endearing sweetness, this charmer from Yasujirô Ozu is a playful look at the often humorous misunderstandings between adults and children. A loose remake of the director’s silent classic I Was Born, But…, Good Morning tells the story of two brothers who find creative ways to rebel when their parents refuse to buy them a television set—a simple premise that yields rich insights into intergenerational family dynamics. Boasting glorious color cinematography and unabashedly silly gags, Good Morning makes for a perfect introduction to one of cinema’s consummate masters. Ages 11 and up Sunday, November 11, 2:00pm A Silent Voice / Koe no katachi Naoko Yamada, Japan, 2017, 130m Japanese with English subtitles From one of Japan’s most fascinating and daring young animators comes a poignant film about challenges of teenage life. Based on the manga by Yoshitoki Oima and winner of the Japanese Movie Critics Award for Best Animation, A Silent Voice follows deaf sixth grader Shoko and her classmate Shoya, who, years later, has to make amends for the time he spent bullying her. Naoko Yamada’s thoughtful coming-of-age story is both gorgeously hand-drawn and emotionally engaging to firmly establish the filmmaker as an auteur to follow for many years to come. Ages 13 and up Sunday, November 11, 6:00pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfK6UgLra7g Invasion of the Body Snatchers Don Siegel, USA, 1956, 35mm, 80m This mid-century sci-fi classic was produced on a famously small budget with minimal practical effects, yet sixty-plus years later it retains its power to thrill and chill young and older audiences alike. A near-palpable sense of uncanny dread looms over the story of Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy), a young doctor who gradually discovers that the inhabitants of his sleepy California town are being replaced with mysteriously inhuman replicates. Adapted from a serialized novel, Siegel’s film would spawn several Hollywood remakes over the decades—a testament to its enduring legacy as an influential landmark. Ages 11 and up Sunday, November 11, 8:30pm Shorts Program (TRT: 84m) This collection of clever and thought-provoking narrative, documentary, experimental, and animation films is sure to captivate viewers of ages 13 and up. Sunday, November 11, 4:00pm The Tesla World Light Andrew Rankin, Canada, 2017, 8m New York Premiere Inspired by actual events in Nikola Tesla’s life, this electrifying short draws as much from the conventions of experimental film as it does from animated documentary. Who’s Who in Mycology Marie Dvorakova, Czech Republic/USA, 2017, 15m Czech with English subtitles New York Premiere Marie Dvorakova’s Student Academy Award–winning film is a visually exhilarating and funny flight of fancy about a young trombone player whose humdrum night takes a turn for the bizarre. Nada Gabriel Martins, Brazil, 2017, 27m Portuguese with English subtitles U.S. Premiere A high school senior (Clara Lima) boldly questions the conventional wisdom of her parents and peers in this refreshing coming-of-age story about what it means to live a meaningful life. War of the Worlds Manuel Brito, Portugal, 2018, 14m North American Premiere Using a bizarre cutout animation style, Manuel Brito offers an uncanny interpretation of Orson Welles’s infamous War of the Worlds radio play. Familiar Tale / Relato Familiar Sumie García, Mexico/Japan, 2018, 20m New York Premiere This moving documentary about memory and loss documents the life of Yukio Saeki, an 86-year old photographer who has been living in Mexico since 1955.

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  • 2018 Toronto International Film Festival Unveils TIFF Kids and TIFF Next Wave Films for Young Audience

    [caption id="attachment_31543" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]The Elephant Queen The Elephant Queen[/caption] The Toronto International Film Festival did not forget the kids with the TIFF Kids and TIFF Next Wave selections, guaranteeing something for film lovers of all ages.  This year’s selection includes The Elephant Queen, a fascinating documentary following the elephant Athena and her herd, narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor; Icebox, based on an award-winning short of the same name that follows a twelve-year-old Honduran, Oscar, who faces the harsh reality of navigating immigration after fleeing gang violence in his hometown; Minuscule – Mandibles From Far Away, a story of a young ladybug who works to save the rainforest after being swept away on a grand adventure; and the stunningly animated Tito and the Birds, which follows ten-year-old Tito on his quest to learn more about birds as his town faces a strange new affliction that makes people sick when they get scared. This year’s TIFF Next Wave lineup features 11 titles selected by the TIFF Next Wave committee, a group of young film aficionados responsible for picking the films they believe their peers would most enjoy. From the Ethiopian civil war ( Fig Tree) to the Closing Night Film of Midnight Madness ( Diamantino), Next Wave champions new and diverse voices. This year’s lineup boasts five films helmed by women and eight feature filmmaking debuts, including the world premieres of Jonah Hill’s nostalgic coming of age film, Mid90s, and Jasmin Mozaffari’s skillfully tenacious Firecrackers, made by an almost entirely female key crew. The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.

    TIFF Kids

    The Elephant Queen Victoria Stone, Mark Deeble | United Kingdom/Kenya World Premiere (TIFF Docs) Recommended for ages 7+ Icebox Daniel Sawka | USA World Premiere (Discovery) Recommended for ages 11+ Minuscule – Mandibles From Far Away ( Minuscule – Les Mandibules du Bout du Monde) Thomas Szabo, Hélène Giraud | France World Premiere (Contemporary World Cinema) Recommended for ages 6+ Tito and the Birds ( Tito e os Pássaros) Gustavo Steinberg, Gabriel Bitar, André Catoto | Brazil North American Premiere (Discovery) Recommended for ages 8+

    TIFF Next Wave selection

    Diamantino Gabriel Abrantes, Daniel Schmidt | Portugal/France/Brazil North American Premiere (Midnight Madness) Fig Tree Aäläm-Wärqe Davidian | Israel/Germany/France/Ethiopia World Premiere (Discovery) Firecrackers Jasmin Mozaffari | Canada World Premiere (Discovery) Giant Little Ones Keith Behrman | Canada World Premiere (Special Presentations) Girl Lukas Dhont | Belgium Canadian Premiere (Discovery) The Grizzlies Miranda de Pencier | Canada World Premiere (Special Presentations) The Hate U Give George Tillman, Jr. | USA World Premiere (Gala Presentations) Mid90s Jonah Hill | USA World Premiere (Special Presentations) Phoenix ( Føniks) Camilla Strøm Henriksen | Norway/Sweden World Premiere (Discovery) Rafiki Wanuri Kahiu | Kenya/South Africa/France/Lebanon/Norway/Netherlands/Germany/USA North American Premiere (Discovery) Teen Spirit Max Minghella | United Kingdom World Premiere (Special Presentations)

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  • 46 Breakout Films Selected for 2018 Toronto International Film Festival Discovery Program

    [caption id="attachment_31512" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Screwdriver Screwdriver[/caption] The Toronto International Film Festival revealed the 46 breakout films from 50 international storytellers that will screen in its 2018 Discovery lineup,  marking a record year for the program. Hailing from 37 different countries, these promising new filmmakers present works that explore identity, complex portraits of women, and youth as they struggle to navigate a fragile world. Twenty-nine of the films will make their World Premieres at the Festival. The lineup stands out for the impressive number of Asian and Eastern European films — accounting for 26% of the Discovery program — and the number of films directed by women. Opening this year’s Discovery program will be Bai Xue’s The Crossing, a captivating Chinese film following the journey of an ordinary teenage girl who becomes entangled in illicit activities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVd56lm-8Cs The program’s highlights include: Adina Pintilie’s innovative Touch Me Not, winner of the Golden Bear and Best First Feature in Berlin; Syrian director Soudade Kaadan’s The Day I Lost My Shadow, a bewitching film on the Syrian conflict; Nino Zhvania’s Parade, the only Georgian feature in the selection; Lithuanian director Marija Kavtaradze’s touching Summer Survivors; Han Ka-ram’s charming Our Body; and renowned Nigerian actor Genevieve Nnaji’s exciting directorial debut, Lionheart. This year’s lineup also stands out for the strong portrayals of sensitive and witty women within it. Among them are Arturo Infante’s sci-fi comedy The Extraordinary Journey of Celeste García , starring popular actor María Isabel Díaz; Mexican director Lila Avilés’ The Chambermaid; Arash Lahooti’s Orange Days; Nikos Labôt’s Her Job; and Woman at War by Icelandic director Benedikt Erlingsson, which has already earned critical praise. Putting the struggles of young characters front and centre, the Discovery program includes UK actor-director Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s Farming, which tells the story of a Nigerian immigrant facing a racist skinhead gang in 1980s England; Carmel Winters’ beautiful Float Like a Butterfly; Lukas Dhont’s Girl; Daniel Sawka’s Icebox; Rosanne Pel’s Light as Feathers; Darko Štante’s Consequences; Ash Mayfair’s The Third Wife; Imogen Thomas’ poetic Emu Runner; Ethiopian–Israeli filmmaker Aäläm-Wärqe Davidian’s Fig Tree; and Joël Karekezi’s The Mercy of the Jungle, showcasing the breakthrough performance of TIFF International Rising Star Stéphane Bak. Risk-takers and daring artists also stand out in this year’s slate, as in Wanuri Kahiu’s Rafiki, an electric female LGBTQ+ love story set in Kenya, where homosexuality is illegal; Sameh Zoabi’s border-crossing dark comedy Tel Aviv on Fire; Ognjen Glavonić’s The Load; and Irish brothers Andy and Ryan Tohill’s suspenseful thriller The Dig. Bold Australian filmmaker Benjamin Gilmour will present the groundbreaking Jirga . To close this bright selection, Palestinian director Bassam Jarbawi will introduce North American audiences to his exceptional first feature film, Screwdriver, a gripping drama that examines the psychological impact of the Palestinian–Israeli conflict. The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018

    2018 Toronto International Film Festival Discovery Program

    aKasha hajooj kuka | Sudan/South Africa/Qatar/Germany North American Premiere ANIARA Pella Kågerman, Hugo Lilja | Sweden World Premiere Blind Spot (Blindsone) Tuva Novotny | Norway International Premiere The Chambermaid (La Camarista) Lila Avilés | Mexico World Premiere Complicity (Kazenoki Wa Koto No Youni) Kei Chikaura | Japan/China World Premiere Consequences (Posledice) Darko Štante | Slovenia/Austria World Premiere Discovery Opening Film The Crossing (Guo Chun Tian) Bai Xue | China World Premiere The Day I Lost My Shadow (Yom Adaatou Zouli) Soudade Kaadan | Syria/France/Qatar/Lebanon North American Premiere The Dig Andy Tohill, Ryan Tohill | United Kingdom North American Premiere An Elephant Sitting Still (Da Xiang Xi Di Er Zuo) Hu Bo | China Canadian Premiere Emu Runner Imogen Thomas | Australia World Premiere ENDZEIT – EVER AFTER (ENDZEIT) Carolina Hellsgård | Germany World Premiere The Extraordinary Journey of Celeste García (El Viaje Extraordinario de Celeste García) Arturo Infante | Cuba/Germany World Premiere Farming Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje | United Kingdom World Premiere Fig Tree Aäläm-Wärqe Davidian | Israel/Germany/France/Ethiopia World Premiere Float Like a Butterfly Carmel Winters | Ireland World Premiere Girl Lukas Dhont | Belgium Canadian Premiere Gwen William McGregor | United Kingdom World Premiere Helmet Heads (Cascos Indomables) Neto Villalobos | Costa Rica/Chile World Premiere Her Job Nikos Labôt | Greece/France/Serbia World Premiere Icebox Daniel Sawka | USA World Premiere Jirga Benjamin Gilmour | Australia North American Premiere Light as Feathers Rosanne Pel | Netherlands World Premiere Lionheart Genevieve Nnaji | Nigeria World Premiere The Load (Teret) Ognjen Glavonic | Serbia/France/Croatia/Iran/Qatar North American Premiere Manta Ray (Kraben Rahu) Phuttiphong Aroonpheng | Thailand/France/China North American Premiere The Mercy of the Jungle Joël Karekezi | Belgium/France/Germany North American Premiere Orange Days (Rooz-haye Narenji) Arash Lahooti | Iran World Premiere Our Body (A-wol Ba-di) Han Ka-ram | South Korea World Premiere Parade (Aglumi) Nino Zhvania | Georgia/Russia World Premiere Phoenix (Føniks) Camilla Strøm Henriksen | Norway/Sweden World Premiere Rafiki Wanuri Kahiu | Kenya/South Africa/France/Lebanon/Norway/Netherlands/Germany/USA North American Premiere Saf Ali Vatansever | Turkey/Germany/Romania World Premiere Discovery Closing Film Screwdriver (Mafak) Bassam Jarbawi | Palestine/USA/Qatar North American Premiere Summer Survivors Marija Kavtaradze | Lithuania World Premiere Tel Aviv on Fire Sameh Zoabi | Luxembourg/France/Israel/Belgium North American Premiere The Third Wife Ash Mayfair | Vietnam World Premiere Tito and the Birds (Tito e os Pássaros) Gustavo Steinberg, Gabriel Bitar, André Catoto | Brazil North American Premiere Too Late to Die Young (Tarde para morir joven) Dominga Sotomayor | Chile/Brazil/Argentina/Netherlands/Qatar North American Premiere Touch Me Not Adina Pintilie | Romania/Germany/Czech Republic/Bulgaria/France North American Premiere Twin Flower (Fiore Gemello) Laura Luchetti | Italy World Premiere Woman at War (Kona fer í stríð) Benedikt Erlingsson | Iceland/France/Ukraine North American Premiere Previously announced Canadian titles in the Discovery programme include Akash Sherman’s Clara , Gwaai Edenshaw and Helen Haig-Brown’s Edge of the Knife, Jasmin Mozaffari’s Firecrackers, and Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein’s Freaks.

    TIFF DOCS

    Reason (Vivek) Anand Patwardhan | India World Premiere

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