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Kids in South Florida have their very own film festival and more when KidFlix Festival presents creative, hands-on entertainment to enrich the movie going experience. Award-winning Irish fiddler James Kelly performs before and after the spectacular animated feature,”The Secret of Kells.” Animals and endangered species are in the spotlight when kids customized teddy bear t-shirts, and then watch Antonio Banderas’ film “The Missing Lynx.” Older children create tolerance bracelets following the documentary/drama “Inside Hana’s Suitcase,” based on a true life story that shows what happens when prejudice and hatred are taken too far. Science experiments, magic and arts & crafts projects round out the day, and each activity is tailored to a specific age group, even for the youngest group attending the international shorts “Kids Flix Mix.” A cookies and milk reception follows the closing film. |
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In just one day kids can discover Celtic mythology, listen to the big bad wolf tell his side of the story, and follow along as children in Japan solve a mystery that took place in Europe over sixty years ago. On Sunday, April 11, KidFlix Festival presents the magical world of film with a full day of exclusive international animated features, an engaging documentary/drama and an innovative series of shorts that will educate and entertain the child in all. “Each screening targets a special age group,” explained Festival Director Ellen Wedner. “Through the genre of film, kids can explore important issues, ideas and lessons while being entertained. KidFlix Festival is designed to open windows into new worlds, and to stimulate a child’s creativity with exposure to films that he or she may not have another opportunity to see.” The festival kicks-off with a diverse collection of shorts called Kid Flix Mix, (3-8years) which includes the best work in animation from around the world. Among the dozen films are “Spot and Splodge” (Sweden) and their adventures in a snowstorm, and “The Bridge on the River Zzzeee,” (France) starring a team of industrious and inventive ants. The program is presented in English and includes musical and narrative works from Finland, Germany, Latvia, Switzerland and the UK, and offers a spectacular array of traditional and stop motion animation. Actor Antonio Banderas is the producer of “The Missing Lynx” (Spain), 8+ yrs., the 2008 Goya Award winner for Best Animation, about a cat and mouse or in this case a hunter and lynx tale that follows a rag-tag bunch of defenseless animals, who try to avoid becoming part of an eccentric millionaire’s collection of species. “Lynx” is Banderas’ first animated project in Spain, and he said, “Animated films are a big challenge for me and one that will help enrich the Spanish film industry as a whole.” A unique component of the Festival is the Springboard program, where a film has been selected for its value to carry the ideas from the screen into age appropriate, post-film activities. “Kids can walk right outside the theater and immediately express what they learned from the film through hand-on activities,” said Wedner. “Springboard offers kids a contemporary global perspective and comfortably presents tools to be learned for a better future. We want families to go home after the KidFlix experience and continue the discussions that hopefully, can lead to greater understanding and acceptance of all.” The Springboard film, Inside Hana’s Suitcase (11+ years) is a mystery told through the voices of children who live in Japan, Canada and Czechoslovakia. It begins with the delivery of a battered suitcase to Fumiko Ishioka, a passionate and tenacious director of the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center, and follows her quest to find out about Hana Brady, a name painted on the case. As the information unfolds, the young storytellers share their thoughts as they chronicle 60 years of history, and weave the past to the present. The film is based on Karen Levine’s internationally acclaimed book, “Hana’s Suitcase,” which has been translated into 40 languages, and is ‘a story meant to be told’ about what happens when prejudice and hatred are taken too far. Chaim Lieberman, RJE Judaic Studies Director at Temple Beth Am Day School and Religious School in Pinecrest, leads an audience discussion following the film. Community Partners Center for Advancement of Jewish Education and Bracelets of Tolerance also participate. The Secret of Kells (Ireland) 6+ yrs. closes the festival and is filled with fantasy and mythology in a sweeping tale about the power of imagination and faith to carry humanity through dark times. Set in a remote abbey in medieval Ireland, the story follows the adventures of Brendan, a young monk in training, as he works with an illuminator to finish the Book of Kells. With the barbarians closing in, will Brendan's determination and vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best defense against evil? The beautifully hand-drawn film is nominated for Best Animated Feature at this year’s Academy Awards. Award winning Fiddle Player James Kelly will play traditional Irish music before and after the screening. This film is sponsored by Kidding Around. Between all screenings the “KidFlix Activity Center” has age-appropriate, hands-on projects presented by Community Partners including the Miami Children’s Museum, The Deering Estate’s Living Classroom, Books & Books, Kidding Around and Arts For Learning. Neo pop artist Ed King designed the festival poster, using his combination of vibrant colors, black outlines, and signature stitching that has won over the hearts and minds of South Floridians. While Miami is his home base, Ed King has paintings, prints, and calendars in homes throughout the United States, Canada, England, France, Germany, Australia, Venezuela, and more. The University of Miami School of Communications is hosting the event, and all films are at the Bill Cosford Cinema, Sunday, April 11; beginning at 10 am with the last show beginning at 4:30pm. Tickets: $6 child (3-12yrs), $11 adult, $9 Seniors/ student (13-18yrs). Parking is free. Metrorail stop is the University Station. For more information call 305.877.877.7677 or log on to www.kidflixfestival.com |
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