Friday, October 06, 2006

Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival

Join us for the 2nd Annual Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival, October 6-15, 2006 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art! We will screen more than 100 films - including 19 world premieres - from 30 countries during two weekends. The movie menu includes full-length features, documentaries, live-action shorts and animated shorts. Also, animation workshops for all ages, and numerous special guests.Films are clustered for different age groups, with packaged programs for preschool age, ages 5 and older, 8 and older and teens.

To see the list of scheduled films and workshops, click on the schedule page. To see a detailed description of the films, click on the films page .Tickets are on sale now at the LACMA box office, or online at http://lacma.pmailus.com/pmailweb/ct?d=cwAJAAACMwAAyaM Click on "Film," then scroll down to the festival programs in the "I" section. The festival kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday Oct. 6 with the FREE 20th Anniversary Screening of the classic coming-of-age film Stand By Me. The 1986 film, directed by Rob Reiner, is the story of a group of boys who experience an unforgettable summer as they move toward adolescence. Based on a story by Stephen King, the film stars Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Jerry O'Connell, Corey Feldman and Kiefer Sutherland. Rob Reiner will introduce the film and answer questions following the screening! This event is free to the public, with first-come, first-served seating in the 600-seat Bing Theatre. Arrive early!

Starting the next morning, Saturday, Oct. 7, the festival will feature animated, live-action and documentary short films and full-length features, clustered for different age groups over two weekends. Programs for younger children ages 1 and older in the mornings will be followed by films for older children and teens in the afternoons. The festival will also offer themed animation workshops for all ages, taught by UCLA animation grad Maija Burnett, whose work has appeared in our past festivals, and who helped animate the film version of Curious George. Click on schedules and events at the top or bottom of this page for more information. Tickets for the workshops are on sale now.The festival features filmmaker appearances and special guests, with filmmakers taking questions from the audience after each program. Films will be presented in the beautiful Bing and Brown theaters. Highlights of the festival are many, including the new films from animation legend Bill Plympton and from famed Japanese animator Uruma Delvi. On Oct. 7, see the filmmaking debut of young Matthew Grillo Russell, whose father, professional filmmaker David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees) helped produce, and will be in attendance. Other celebrity guests to be announced soon.

On Oct. 14, the festival and KIDS FIRST! presents a special screening of the new 20th Century Fox family film Flicka, a remake of the classic story! Following the screening, KIDS FIRST! presents its annual awards show, honoring the best in children's film festival programs. In person, Keke Palmer, star of the film Akeelah and the Bee! Join us for the What Makes Me Happy films in the fest, short films featuring children from different countries. Also, the acclaimed Going to School in India programs, with children from India describing their daily school routines - more exciting and adventurous than most! In addition, the Beyond Borders: Personal Stories from a Small Planet films, written, shot and edited by teens from around the world. The festival is proud to present City of Angels: An EPFC Youth Documentary Project, with 20 students from the Echo Park Film Center exploring personal, family and community history, unique examinations celebrating 21st century life in Los Angeles. Back by popular demand, The Eva Saks Films: From Sesame Street to New York City, delightful short children's films directed by Sesame Street Workshop filmmaker Eva Saks. Also, plenty of short, entertaining films for the little ones! With films from USC to South Africa, from Iraq to Florida, from Egypt to Singapore, the festival is destined to entertain and inform.