南加最大規模的國際兒童電影節

**丫丫園地再送出一對星期六下午三點的門票給有興趣的家長，立即電郵參加抽獎吧 (5/11/2012 中午12點截止)！**

丫丫園地出席了上星期六的開幕首映，會場內座無虛席，超過250名小朋友和爸媽們一同享受了一個美好的下午。

我們更與這次活動的負責人和節目策劃談到了電影節的籌備過程，讓大家更能了解這項活動的主題和意義：

Q. What is the theme for this year's festival and how is it different from the previous years?
A. The theme for the festival is always "see the world and feed your mind." The programs in the festival are meant to open windows to the world and show children different ways to look at the human experience. Whether that means joyous animation for your children or more serious short films exploring issues for older kids, the aim is always to expand children's horizons through film — one of the most powerful means of storytelling every devised. 

Q. How did these films get selected for the film festival?
A. There is a lengthy submission process that begins each May prior to the festival. We issue a call for entries and festival guidelines, and actively solicit films that have won prizes and been a part of other respected international children's film festivals worldwide.  Program associates in other countries write to us with ideas. Then, a selection committee comprised of children, parents and film professionals sits down and watches more than 250 films submitted to the festival. All this work takes place in Seattle under the auspices of Northwest Film Forum and Children's Film Festival Seattle. The final programs are presented each January in Children's Film Festival Seattle to the public and groups of school children. From feedback with audience members, teachers and a 15-member Children's Jury, we finalize the programs for REDCAT. It's a long process of vetting that ensures REDCAT audiences will have a high quality experience.

Q. Which film(s) leave you the most impression?

A. I can't limit myself to only one or two! One of my favorite festival films, this year, is "The Adventures of Owen," a mix of animation and live action that tells the story of a young boy who overcomes some serious problem by using his imagination. Another favorite film is "The Ball," which tells the story of how two children form a bond to overcome bullying. I love both "What Makes Me Happy: Jose's Story" and "What Makes Me Happy: Tung's Story," because they so vividly show what life is like for children in Columbia and Vietnam. The entire program of Russian animation is simply gorgeous. And my single favorite animation of the festival is "The Little Red Plane," a very gentle film that uses wool and knitted objects to tell a very uplifting and happy story.

**click here to view the full screening calendar and schedule.

Q. Some of the films touch on topics that are quite mature for kids of a younger age, e.g. Pipi Pupu and Rosemary talks about loneliness and Who's There? is about competition and fear among friends.  How do you want the children audience to decipher these messages?

A. I think those topics are quite familiar to very young children. Much of early childhood is all about learning to regulate emotions, form empathetic bonds with other people and resolve conflicts in a positive way that benefits all.  So I think it is entirely appropriate for children's films to address these topics in a gentle way that helps reinforce good values. In the case of "Pipi, Pupu and Rosemary," the film is about a group of friends who are very, very important to each other. "Who's There" shows that it is much better to cooperate than compete, and that siblings should treat each other with respect and compassion. I hope the festival films that tell stories that parents and children can talk about after the festival to help process their own experiences as human beings. 

Q. In your view, what do you want parents and children to take away with them from this film festival?

A. Obviously, I hope that parents and children will enjoy themselves — laugh and experience awe at these stories. But beyond that, film is an art form, and I want children and parents to experience it as such. I hope their world view is broadened by hearing other languages and watching stories about children worldwide.  I hope they learn something, whether that is a fact about another country or an insight into their own experiences and personalities. I want the art of film to work its wonders on festival audiences. 

Each year REDCAT invites celebrated children's film curator Elizabeth Shepherd to bring together some of the very best short films for audiences of all ages. From adorably absurd animation to insightful live-action, the festival offers inspiring and playful films from around the globe—including Brazil, Colombia, Israel, Iran, Japan, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Taiwan and Vietnam—to raise the curtain on a world of celluloid wonder sure to inspire the whole family.

This is a great chance to share the theater with young audiences experiencing innovative filmmaking from 25 countries through short film programs that offer new perspectives on kid's lives, new insights into the issues they face, and surprising new delights of pure zany joy!

Video Highlights of the 2012 Film Festival:

The Festival is a fun-filled time that all of us at REDCAT look forward to. We hope you'll share this cinematic adventure with us, and with your friends and families.  This is a film festival that knows no age-limit!  

Screening Schedule

REDCAT International Children's Film Festival: Day Three

SATURDAY, MAY 12: Screening Schedule

12:00 PM | TOUCH MY HEART: GENTLE FILMS ON THE BIG SCREEN
Dive into the sumptuous animation and vivid live-action of these richly textured films that reveal gentle tales and sweet stories suited to the youngest of film fans. 

The Little Red Plane Charlotte Blacker, UK
Keenan at Sea Jeremy Galante and David Cowles, USA
Big Wash Kassandra Wellendorf, Denmark
Big Plans Irmgard Walthert, Switzerland
Dodu: The Cardboard Boy José Miguel Ribeiro, Portugal
Heartstrings Rhiannon Evans, UK
Mungge - Not Again! Irmgard Walthert, Adrian Flückiger and Claudia Röthlin, Switzerland
Chrysalis Aubrey Millen, Germany
How the Shammies Bathed Edmunds Jansons, Latvia
Pittanko! Motohiro Shirakawa, Japan
Neighbors Masaki Buma and Wakana Osawa, Japan
Beans Marly Reed, Canada 

All ages. Running time: 54 min.
Three films with English subtitles, in Danish, Japanese and German.

+++

1:30 PM | A JOURNEY BEYOND
Vibrant music and colorful cultures come to life in a cinematic sightseeing trip, with visits to Poland, Mexico, Vietnam, Italy and a magical New York City subway ride!

Light Thief Sophie De Coyere, UK
El Salon Mexico Paul Glickman, USA
Wycinanki Irena Rindos, USA
The Yellow Balloon Robert Castillo and Ben Thompson, USA
What Makes Me Happy: Tung's Film Annie Gibbs, Vietnam/UK
The Story of Little Paolo Nicolas Liguori, France/Belgium
New London Calling Alla Kovgan, USA 

Ages 7 and up. Running time: 67 min.
One film in French with English subtitles.

+++ 

3:00 PM | YES I CAN: KIDS COME OF AGE

**We are giving away one pair of tickets to this screening, e-mail us now to enter drawing // 丫丫園地再送出一對星期六下午三點的門票給有興趣的家長，立即電郵參加抽獎吧 (5/11/2012 中午12點截止)！

Celebrate amazing kids as they overcome adversity to forge friendships, embrace their heritages and discover the value of their unique place in the world.

Azza Saskia Gubbels, The Netherlands
The Letter Angel Manuel Soto, Puerto Rico
The Ball Katja Roberts, UK
The Road Home Rahul Gandotra, UK/India 

Ages 9 and up. Running time: 62 min
Three films with English subtitles, in Dutch, Spanish and Hindi.

These films deal with mild swearing, religious debate, bullying and running away. But positive messages and points for conversation abound!

REDCAT International Children's Film Festival: Day Four

SATURDAY, MAY 13: Screening Schedule

12:00 PM | FIRE AND ICE: NEW ANIMATION FROM RUSSIA
Experience a dazzling array of animation techniques as charming characters sled down snowy hills, traverse cityscapes, take to the open seas and find their way deep in the forest. Timeless stories are told with a distinctly Russian flair in these films from Moscow's famed SHAR Studio and Animation School.

Zina's Walk Natalia Malgina, 2004
Blue Pool Katya Maximova, 2004
Two Lambs Julia Daschinskaya, 2002
Coast Warning Alexandra Shadrina, 2011
Sea Battle Sergei Antonov, 2005
Caution! The Doors are Opening! Anastasia Zhuravleva, 2005
Jalil Anna Shepilova, 2010
Dangerous Walk Alena Oyateva, 2002
The Most Scary Animal Dmitry Rezchikov, 2008
Cello Tatiana Kurnaeva, 2008 

Ages 7 and up. Running time: 55 min.
Three films with English subtitles, in Russian.

+++
 

1:30 PM | WILD RIDE
Set sail with this fast-paced collection of live action and animated films from four continents, and find out why adventure makes the world go round!

Lost Dog Iberê Carvalho, Brazil
Brother Benoît Michel Dufourd, Switzerland
Battle of Novice Cheng-Chu Yu, Taiwan
Secret Club Ben Kadie, USA
What Makes Me Happy: Jose's Film Annie Gibbs, Colombia/UK
Pigeon: Impossible Lucas Martell, USA
The Farmer and the Robot Abdollah Alimorad, Iran
Chow Down Matthias Daenschel, Germany
When the Wind Turns Elena Madrid, Switzerland 

Ages 7 and up. Running time: 78 min.
One film with English subtitles, in French and Spanish.

+++ 

3:00 PM | FRIGHT DELIGHT
Thrill to hair-raising encounters with vampires, ghosts, creepy crimes and horrendous homework—for kids who love chills, goosebumps and scary stuff!

The Dukes of Bröxstônia Suren Perera, Australia
Specky Four Eyes Jean-Claude Rozec, France
Lost Places Toni Zhang, Canada
Chaos Yi-Lin Wu, Taiwan
Zero Nazanin Sobhan-Sarbandi, Iran
Roots of the Hidden Elizabeth Sevenoaks, UK
Arachmaninoff Rene Lange, Germany
Nimbus Machina Thomas Plaete, France/Belgium
Something Left, Something Taken Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata, The Netherlands
Dream Cleaners Craig S. Phillips, USA

Ages 9 and up. Running time: 67 min.
One film with English subtitles, in French.

No kidding, some of these films are scary!