TIFFG - Organizers of the Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children today announced the exciting line-up of films running April 12-18, 2008. Enriching, engaging and entertaining, Sprockets offers children and youth an opportunity to learn about film and cultural perspectives from around the world with a programme drawn from the best of international children’s cinema. New this year, festivalgoers can free enjoy on-site hands-on film-craft activities before and after screenings at Famous Players Canada Square. Tickets for the Family Programme are now available through the Official website sprockets.ca, by calling 416-968-FILM (toll free at 1-877-968-FILM) or visiting the TIFFG Box Office at the Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West (main floor, north entrance – Bay subway station). Tickets to the school screenings will be made available to the public on April 4, 2008.
“The focus of Sprockets is to offer audiences a cultural experience by providing diverse and quality programming,” said Elizabeth Muskala, Co-Director, Learning.
Allen Braude, Co-Director, Learning added, “By engaging children and youth through film, and promoting interaction with filmmakers and participation in Jump Cuts, juries and on-site activities, Sprockets embodies the future of Learning initiatives at Bell Lightbox.”
This year’s line-up features 68 films representing 26 countries and 15 languages. Audiences can explore the world through high quality of youth-oriented films from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Israel, Kenya, Latvia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and USA. The 11th edition of Sprockets also welcomes local and international guests including Helen Hood Scheer, Anna Justice, Mischa Kamp and Darius Weems. Festivalgoers will also have an opportunity to meet the Snow Queen. Tiffany Knight, star of The Snow Queen, a winner of an Alliance for Children and Television Award of Excellence, will be in attendance at the screening on April 12.
Sprockets’ selection of 26 Features is exceptional this year. Films include:
• Karla’s World Charlotte Sachs Bostrup, Denmark
Disappointed by her parents at Christmas and believing she has the worst family ever, Karla decides to run away and enjoy Christmas elsewhere. Over the course of the holiday, she learns to appreciate a family that, while not perfect, still has many loving qualities.
• Standing Alone Gholam-Reza Ramezani, Iran
Twelve-year-old Mohammad has written a story which has won first prize in the inter-school competition. In order to attend the award ceremony, he must overcome obstacles and stand up to authority figures who fail to listen to him or consider his needs.
• The Three Robbers Hayo Freitag, Germany
In order to avoid going to the dreaded orphanage run by a frightening “auntie”, clever and charming Tiffany devises a plan to stay with three robbers in their forest hideout. This animated fairytale will delight audiences of all ages with its witty script and bold use of colour.
• SOS – Summer of Suspense Arne Lindtner Næss, Norway
In this thrilling adventure on land and sea, Noora must hide a seal club abandoned by its mother and outsmart three drug smugglers who are determined to find a mysterious package that has gone missing.
• Leaps & Bounds Petter Næss, Sweden
Azad (Ali Abdulsalam), a young Kurdish refugee living in Sweden, must overcome new obstacles in order to reunite with his parents. This award-winning drama features an inspiring performance by Abdulsalam as a young person facing the challenges of being a refugee.
Once again, Sprockets presents the best of local and international short films, which are divided into three distinct programmes. Canadian Shorts celebrates the diverse home-grown talent across the nation, from animation to live action, and from comedy to drama. Loot Bag, a collection of outstanding animated films, offers thoughtful storytelling and plenty of laughs, and includes Giraffe in the Rain (Belgium/France, 2007), directed by Pacale Hecquet. A witty parable about the refugee experience, Giraffe in the Rain tells the a tale of a giraffe who, after being forced to leave her homeland, tries to build a new life in a less-than welcoming northern city inhabited exclusively by dogs. My Greatest Day Ever (Australia, 2007), directed by Mark Bellamy, follows Scotty as he discovers that giving his best effort when playing soccer may actually be more effective than always relying on luck. This film screens in Soccer Shorts, a programme about young soccer fans which explores diverse themes including the importance of trying your best, the immigrant experience and the unfair consequences of political dispute. Also screening in this programme is Every Day After 4 (Greece, 2007), directed by Angeli Andrikopoulou and Argyris Tsepelikas, the story of a young girl’s reluctance to play soccer because of her disability.
Sprockets’ Reel Rascals showcases films for Sprockets’ youngest audience members, children aged three to six. Amusing and charming Lotte from Gadgetville (Estonia/Latvia, 2006) directed by Janno Põldma and Heiki Ernits, follows inhabitants of Gadgetville as they learn judo and invent labour-saving devices. In The Crane and the Giraffe (Argentina, 2006), directed by Vladmir Bellini, it’s love at first sight when a shipyard crane glimpses a giraffe that is arriving by boat. Also presented in this programme are three episodes from much-loved 3D animation MuMuHug (Taiwan, 2006), directed by Vick Wang.
Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children offers children and youth the opportunity to learn about film and cultural perspectives from around the world. Through the power of film, Sprockets is helping to transform the way children and youth see the world. The 11th annual Sprockets runs from April 12-18, 2008, and includes a Family Programme (April 12-13) for ages three and up, on-site activities and a week-long School Programme (April 14-18) for students in Grades 1 through 12. Family Programme tickets are $6.60 per child and $10.61 per adult, Reel Rascals, The Snow Queen screening and Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase tickets are $6.60 per person (does not include GST, building fund fee or service charges). For more information visit sprockets.ca… [Full Story]
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