Now in its 14th year, FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festivalâ„¢ (RIIFF) will take place August 10-15, 2010. In its brief life span, the Festival has become a leading juried competition showcase for international independent filmmakers and their work.
Although many of the films are geared for adults–so plan a night out with out the kiddos–there are three film events George T. Marshall, Executive Director of the festival, recommends for families. I’m providing the list of film events below without my personal review since I have not seen any of the films yet. I do plan to take my two film-obsessed kids this week to see “Waking Sleeping Beauty” and one of the two days of shorts. I will let you know what they think after the films.
Waking Sleeping Beauty (See details below)
Wednesday, August 11th at 7 PM
Providence Place Mall
Cost: $10
Animation Showcase: RIIFFToons (See details below)
Thursday, August 12th at Noon
Veterans Memorial Auditorium
Cost: $8 for adults and $5 for kids
KidsEye International Film Festival KidsShorts (See details below)
Friday, August 13th at Noon
Veterans Memorial Auditorium
Cost: $8 for adults and $5 for kids
The MisInventions of Milo Weatherby
The Details:
Waking Sleeping Beauty – 86 min. U S A, 2009
Directed by Don Hahn
Wednesday, August 11th at 7 PM
Providence Place Mall
Cost: $10
Documentary. Waking Sleeping Beauty is no fairytale. It is a story of clashing egos, out of control budgets, escalating tensions… and one of the most extraordinary creative periods in animation history. Director Don Hahn and producer Peter Schneider, key players at Walt Disney Studios Feature Animation department during the mid1980s, offer a behind–the–magic glimpse of the turbulent times the Animation Studio was going through and the staggering output of hits that followed over the next ten years. Artists polarized between the hungry young innovators and the old guard who refused to relinquish control, mounting tensions due to a string of box office flops, and warring studio heads create the backdrop for this fascinating story told with a unique and candid perspective from those that were there. Through interviews, internal memos, home movies, and a cast of characters featuring Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Roy Disney, alongside an amazing array of talented artists that includes Don Bluth, John Lasseter, and Tim Burton, Waking Sleeping Beauty shines a light on Disney Animation’s darkest hours, greatest joys and its improbable renaissance.
Animation Showcase: RIIFFToons
Thursday, August 12th at Noon
Veterans Memorial Auditorium
Cost: $8 for adults and $5 for kids
A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation – 15 min. GERMANY, 2010
Directed by Stefan Leuchtenberg & Martin Wallner
When his father dies unexpectedly, a young man seeking to cope with his grief goes on a powerful emotional journey through time and space.
Barko – 8 min. U S A, 2010
Directed by Allison Craig
Barko is a lonely, unloved, and abused dog who has established himself as the unwilling clown of a circus run by poodles. His seemingly random fear of hot dogs is rationalized by flashbacks conveying a former owner who occupies his time tormenting the poor pup with the processed snack. Yet, in the end, Barko suddenly finds himself in the arms of a caring boy who shows him that he can experience a little love after all.
Death Row Diet – 3 min. U S A, 2009
Directed by Mike Salva & Tom Snyder-
Jonathan Katz plays a man who is on death row and Weight Watchers
Hazed – 2 min. CANADA, 2009
Directed by Jacquie Rushlow
When cute little dead birds start dropping out of a smoggy sky, a naive smoke-spewing factory discovers the toxic side effects of his own existence. Can the factory conquer his guilt in time to save the world?
Poppy – 10 min. New Zealand, 2009
Directed by James Cunningham
Poppy is set on France’s western front in World War One, Two New Zealand soldiers are trapped behind enemy lines. They find a baby in a muddy ditch, under its dead parents. One of the men wants to save it — the other does not. Based on true events, Poppy was written by the great-grandson of one of these soldiers
Skylight – 3 min, Canada, 2009
Directed by David Baas
An animated mock documentary about the ecological plight of penguins in the Antarctic, possibly foretelling cataclysmic results for the rest of the world.
The Gruffalo – 27 min. United Kingdom, 2009
Directed by Max Lang & Jakob Schuh
Featuring Helena Bonham Carter, John Hurt, Robbie Coltrane & Tom Wilkinson
A half hour animated film based on the classic picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. A magical tale of a mouse who takes a stroll though the woods. Encountering three predators who all wish to eat him – a fox, an owl and a snake – the plucky mouse has to use his wits to survive.
The Mouse That Soared – 6 min. U S A, 2009
Directed by Kyle Bell
A famous flying circus mouse reflects on his humble beginnings in this high-altitude adventure in aerodynamics.
Toothnapped – 5 min. U S A, 2010
Directed by George Dondero
For a six year old a loose tooth is a painful reminder that growing up can hurt. Lucky a tooth under a pillow produces a fiscal boon that can ease that pain. Toothnapped is an animated film about a young girl whose misadventure might not payout the financial reward she was looking for but maybe the opportunity to learn a life lesson.
Vaseline & Pepper – 5 min. Canada, 2010
Directed by Fraser Munden
An animated documentary about a baby-faced 12 year-old who comes up with an ingenious disguise in an attempt to get into a strip club.
Win Big – 5 min. U S A, 2010
Directed by Martha Grant
Amidst the ruins of a casino resort city, a high stakes game of blackjack between Fly and Centipede goes awry.
Yellow Cake – 8 min. Canada, 2009
Directed by Nick Cross
A fantastic funny animal cartoon featuring geopolitical bullying, social unrest, worker revolt, and some tasty yellow cakes.
Zero -12 min. Australia, 2009
Directed by Christopher Kezelos
Born into a world of numbers, an oppressed zero discovers that through determination, courage and love… nothing can be truly something.
KidsEye International Film Festival KidsShorts
Friday, August 13th at Noon
Veterans Memorial Auditorium
Cost: $8 for adults and $5 for kids
Flocons et carottes (Snowflakes And Carrots) – 4 min. CANADA, 2010
Directed by Samantha Leriche-Gionet
A little girl steals all the carrots she can find on snowmen.
The Gruffalo – 27 min. United Kingdom, 2009
Directed by Max Lang & Jakob Schuh
Featuring Helena Bonham Carter, John Hurt, Robbie Coltrane & Tom Wilkinson
A half hour animated film based on the classic picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. A magical tale of a mouse who takes a stroll though the woods. Encountering three predators who all wish to eat him – a fox, an owl and a snake – the plucky mouse has to use his wits to survive.
Paperboy – 30 min. U S A, 2009
Directed by Mark LaFleur
The story of a paperboy and a girl on his paper route, who are trying to meet face to face for the first time.
Capitan – 6 min. U S A, 2009
Directed by Diego Diaz
Junior uses his imagination to find closure in the death of his grandmother.
Fishing With Sam – 6 min. Norway, 2009
Directed by Atle Blakseth
Catching fish on the North Pole can be challenging. Some have more luck than others. The unfortunate ones may totally need a different fishing approach.
Sidewalk Symphony – 8 min. U S A, 2009
Directed by Jonathan Salemi
A 12 year old boy gets his Ipod taken away, and instead uses his imagination to make music with the environment around him.
Ormie – 3 min. CANADA, 2009
Directed by Rob Silvestri
Ormie is a Pig, in every sense of the word. Pig see cookie. Pig want cookie. But they are out of reach…or are they? See Ormie’s attempts to gain the warm sweet taste that is his obsession.
The Visitor – 4 min. U S A, 2010
Directed by: David Azer
A boy comes home to find a mysterious alien creature eating his cookies. He decides to take matters into his own hands, but the alien might not be what he was expecting.
The MisInventions of Milo Weatherby (pictured above) – 22 min. U S A, 2009
Directed by William Whirity
A young boy named Milo Weatherby is the next Thomas Edison… or at least he’d like to think so. When Milo’s newest invention, the Reverse Microwave, actually turns out to be a time machine, he and his best friend Levi set out on an adventure through time.
I would think so. I took my boys (both age 9) and very into film, the process and behind the scenes and found it very interesting. The film deals with conflict in the industry and the work or the artists, animators and musicians. A great real lfe peak into real world of animation.
Q- I am thinking of showing Waking Sleeping Beauty in my middle school art classroom. We have discussed animation as a career in art. I have ordered the film, but it has not come in. Do you think this is an appropriate film to show middle schoolers?
Shannon Goodwill
I took my kids to see the animated film shorts yesterday and was a little surprised at the intensity and inappropriateness of the content of some of the films for kids.
I know RIFF is not billed as a kid’s festival and but since my kids love films I love to find opportunities for them to see films beyond the usual commercial box office selections. I knew that the afternoon selection of films might be a bit edgy but thought they would be fine for kids.
I was surprised how edgy they were.
We were a bit late and missed the beginning of the first film (by accident) but just as well since it was very dark. My kids said they had no idea what was happening.
Since we were in the front row it was hard to leave when “Vaseline and Pepper” started about a boy going to a strip club. Luckily my boys are young enough and naive enough to not understand the meaning of some of the films.
The films I(and my sons) really enjoyed were “Ormie” about a pig and his determination to get the cookie jar off the top of the fridge, “The Mouse that Soared” about mouse that is given a new way to live after his parents die and “The Ruffalo” about a clever little mouse that tells a tale to get out of tight spots. These family-friendly gems were buried amidst the other animated shorts.
Maybe the Providence Children’s Film Festival will show “Ormie” or “The Mouse That Soared” along with some more family friendly films.