Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival Children’s Film Festival is at the Chilmark library. Free popcorn and free admission to all these shows.
Saturday 1:30 p.m.
Different Drummers Short Film Program (70 minutes) For ages 5 to 8: Get in step with these wonderful characters and you’ll start to see the rules a little differently. Just when you think you’ve got things all figured out, life gives you the chance to change.
Zoologic (4 min., U.S.A., 2007, no dialogue) Nicole Mitchell, director. A fussy zookeeper’s rules begin to falter when he encounters a fat little penguin who refuses to toe the line.
Through the Lens (2 min., U.S.A., 2008, no dialogue) Bobby Bowden, director. A young filmmaker and his son set up a panoramic shot in the American West. Hidden aspirations emerge when the boy looks through the viewfinder and sees his future “through the lens.”
The Cardhouse Builder and the Little Dog (8 min., Sweden, 2006, no dialogue) K.L. Mossige-Norheim, director. A cardhouse builder has his solitary world turned upside down with the arrival of a little dog who needs a place to stay.
Collectibles (12 min., U.S.A., 2007) Miranda Yousef, director. Five-year-old Alex is overjoyed when she gets a beautiful new doll for Christmas, but her parents forbid her to play with the doll because it’s a “collectible”! Alex surprises them by singlemindedly pursuing her dream of playing with the treasured toy.
Papiroflexia (3 min., U.S.A., 2007, no dialogue) Joaquin Baldwin, director. Papiroflexia, Spanish for “origami,” tells the tale of a master paper folder who turns the bustling action of the city into a serene countryside with his unusual skill.
The Bear Is Coming (16 min., Latvia, 2008, no dialogue) Janis Cimermanis, director. Based on real events, this story follows a clever bear as he travels from his home on the Latvian mainland to an island in the middle of the Baltic Sea where a group of children befriend him.
The Tree Elves (7 min., China/Russian Federation/U.S.A., 2008, no dialogue) Jeffrey Nodelman, director. The elves of the forest welcome the new season and celebrate the wonders of nature in this visual treat, rendered with rousing music performed by the Russian Royal Cinema Symphony.
Butterflies (16 min., U.S.A., 2008) Andy Bailey, director. After getting really nervous during show and tell, young Patrick heads to the school nurse who tells him he has butterflies in his stomach!
Saturday 3 p.m
Stella and The Star of the Orient (90 min., Germany, 2007, In German with English subtitles) Erna Schmidt, director. Rummaging through the attic at her grandmother’s villa, Stella finds herself transported back in time to the 19th century! There she meets two children who turn out to be her great uncle Gustav and Clementine, her own great-grandmother! When Stella discovers that her family is facing financial problems, she sets off with Gustav and Clementine to find the mysterious Star of the Orient.
Saturday 5 p.m.
Spirit Of The Forest (75 min., Spain, 2008) For ages 4 to 6. David Rubin and Juan Carlos Peña, directors. When a dishonest businessman wants to build a highway, the wicked Mrs. D’Abondo (Anjelica Huston) sees her chance to get rid of the entire forest! Mr. Oak, his leafy companions, and all the animals are now in danger of losing their homes. When gophers Furi (Sean Astin) and Linda rally their friends to save their home, they call on Cebolo, a nerdy towngopher, Piorno the strong-headed mouse, and the Clan of the FreeCats! Can this motley crew of fauna and flora save their belovedforest? Also voiced by Giovanni Ribisi and Ron Per lman.
Sunday 12:30 p.m.
Different Drummers Short film program (70 minutes) for ages 5-8 (see same program; Saturday).
Sunday 2:15 p.m.
Reel Discoveries . . . Look Inside Short Film Program (81 minutes) for ages 8 to 10. Dive into the unexpected with these great short films from six different countries, and you’ll discover new insights and ideas at every turn. A gorgeous warthog gets his comeuppance, an insect “fashionista” fools a bug collector, and a young boy softens the heart of a cranky waitress at his local diner. Anyone can judge by appearances, but it takes practice (and patience) to look inside ourselves and be true to what we feel.
The Weatherman (3 min., U.K., 2007, no dialogue) William Becher, director. A wacky weatherman refuses to go with the flow when his forecasting machine goes on the fritz.
Because You’re Gorgeous (5 min., South Africa, 2007, no dialogue) Brent Dawes, director. A proud warthog loves his long locks, but when one hair falls out of place, he goes crazy trying to maintain his manicured mane.
His Good Will (11 min., Canada/U.S.A., 2008) Cayman Grant, director. The natural optimism and innocence of a ten-year-old boy touches those around him during the 1950’s in pre-civil rights California.
Titiriwe — El Canto de la Noche (10 min., Venezuela, 2007, in Spanish with English subtitles) Viveca Baíz, director. The creation myth of night, as told by the Parimi-Theri of the Urarcoera River in Brazil, is recreated in this animated short film.
Elephants (13 min., U.K., 2008) Sally Pearce, director. A young girl sees her gray life turn upside down when she discovers a herd of elephants living in her house! Painting the walls bright colors makes the pachyderms visible and opens up a world of surprises.
The New Species (9 min., Latvia, 2008, no dialogue) Evalds Lacis, director. Two brave little bugs must find a way to save their parents, who have been captured by a curious entomologist.
Plain and Simple (30 min., U.S.A., 2007) Merrin Marra, director. Pauly the Penguin is losing his home at the zoo after it’s taken over by greedy new owners who don’t see the money-making potential in penguins. As he tries to prove his worth, Pauly learns the true value of inner beauty and believing in who you are (despite what others think).
Sunday 4 p.m.
The Three Investigators — The Secret of Skeleton Island (88 min., Germany, 2007) for ages 10 to 12. Florian Baxmeyer, director. The Three Investigators are world-famous kid detectives, excited to take a scientific field trip to Cape Town, South Africa. When the daughter of a tribal leader reports that her father is missing, the detectives jump to help her solve the case! All clues point to the enigmatic Skeleton Island, and the boys must research the history of the island, as well as the relationships between its native population and the European immigrants. This intriguing film is filled with scientific fun and riddles that will keep you guessing until the very end!
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