Friday, Dec. 26, 7 p.m., All Ages
Feature: My Neighbor Totoro
Japan, 1988, 86 minutes, Animated, in English
A story of two sisters’ encounter with a family of forest
sprites, called Totoros, gentle but powerful creatures who live
in a huge and ancient camphor tree and are seen only by children.
Totoros look like oversized pandas with bunny ears and they take
the girls on spinning-top rides through the tree tops and introduce
them to a furry, multi-pawed Catbus--a nod to Lewis Carroll’s
Cheshire Cat. But beneath the film’s playfulness and narrative
simplicity lie depths of wisdom about humans’ relationship
to the Earth.
Saturday, Dec. 27, 7 p.m., Ages 3-8
Short: Knuffle Bunny
USA, 2006, 7 minutes, Animated
In this award winning animation based on the Mo Willems picture
book, animated characters are overlaid on photographic images of
New York City.
Feature: Lotte from Gadgetville
Estonia, Latvia, 2006, 81 minutes, Animated, in English
This first feature-length animated film from Estonia was enormously
popular in its home country, becoming something of a national treasure
- the Estonian government even issued a Lotte postal stamp! Lotte
From Gadgetville is a sweet and gentle spirited film, full of wacky
contraptions, silly/happy songs, and a warm and refreshingly uncynical
sense of humor. Lotte is a cheerful girl-dog who lives in the seaside
town of Gadgetville, a village crazy about inventing Rube Goldberg-esque
machines.
Monday, Dec. 29, 7 p.m., Ages 10 to adult
Short: Lavatory-Lovestory
Russia, 2006, 9.5 minutes, Animation
Love is always sudden, so don't be surprised if it springs up
in the most unexpected of places. This is the latest film from
the director of NYICFF Grand Prize winner "At the Ends of
the Earth"
Feature: Azur and Asmar
Azur and Asmar is the story of two boys raised as brothers. Blonde, blue-eyed, white skinned Azur and black-haired, brown-eyed, dark-skinned Asmar are lovingly cared for by Asmar's gentle mother, who tells them magical stories of her faraway homeland and of beautiful, Fairy Djinn, imprisoned in a crystal palace. Years later, as a young adult, Azur remains haunted by memories of the sunny land of his nanny, and sets sail south across the high seas to find the country of his dreams. Reunited but now as adversaries, the two brothers set off on a dangerous quest to find and free the Fairy of the Djinns.
The New York Times calls it "Beautiful." Variety calls it "Magnificent."
"Impossibly Gorgeous! The Year's Most Beautiful Animated Film!" - Salon
Thursday, Jan. 1, 7 p.m., Ages 7 to adult
Short: Crank Balls
USA, 2007, 5 minutes, Animated
The Crank Balls are trapped in a horrible colorless void until
an infectious happiness changes their lives forever.
Feature: Skymaster
Denmark, 2006, 86 minutes, Live Action, in Danish with English
Subtitles
This euphorically oddball musical is a tongue-in cheek, comic
adventure filled with hyper-saturated colors, dreamlike landscapes,
and a deliciously kitschy soundtrack where passionate songs and
over-the-top choreography burst unexpectedly out of everyday scenarios.
Kalle’s sister has wings, and can fly, but only Kalle sees
her fly. The doctor and family counselor both insist they perform
a cosmetic operation to remove the wings or risk making her a social
outcast. Kalle returns home one day to find a note saying his parents
have taken his sister to the Plastic Palace, a cosmetic surgery
emporium. Now the race is on to rescue his sister from the scalpel
and prove that normality is overrated.
Friday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m., Ages 9 to adult
Short: Game Over
USA, 2006, 1 minute, Animated
From New York video artist Pes comes this brilliant stop-motion
pastiche of classic videogames, animated with everyday objects.
Feature: Nausicaa
of the Valley of the Wind
Japan, 1984, 116 minutes, Animated, in English
Beautifully rendered with awe inspiring animation and transcendent
filmic moments, this film has been acclaimed as one of the greatest
animated works of all time.
The first feature masterpiece by Miyazaki, who has been called
the “Kurosawa of animation,” is about a young princess
in a devastated future world where warring human outposts contend
with giant insects and atmospheric poisons. Both brave and innocent,
Nausicaa’s love for all living things and passionate determination
to understand the processes of nature lead her into terrible danger,
sacrifice, and eventual triumph.
Sunday, Jan. 4, 7 p.m. Ages 10 to adult
Girl’s POV (point of view)
12 short films about girls from around the world
Beauty Now
Ireland, 2007, 3.5 minutes, Animated
This satirical view of our contemporary attitudes about beauty
is presented in the style of a 1950's informational film.
Daikon Ashi
USA, 2004, 1.5 minutes, Animated
The title of the film is a Japanese term that refers disparagingly
to a woman's legs shaped like white daikon radishes. The main character
starts of poking fun at her mother's legs. But before long, she
realizes that she too is going to grow up and will look exactly
like her mother, daikon ashi and all.
Fried Rice
The Netherlands, 2004, 9 minutes, Live Action
When the local butcher puts an interesting new item up for sale
in his shop, his adopted daughter doesn't like the attention it
brings.
The Girl and the Horse, The
United Kingdom, 2003, 3.5 minutes, Animated
A young girl finds love and fulfillment in a special friendship.
As she gets older and becomes distracted by the material world,
she notices her emptiness has returned. This film was created by
animating sand under glass and combining it with live action and
stills
Girl Power
Sweden, 2004, 4 minutes, Live Action
A small transportation problem grows suddenly into a pending disaster.
But a little cunning is all that is required, especially if you
are a woman of a certain age...
Good Girl
Norway, 2006, 10 minutes, Animated
Lussi is a well behaved little girl. She is always quiet, clever,
clean and pretty, Mommy's darling and Daddy's girl. Until, one
day, it all becomes too much.
Heavy Pockets
United Kingdom, 2004, 5 minutes, Animated
A beautiful film about a girl who loses her gravity.
Lavatory-Lovestory
Russia, 2006, 9.5, Animated
Love is always sudden, so don't be surprised if it springs up
in the most unexpected of places. This is the latest film from
the director of NYICFF Grand Prize winner "At the Ends of
the Earth"
Lisanne
Germany, 2005, 18 minutes, Live Action.
In this moving, brilliantly acted film, Lisanne, a 15-year-old
girl with Down syndrome, dreams of going to Denmark to see the
sea. Marlon, her older brother, tries to do everything he can to
make her dream come true but reality keeps getting in the way.
A road-movie about compassion, conflict and love between brother
and sister.
Local Dive
Australia, 1999, 4.5 minutes, Animated
A hot day, an inviting pool, a dream of escape. Powerful, subtle
and beautifully animated film deals with insecurity, resentment
and revenge as a young girl's fantasy collides with cruel reality.
Miss Pretty Hair Doll
United States of America, 2007, 1 minute, Animated
A hysterically funny mock-ad for a Barbie-like girl's doll.
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 6 p.m.
Shorts 1: Ages 3-8
Big Cat Little Cat
Germany, 2000, 5 minutes, Animation
Big Cat is worried that Little Cat's naive honesty will offend
the clientele of a neighborhood clothing boutique. But as it turns
out, Little Cat's advice is just what these customers need.
Canary Beat
Germany, 2006, 2.5 minutes, Animated
In this light-hearted, humorous ditty, a claymation canary trades
musical beats with its reflection in the mirror.
Cheesybreadville
USA, Venezuela, 2005, 4 minutes, Animated
A colorful folktale about a humble husband-and-wife, whose disaster
in the kitchen creates a tasty new treat
Color Combination
USA, 2000, 2 minutes, Animated
An experimental animated video exploring the relationship between
color, rhythm and words.
Dinner for Two
Canada, 1996, 7 minutes, Animated
Peace in the rain forest is disrupted when two chameleons literally
get stuck in a conflict, with catastrophic results.
Good Morning
USA, 2007, 1 minute, Animated
Wake up with Dad's homemade pancakes and fun in this cheery short
that combines a catchy song with simple, fluid line animation.
Knuffle Bunny
USA, 2006, 7 minutes, Animated
In this award winning animation based on the Mo Willems picture
book, animated characters are overlaid on photographic images of
New York City.
Mi Radio
Mexico, 2005, 7 minutes, Live Action
A glimpse into the imaginative anarchic, musical mind of a little
girl.
Montrose Avenue
Canada, 2006, 5.5, Animated
Colorful images feel as if they've leapt directly from the pages
of a picture book in this animated day-in-the-life of a bustling
street in a Portuguese neighborhood.
Nulbur
Canada, 2004, 3 minutes, Animated
A Super Mario-inspired journey showing that, to find the true
path to enlightenment, you first need a ticket.
Petalocity
USA, 2005, 6 minutes, Animated
A little girl goes to extremes of bravery to protect her potted
plant from harm in an imaginary animated world where anything can
happen.
A Sunny Day
Germany, 2007, 6.5 minutes, Animated
On this beautiful summer day the sun discovers that it is not
as welcome as it had hoped to be.
The Wooden Pirate with the Flesh Leg
Canada, 2006, 5.5 minutes, Animated
An unusual pirate reveals the sad tale of his strange predicament.
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Shorts 2 Ages 8 to adult
Batpig in the Underworld
Germany, 1997, 5.5 minutes, Animated
Will the fearless Batpig deliver the underworld from the clutches
of the rapacious Neverfull? Will our beloved superhero live to
eat raspberries again?
Black and White
Canada, 2006, 2.5 minutes, Animated
Don’t blink or you might miss the knee-slapping adventures
David and Steven in these hilarious and addictive 30-second shorts!
Crank Balls
USA, 2007, 5 minutes, Animated
The Crank Balls are trapped in a horrible colorless void until
an infectious happiness changes their lives forever.
The Danish Poet
Canada, 2006, 14.5 minutes, Animated
Follow Kasper, a poet whose creative well has run dry, on a holiday
to find inspiration. As Kasper's quest unfolds, a spell of bad
weather, an angry dog, slippery barn planks, and other seemingly
unrelated factors seem to be playing an important role determining
his fate.
Galaxy
Japan, 2004, 4.5 minutes, Music Video
In this music video for the Japanese band Rip Slyme, band members
are portrayed as finger puppets in a candy-coated alternate universe.
Game Over
USA, 2006, 1 minute, Animated
From New York video artist Pes comes this brilliant stop-motion
pastiche of classic videogames, animated with everyday objects.
The Goat That Ate Time
Australia, 2007, 7 minutes, Animated
A goat with an appetite for life realizes that time is dangerously
delicious.
A Great Big Robot from OuterSpace Ate My Homework
Canada, 2005, 2.5 minutes, Animated
Bertie is late with his homework…again!! Funny with semi-English
gobbledygook dialogue, a kind of a reverse take on The Boy Who
Cried Wolf.
One Rat Short
USA, 2006, 10 minutes, Animated
The mesmerizing ballet of a discarded food wrapper caught in the
wind leads a New York subway rat into an adventure of love and
loss. This multi-award winning festival favorite took three years
to make and boasts some of the finest CGI animation, bar none.
The dark, gritty, grimy alleys and rooftops of nighttime New York
are exquisitely rendered and stand in contrast to the brightly
lit, stark white sterility of the lab where our bewhiskered hero
discovers his love.
SHHH
United Kingdom, 2006, 4 minutes, Animated
The library is so quiet that a boy and his grandfather can hear
every little annoying disruption. But it’s nothing a little
magic trick can't solve… or can it?
Wolf Daddy
Korea, 2005, 10 minutes, Animated
A wolf novelist has moved to a serene countryside home to write
his masterpiece, when one rainy day he is paid an unexpected visit
by a beautiful woman holding the hand of a six-year-old girl. The
woman tells the child, "This wolf is your father" and
goes away leaving the girl behind. This begins an odd family, which
eventually grows to embrace a rabbit, a turtle, and a partially
eaten deer.
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