*MOOMINVALLEY SCREENINGS SOLD OUT!*
18 FEATURE FILMS FROM 11 COUNTRIES, AT 7 NYC VENUES, OVER 4 WEEKENDS
New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF), North America’s largest film festival for children and teens, announces 2020 Feature Film selections.
The Oscar® qualifying New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF), now in its 23rd year, runs February 21 through March 15, 2020, presenting a slate of new animated, live action, and documentary features, alongside 10 short film collections, for audiences of all ages, with a dedicated focus for those aged 3-18.Tickets go on sale January 15 for Members and January 22 for the general public at www.nyicff.org.
Many of the films showcased at NYICFF 2020 depict stories of kids determined to make a difference and taking self-guided steps into activism and action: FAHIM, THE LITTLE CHESS PRINCE (Pierre-François Martin-Laval, North American Premiere, 2019, France, Live Action); THE CLUB OF UGLY CHILDREN (Jonathan Elbers, International Premiere, 2019, Netherlands, Live Action); FORWARD: TOMORROW BELONGS TO US (Gilles de Maistre, East Coast Premiere, 2019, France, Documentary); FRITZI: A REVOLUTIONARY TALE (Ralf Kukula, Matthias Bruhn, East Coast Premiere, 2019, Germany/Belgium/Luxembourg/Czech Republic, Animation); TOO FAR AWAY (Sarah Winkenstette, New York Premiere, 2019, Germany, Live Action); ROCCA CHANGES THE WORLD (Katja Benrath, New York Premiere, 2019, Germany, Live Action).
NYICFF programming director Maria-Christina Villaseñor says: “We're excited that this year’s line-up is filled with brilliant films and filmmakers, and proud that so many of the films reflect what we’ve been seeing out in the world—kids boldly taking the reins and stepping into activist roles with creativity and determination. These multifaceted features allow us to gain inspiration from fictional characters and real kids across borders and time periods, providing our audience with a snapshot of the lives and stories of young people from all around our world. We’re also emphasizing the value of viewing films and having dialogues about them together, as a communal experience in the theater—harnessing the collective power of cinema to inspire and move us, and spark meaningful conversation.”
Features for older audiences highlight the pivotal role that music plays in young people’s self- definition as they grow up, alongside wry coming-of-age stories that speak to all, including: ON- GAKU: OUR SOUND (Kenji Iwaisawa, U.S. Premiere, 2019, Japan); DAYS OF THE BAGNOLD SUMMER (Simon Bird, East Coast Premiere, 2019, U.K., Live Action); BENTO HARASSMENT (Renpei Tsukamoto, East Coast Premiere, 2019, Japan, Live Action).
As always, NYICFF offers the very best in new and highly anticipated international animated films with exclusive theatrical presentations for young and all ages audiences, ranging from the playful to the philosophical: CHILDREN OF THE SEA (Ayumu Watanabe, East Coast Premiere, 2019, Japan, Animation); SAMSAM (Tanguy de Kermel, World Premiere, 2020, France / Belgium, Animation); HILDA (Andy Coyle, World Premiere, 2020, U.K. / U.S. / Canada, Animation); THE PRINCE’S VOYAGE (Jean-François Laguionie and Xavier Picard, 2019, France / Luxembourg / Canada, Animation); A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON (Will Becher, Richard Phelan, East Coast Theatrical Premiere, 2019, U.K., Animation); MOOMINVALLEY (Steve Box, North American Premiere, 2019, Finland / U.K., Animation).
The beauty of the natural world is explored through two Special Preview Screenings from DisneyNature: DOLPHIN REEF (Keith Scholey, 2020, U.S., Documentary); and ELEPHANT (Mark Linfield, 2020, U.S., Documentary).
NYICFF 2020 also showcases two countries of focus, Japan and Canada, with three new features and a Festival flashback from Japan: CHILDREN OF THE SEA (Opening Night Film, Ayumu Watanabe, East Coast Premiere, 2019, Japan, Animation); ON-GAKU, OUR SOUND (Kenji Iwaisawa, U.S. Premiere, 2019, Japan, Animation); BENTO HARASSMENT (Renpei Tsukamoto, East Coast Premiere, 2019, Japan, Live Action); MAGIC BOY (Akira Daikuhara and Taiji Yabushita, 1961, Japan, Animation); and a feature length presentation and World Premiere of the much anticipated Season Two of HILDA (Andy Coyle, World Premiere, 2020, U.K. / U.S. / Canada, Animation).
Andy Coyle, director of HILDA says: “In 2018, the very first glimpses of HILDA's season one was shared with the curious audience at NYICFF. Now, after carefully crafting new adventures for the last two years, we are finally ready to present the World Premiere of SEASON TWO, and what better place to do that than where it all started? Silvergate Media and Mercury Filmworks are delighted to present our work on the big screen at the NYICFF 2020 festival, and I can't wait to share these brand-new stories in person!”
NYICFF 2020 FEATURE FILM SELECTIONS
Children of the Sea
JAPAN—EAST COAST PREMIERE
Ayumu Watanabe, 2019, 111 min.
On-Gaku: Our Sound
JAPAN—US PREMIERE
Kenji Iwaisawa, 2019, 71 min.
Bento Harassment
JAPAN—EAST COAST PREMIERE
Renpei Tsukamoto, 2019, 106 min.
Magic Boy
JAPAN
Akira Daikuhara and Taiji Yabushita, 1961, 83 min
SamSam
FRANCE/BELGIUM—WORLD PREMIERE
Tanguy de Kermel, 2020, 80 min.
Celebrate Aardman!
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
UK—EAST COAST THEATRICAL PREMIERE
Will Becher, Richard Phelan, 2019, 86 min.
Hilda
UK/US/CANADA—WORLD PREMIERE
Andy Coyle, 2020, 44 min.
Moominvalley
FINLAND/UK—NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Steve Box, 2019, 66 min.
The Prince’s Voyage
FRANCE/LUXEMBOURG/CANADA
Jean-François Laguionie and Xavier Picard, 2019, 77 min.
French with English subtitles
Forward: Tomorrow Belongs to Us
FRANCE—EAST COAST PREMIERE
Gilles de Maistre, 2019, 84 min.
Rocca Changes the World
GERMANY—NEW YORK PREMIERE
Katja Benrath, 2019, 101 min.
Dolphin Reef
US—SPECIAL PREVIEW SCREENING
Keith Scholey, 2020, 77 min.
Elephant
US—SPECIAL PREVIEW SCREENING
Mark Linfield, 2020, 86 min.
Too Far Away
GERMANY—NEW YORK PREMIERE
Sarah Winkenstette, 2019, 89 min.
Fritzi: A Revolutionary Tale
GERMANY/BELGIUM/LUXEMBOURG/CZECH REPUBLIC—EAST COAST PREMIERE
Ralf Kukula, Matthias Bruhn, 2019, 80 min.
Fahim, the Little Chess Prince
FRANCE—NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Pierre-François Martin-Laval, 2019, 107 min.
The Club of Ugly Children
NETHERLANDS—INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
Jonathan Elbers, 2019, 90 min.
Days of the Bagnold Summer
UK—EAST COAST PREMIERE
Simon Bird, 2019, 86 min.
More lineup announcements, including Short Film selections and visiting filmmakers, are forthcoming.
Visit the press site for full film details and images: https://nyicff.org/press-materials pw: 2020Pre$$
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ABOUT NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL
Distinguished by its unique mission and high-caliber programming, New York International Children’s Film Festival was founded in 1997 to support the creation and dissemination of thoughtful, provocative, and intelligent film for children and teens aged 3-18. NYICFF is an Academy Award® qualifying festival, one of only four film festivals in New York State – and only two children’s film festivals in the country – to hold that honor, with the Festival’s esteemed jury of filmmakers, actors, and academic and industry leaders selecting qualifying films. The Festival, the largest film event for children and teens in North America, cultivates an appreciation for the arts, encourages active, discerning viewing, and stimulates lively discussion among peers, families, and the film community.
2020’s flagship annual month-long event takes place February 21 - March 15. Presenting consistently sold-out screenings for the general public and weekday screenings for school groups at venues throughout New York City, the Festival’s rich and dynamic film program -– drawn from over 1,500 international submissions -– boasts over 100 short and feature films, exclusive filmmaker Q&As, retrospective programs, parties, premieres, audience voting, and a Closing Night celebration.
The Festival will host its inaugural NYICFF Industry Forum on February 28 & 29, 2020, the second weekend of the Festival, bringing leaders and creators together for dialogue around inclusion and representation in the creation and dissemination of media content for young audiences. In addition to presenting the annual month-long Festival, NYICFF is a multifaceted arts organization that offers year-round engagement including its city-wide media arts and literacy program, NYICFF Film-Ed; and its national screening program serving major and regional cultural institutions, cinemas, and museums, NYICFF Kid Flicks.
New York International Children’s Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
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NYICFF 2020 information:
Press Site
Photo Credits and Full Film Descriptions
https://nyicff.org/press-materials / pw: 2020Pre$$
NYICFF 2020 Press Contacts: Todd Nickels / todd.nickels@42west.net Taylor James / taylor.james@42west.net
Kabeer Malholtra / kabeer.malhotra@42west.net