Nine years ago, we were inspired by the 8½ FOUNDATION — founded by Tilda Swinton and Mark Cousins — and its mission to make great films available to young people everywhere: “And we have noticed over the many hundred cinema journeys we have taken that our most memorable and exhilarating cinema memories are not the bigger films ..., but littler films, often from other countries, maybe made many decades ago, maybe made without color, maybe with subtitles, or not a single spoken word.” That idea became our mandate; our manifesto. For the next 10 days, we invite you to enjoy a selection of full-length features, documentaries, short films and classic silent films! ADMISSION IS FREE WITH A $1 SUGGESTED DONATION.
The festival kicks off FRIDAY MARCH 8TH with an OPENING NIGHT COSTUME PARTY at KRASL ART CENTER. Come as your favorite animated character and you could win a prize for most creative costume. Festivities begin at 6:00 pm with popcorn, cupcakes from BIT OF SWISS a costume art activity and an interactive music program lead by BRANDON MATTSON. KID FLICKS ONE, a selection of animated and live action shorts from the New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF), begins at 7:00 pm.
The YOUNG FILMMAKERS COMPETITION will premiere at the Michigan City Public Library (IN) and the New Buffalo Township Library (MI) on SATURDAY MARCH 9TH. This year's competition features 20 short films by young visionaries from Michigan and Indiana. Awards will be presented, red carpet style on FRIDAY MARCH 15TH — immediately following the 5:30 pm program screening at Citadel Oak Room.
Other events include a performance by ALL GOD'S CHILDREN COMMUNITY CHOIR a post-screening conversation following the documentary film, INVENTING TOMORROW, a VOCAL READ-ALONG to PRINCE ACHMED, an ART ACTIVITY based on a KID FLICKS ONE short film and two LEGO STOP-MOTION WORKSHOPS. In addition, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with the NORTHWEST FILM FORUM (Seattle, WA).
Finally, the inimitable DR. LARRY SCHANKER will provide improvisational piano accompaniment for 5 silent films — including OLIVER TWIST (1922) which closes the festival at Krasl Art Center on Sunday March 17th.