The Naples International Film Festival adds “Best of NYICFF”, international and award winning short films from the New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF), the largest film festival for kids and teens in the country.
The “Best of NYICFF”, are two programs of animated shorts for ages 3-8 and ages 9 to 16. The films include audience and jury favorites from the last two years of the festival, featuring several films that went on to be nominated for Academy Awards. “When Bonnie Grossmann, one of our members, suggested a children’s international film component to help fulfill the mission of NIFF we were intrigued,” says Founder and Marketing Director Rowan Samuel, “When Bonnie brought us NYICFF, we were thrilled.” The screenings will take place on Saturday morning, November 7, from 9:30 am- 1:00 pm at the Silverspot Luxury Cinema, The Mercato, 9259 Mercato Way, Naples. The Children’s Museum of Naples is the presenting sponsor.
Founded in 1997 to promote passionate, provocative cinematic works for children ages 3-16, NYICFF has been critically acclaimed. The New York Times writes, “Dedicated to the kind of fare that may be found at the Academy Awards but not at your local multiplex.” “For over a decade, NYICFF has dedicated itself to bringing a more intelligent, thought-provoking kind of children’s film to New York audiences, said Erick Beckman, co-director of the New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival, “Now we get the chance to share our favorites with the great new Naples International Film Festival.”
Some of judges for the NYICFF festival include: Susan Sarandon, Matthew Modine, Rob Minkoff (Director, The Lion King, Stuart Little), Adam Gopnik (author, essayist and New Yorker contributor), Gus Van Sant (director, Milk, Drugstore Cowboy, ), James Schamus (filmmaker, Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), and Evan Shapiro ( Pres. IFC TV/Sundance Channel).
The presenting sponsor of this program will be, the soon to be completed, Children’s Museum of Naples (www.cmon.org). “This is the kind of programming we want to support in the future,” said Joe Cox, Executive Director, “programming that gives children and their families the opportunity to experience, enjoy and imagine together.”
The Naples International Film Festival will present the following two programs from the festival chosen by judges and kids who attended. (Selected shorts from these programs are available to be viewed at www.naplesfilmfestival.com .)
BEST OF NY INT’L CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAMS
KID FLIX MIX 2009 (SHORT FILMS)
Animation, Various, 61 minutes, In English
Recommended for ages 3 to 8
A collection of the best animated short films from around the world, for ages 3 to 8. The program features musical and narrative works from Sweden, France, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Switzerland, the UK and the US. The program is in English.
PARTY MIX 2009- (SHORT FILMS)
Animation, Various, 65 minutes, In English or English subtitles
Recommended for ages 9 to 16
This is an all-animated program of audience and jury favorites. The eye-opening and highly entertaining collection includes hilarious, visually stunning, and thought-provoking shorts, specifically intended for older audiences, ages 9 to 16.