November 4, 2009

A Film Festival for Kids

TFK reports on the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival

By TFK Kid Reporter Meghan Pfau

For 26 years, the Chicago International Children's Film Festival (CICFF) has featured thoughtful, memorable, meaningful and culturally diverse children's movies. This year's film festival ran from October 22 to November 1 and featured more than 200 films. It is the largest annual film festival in North America and the only Academy-qualifying children's film festival in the world. Winners in the short film category go on to compete in the Oscars! The films come from more than 40 countries. More than 25,000 people attend. TFK Kid Reporter Meghan Pfau was there.

For Kids, By Kids

SARAH PFAU TFK Kid Reporter Meghan Pfau talks to festival director Nicole Drieske and award-winning young writer and director Shiropa Purna.

The festival involves kids in many ways. "We don't just show kids movies. We ask kids to think about what they are watching," CICFF Director Nicole Drieske told TFK. "Five minutes before the lights go down we have a talk with everybody. We talk about what's going on in our minds when we are watching a movie," she explains. "Movies teach us so much. If we're not paying attention to what we are watching, we aren't learning as much as we could." Viewers vote to give their opinions at the end of each movie. The CICFF staff wants kids to feel like they are an important part of the festival.

Kkids can also attend interactive workshops led by filmmakers, media professionals and celebrities. And young talent takes part in the CICFF. Eleven-year-old Shiropa Purna wrote and directed Our Boat is Our Address, which is featured in the festival. "My dad is a director and he taught me many things," Shiropa says.

A "children's jury" meets in August to watch more than 100 movies that will appear in the festival. They rate the films based on plot, character, setting, acting, sound and cinematography. The jury awards more than a dozen prizes. The awards are announced at the festival's Closing Night Award Ceremony.

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