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A little boy sets off on a great adventure to recover his stolen dreams; a mini-witch tries to save the witches' wood with her premature wizardry; a little magician must bring back the assistant who vanished during a magic trick: a boy born in a comedian's family but with no comic talent tries to become a comedian to win his father's love, and a peasant boy swears to change his fate and becomes good friends with a prince. All these loving and caring stories and an array of characters including penguin brothers, little ghosts, a little crow, daring rabbits, a frog princess, an egg robot and stoneflies are featured in the upcoming "International Children's Film Carnival 2011" (ICFC) from July 8 to August 14.
Presented by the Film Programmes Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the popular ICFC is part of the annual "International Arts Carnival" (IAC). Ten feature films from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Finland, India, Japan, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Canada, and fifteen short films selected from around the world will be shown at the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive, the Lecture Halls of the Hong Kong Space Museum and Hong Kong Science Museum.
The films include the colourful "Fuchsia, The Mini Witch", the caring "Noˆomie, The Secret" and "The Magician"; the meaningful "I Am Kalam"; the glittering "Here Comes Lola"; the funny "Ricky Rapper and The Bicycle Thief"; the thrilling "The Crocodiles" on courage and unity and three animation features: "Jasper: Journey To The End Of The World", "The Sandman And The Lost Sand Of Dreams", and "In The Attic: Who Has A Birthday Today?", which blends real-life actors and animations.
Experienced dubbing artists Pat Kwok, Jason Chan and Kinson Lai will provide live Cantonese interpretation in designated films.
Little witch Fuchsia always brings trouble to her mentor with her premature wizardry. When she learns that the witches' wood will be torn down for a motorway, she ventures to stop the plan. Can she succeed with her wizardry? This cheerful Dutch film, "Fuchsia, The Mini Witch" (2010) won the Cinekid Lion and the Best Dutch Children's Film at the Cinekid International Film Festival 2010, Amsterdam.
Another magical story from the Netherlands, "The Magicians" (2010) features an eight-year-old boy who is keen on magic secrets. He and his clumsy father set up the "Stikker & Son Magic Show". However, their assistant vanishes during the performance of their magic trick. Can the little magician bring her back? The film won the Special Jury Prize at the Montreal International Children's Film Festival 2011.
"Noˆmmie, The Secret" (2009) is a touching story from Canada. Noˆmmie's parents are always working. Fortunately, the old lady living upstairs loves her like a grandmother. On the anniversary of the death of the old lady's husband, an apparition of the old man appears and reminds Noˆmmie of the treasure hidden in the apartment. In the treasure hunt, Noˆmmie discovers not only gold coins, but also her mother's secret! The film won the Audience Award, Film for Children at the Warsaw International Film Festival 2010.
Different people have different dreams. In "I Am Kalam" (2010), a boy who works as a child labour meets a prince and they become good friends. Inspired by a speech by the former President of India, Kalam, the boy swears to change his fate. The film won Best Feature Film at the Lucas Film Festival 2010, Germany, and Audience Favourite at the Barbican Children¡¦s Film Festival 2010, London. In "Here Comes Lola" (2010), a nine-year-old girl who loves music turns herself into famous pop star Jacky Jones in her dreams. She gives concerts, drives around in a stretch-limo and buys a house for her parents. Her dream life is all about fame and glitter but in reality, what she really needs is a good friend. The film won First Prize, Children's Jury Prize for Best Live Action Feature at the Chicago International Children's Film Festival 2010 and the White Elephant Awards at the Munich Film Festival 2010.
Like "Ricky Rapper" (2008) - shown at the ICFC 2009 - the red-headed boy in "Ricky Rapper and The Bicycle Thief" (2010) again raps his way through life. Ricky's fancy new bike disappears and so begins an adventure to get it back with his best friend. They finally come to a funny hospital filled with dance and music and meet a boy who gets hurt falling from a bike. Can Ricky get his bike back? The film is a participating film of Seoul International Youth Film Festival 2010 and the Chicago International Children's Film Festival 2010. "The Crocodiles" (2009) is another story about youth. A boy wants to join "The Crocodiles", known as the coolest gang for resourcefulness and courage. But he is not accepted as he is confined to a wheelchair. With wits and courage, he helps others to break up a burglary gang and finally becomes a "crocodile". The film won the Cinekid Lion at the Cinekid International Film Festivel 2009, Amsterdam, and the Film Award in Gold, Outstanding Children's Film of the German Film Awards 2010.
In the animation "Jasper: Journey To The End Of The World" (2008), the petit penguin brothers take a brave journey from South Pole to Northern Hemisphere to rescue the rare Kakapo bird eggs from the evil Dr Block. In "The Sandman And The Lost Sand Of Dreams" (2010), Dreamland is where all sweet dreams come true. When an evil entity takes control of Dreamland, children can only have bad dreams. A little boy bravely undertakes a great adventure to restore order. "In The Attic: Who Has A Birthday Today" (2009) is a film full of imagination, in which a beautiful abandoned doll is kidnapped by the cruel ruler of the Land of Evil. Her friends Teddy, Sir Handsome and Schubert undertake a dangerous journey to rescue her. The film won many awards including the Grand Prize, Animabasauri, Bilbao 2010, Spain, the Grand Prize Feature at the New York International Children's Film Festival 2010 and the Excellent Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival 2009.
Following last year's success, "special screenings for parents" returns featuring three films. "The Little Comedian" (2010) focuses on a father-son relationship, while "Homecoming" (2009) and "Chinese Opera Boy" (2009) are student works of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. The former features a Filipino domestic helper who has to leave her son to work in Hong Kong, while "Chinese Opera Boy" features a boy's keen interest to learn Cantonese opera - a very different goal from his mother who wants him to be a doctor. Post-screening talks in Cantonese will be held with parents.
"The Sandman and The Lost Sand of Dreams", "Fuchsia, The Mini Witch", "I Am Kalam" and "Jasper: Journey To The End Of The World" will have live Cantonese interpretation and English subtitles, while other films will have Chinese and English subtitles.
Fifteen short films from various countries including Sweden, The Netherlands, Russia, France, Estonia, Germany, Italy and South Korea will be screened at the Carnival in "World Animation and Shorts". Kwan Chung-yeung, a professional scriptwriter, director and actor of children's drama, will host the interactive sessions in Cantonese.
Short films include "Laban's Camp-out" (2007) and "Bad Daddy" (2007) of the "Laban The Little Ghost ¡V Spooky Time", "The Little Crow With The Naked Bottom" (2008), "Just So Stories: The Crab That Played With The Sea" (2007), "Hop, Hop, Hippityhop" (2009) and "Two Princesses" (2009), "Frog" (2008), "Egg Robot Momo" (2009), "Stoneflies" (2009) and "The King Of The Island" (2009).
Tickets priced at $50 available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessionary tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Discounts from 10% to 20% for purchasing tickets of film programmes or performing arts of the IAC are also available. Programme and discount details can be found in the booking brochure of ICFC or in the IAC programme brochure available at all LCSD performing venues.
Credit card bookings can be made at 2111 5999 or via the Internet at www.urbtix.hk. For programme enquiries, please call 2734 2900 or browse the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp.
Ends/Friday, May 13, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:39
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