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The popular International Children's Film Carnival 2013 (ICFC) is set to be held in July and August. The diverse programme will offer viewers a wide range of stories, including tales of camping in Africa and meeting wild animals like lions, tigers and elephants and even the mysterious blue tiger; exploring the legendary lost Inca city of Paititi in Peru; searching for the secret of moonstones with the charming dog Lotte; an exciting adventure with a girl named Momo and goblin spirits; the Crocodiles returning to help in a life-and-death situation; and a poor student being banned from school just because he cannot afford to bring his own lunch. The memorable classics "The Sound of Music", featuring the household song "Do-Re-Mi", and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", with its funny super flying vintage automobile, will also be screened among the enjoyable films and an array of characters including a frog, a rabbit, a mouse, a teddy bear and a flying book.
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). Fourteen feature films from Denmark, Spain, Finland, Germany, Japan, Latvia, the Czech Republic, India, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US) and Taiwan as well as 10 short films from around the world will be shown from July 5 to August 11 at the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive and the Lecture Halls of the Hong Kong Science Museum and the Hong Kong Space Museum.
The feature films include the thrilling "My African Adventure"; the breathtaking film "The Blue Tiger"; "The Crocodiles 3: All for One", with all its action; "Tad, the Lost Explorer", about a hair-raising journey; the light-hearted "Lotte and the Moonstone Secret"; the beautifully crafted production "A Letter to Momo"; the stylish "Ricky Rapper and Cool Wendy"; and the heart-warming "Stanley Ka Dabba". Following last year's success, "Specials for Youth" will feature two touching movies, "Kauwboy" and "Cool Kids Don't Cry".
A new section, "Film Tunnel", features two award-winning classic musicals from the 1960s, the long-standing hit "The Sound of Music" and the marvellous "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", for parents to revisit their childhood with their families. In "Special Screenings for Parents", the films picked to share with parents on understanding children's needs and dreams are "Fidgety Bram", featuring the school life of an imaginative and active child, and "Jumping Boy", a morale-booster that combines live action and animation.
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The Danish movie "My African Adventure" (2013) depicts a family who win a trip to Africa to take care of endangered animals and end up with an adventure to rescue their neighbours and animals across the beautiful African plains. After all kinds of wild animals from Africa, the "The Blue Tiger" (2011) is another delight, with the mythological blue tiger leaping out from simple drawings to fight a mayor to conserve a historic botanical garden. The film won Best Picture at the KINOdiseea International Children's Film Festival 2012. The last episode of a popular series, "The Crocodiles 3: All for One" (2011) again shows the series' signature tension, camaraderie and warmth as the Crocodiles plan to break into a prison to release their friend's brother for an urgent liver transplant for their friend.
The lovely animations include "Tad, the Lost Explorer" (2012), which won Best Animated Film, Best New Director and Best Adapted Screenplay at the Goya Awards 2013. A construction worker who dreams of being the world's greatest explorer blunders into the legendary lost city of Paititi in Peru and fights with wit and bravery against tomb raiders seeking ancient treasures. The light-hearted "Lotte and the Moonstone Secret" (2011) has Lotte the dog and her uncle touring a fantastical land in search of the secrets of three stolen moonstones, which are the mystical keys to direct lunar rabbits on their way home.
Not to be missed is the beautifully crafted Japanese animation "A Letter to Momo" (2011), which has been produced under the guidance of Masashi Ando, the animation director of the famous film "Spirited Away". The young girl Momo and three goblin spirits take the audience to follow Momo's experience of losing her father and the unique culture of the guardian spirits. The film won the Grand Prize Feature award at the New York International Children's Film Festival 2012 and the Platinum Grand Prize at the Future Film Festival 2012.
A film from India on poverty and hunger, "Stanley Ka Dabba" (2011) features a talented 8-year-old boy who never brings a lunch box to school but has classmates who are always willing to share with him. Yet a greedy teacher who likes to steal a bite from students becomes jealous and forbids the boy to enter school unless he brings his own lunch box. The young star's brilliant performance won Best Child Actor at India's National Film Awards 2012. Finland's Ricky, who is no stranger to the audiences of the ICFC, will appear again in "Ricky Rapper and Cool Wendy" (2012). His good friend Nelly meets trendy Wendy in a camp and starts to adopt her style. To win Nelly back, Ricky decides to have a showdown with Wendy and demonstrate his singing, dancing and humour.
How does one help young people confront changes and develop a positive mindset? Two award-winning and thought-provoking films on youth from the Netherlands will be shown in "Specials for Youth" this year. In "Kauwboy" (2012), the lonely Jojo's only consolation is his adoption of a tiny jackdaw, which helps to build his inner strength. Unfortunately, his volatile father wants to get rid of it. The director gives a brilliantly artistic portrayal of the boy's inner world in the film, which has shone at various film festivals. Another box office hit, "Cool Kids Don't Cry" (2012) revolves around the optimistic Akkie, who loves soccer but gets leukaemia before a longed-for tournament. She battles her disease like a true champion yet she is scared of her romantic feelings. The film has won many audience awards in children's film festivals worldwide.
The greatest wish of parents is for their children to grow up in good health and happiness. "Special Screenings for Parents" will show "Fidgety Bram" (2012), which presents a world from the perspective of an active boy and how can parents help him to adjust. Another film, "Jumping Boy" (2012), features the encounter of a boy with disabilities with a children's book author, and the boy's hobbling silhouette helps to remove the author's mental block. There will be post-screening talks in Cantonese hosted respectively by Dr Lam Wai-fan and registered social worker Fanny Yu on the sharing of children's growth.
Still remember going to the cinema with the whole family as a kid? The "Film Tunnel" programme brings in two memorable musicals, "The Sound of Music" (1965) and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (1968). Inspired by the real story of Maria von Trapp, "The Sound of Music" features the nun Maria being sent to Colonel von Trapp's family as a tutor. With song and dance, she transforms the life of the family. Julie Andrews' wonderful voice and a backdrop of the beautiful Salzburg have made the film a long-standing hit, and it won five Oscars. Based on a novel written by 007 author Ian Flaming, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" is a fun musical about an eccentric inventor and his vintage automobile, which can soar into the air and plunge into the depths of the sea. The amazing story with great songs and sci-fi elements has made the film an everlasting favourite among audiences. Film critic Ka Ming will discuss the appreciation of musicals during the film appreciation section.
Live Cantonese interpretation and English subtitles are available for "My African Adventure", "A Letter to Momo" and "Lotte and the Moonstone Secret". Most films have Chinese and English subtitles.
Ten short films from various countries and places including Latvia, Germany, Sweden, Singapore, Korea, Russia, the US and the UK will be screened at the ICFC in the "World Animation & Shorts" section. Kwan Chung-yeung, a professional director in children's drama for over 10 years, will host the interactive sessions in Cantonese.
Selections in "World Animation & Shorts 1" include the story of a Latvian bear in "Bear is Coming!" (2008); the funny "Frog, Rabbit and the Red Telephone" (2011); the rescue team story "Tiger" (2010); the simple and interesting "Trucks and Meatballs" (2011); and the endearing stories of eight children in "Who?" (2010). Selections in "World Animation & Shorts 2" include the classic story "Frog in a Well" (2011); "Pictogram Inside" (2011), which unveils the inside of pictogram; "The Playmate" (2010), featuring the relationship between a boy and his teddy bear; the winner of Best Animated Short Film at the Academy Awards 2012, "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" (2011); and the folk tale "The Gruffalo" (2009).
Tickets priced at $55 will be available from tomorrow (May 10) at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessionary tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and their minders, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Credit card bookings can be made at 2111 5999 or via the Internet at www.urbtix.hk.
Programme and discount details can be found in the booking brochure of the ICFC or in the IAC programme brochure available at all LCSD performing venues. For programme enquiries, please call 2734 2900 or browse the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/filmprog/english/2013icfc/2013icfc_index.html.
Ends/Thursday, May 9, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:00
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