Family Fun Cinema Returns to Washington Heights this Winter for The Fifth Annual KidCinemaFest Film Festival!
Free Film Festival for Children and Families Will Showcase More Than 30 Films From Over 20 Countries!
November 8 - 14, 2013
Cine Art Entertainment Productions in collaboration with Councilmember Ydanis Rodr�guez, the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center and the Columbia University Medical Center are happy to bring back "KidCinemaFest - The Washington Heights Children and Young People's Film Festival", presented by Emblem Health. This free event is open to anyone and everyone who wishes to attend!
Back for its fifth installment, KidCinemaFest aims to enrich children's appreciation for filmmaking and cultural diversity through an excellent line up of more than 30 films produced in Europe, Latin American, North America, Asia and Africa. The festival will welcome attendees of all ages to view some of the most exciting, smart and reflective movies of this decade. This year's edition will present new audiences with feature films, documentaries and shorts, all suitable for children and adolescents; young adults and families.
KidCinemaFest will take place from November 8th through 14th, 2013 at the Alumni Auditorium of the Columbia University Medical Center (at 650 West 168th Street and Broadway), Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center (530 West 166th Street and Amsterdam) and public schools throughout Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill.
Film festival director, Armando Guare�o said "This year's film program strives to enrich the lives of children through the art of cinema. We are excited to have a rich program with more than 30 films from 20 countries enabling children and families to learn from different cultures without leaving Washington Heights".
"I am always happy to see these fun filled events in our neighbourhood and I have been a strong supporter of KidCinemaFest for years now," said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. "Expanding the cultural horizons of our local youth is a great step toward preparing them for a future as global citizens. I want to thank Armando Guare�o for his hard work in putting together a great program and I know our families will enjoy every minute!"
This year, KidCinemaFest is delighted to open the festival, on November 8th at 7:00pm at the Columbia University Alumni Hall with film Tio Papi (for ages 8 and up), nominated for five Image Awards, including Best Film. The film is directed by Fro Rojas and it was shot entirely in Washington Heights. The film is about bachelor Ray Ray Dominguez's dreams of nothing more than a carefree life of indulgence in Miami. His plans are abruptly changed when he becomes the legal guardian of his sister's six children (ages 6-16), becoming their new "Tio-Papi." His lifestyle clashes humorously with the interests of his nieces and nephews in this charming comedy about life's unexpected surprises. Actors and producer will be present for Q&A. Co-writer, Producer and actor, Joey Dedio says "The people of Washington Heights, where we filmed, became an integral part of the movie and many of them are seen throughout in many of the scenes. They relate, they understand and, as seen in the movie, they are ultimately always drawn to what matters most: family".
KidCinemaFest is also very pleased to announce our partnership with the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center, where the closing night film will be shown on November the 14th at 7:00pm, with the Uruguayan film: Tanta agua (ages 12 and up). This multi-award winning film, directed by Ana Guevara and Letecia Jorge, is about Alberto, who since his divorce, has not spent much time with his children, Lucia and Federico. A trip to the hot springs seems like an ideal getaway, but an unrelenting storm traps the three of them inside their tiny rented cabin. Alberto's sunny optimism begins to drain as floodwaters and close quarters bring out the worst in everyone. An achingly funny and poignant film, this all-too-familiar drama is an affectionately drawn portrait of the classically fraught family vacation.
The program also includes Dominique Monf�ry's animated film Eleanor's Secret (ages 3+); Felix, by Roberta Durrant (ages 9+); the Japanese animation From Up On Poppy Hill by Goro Miyazaki (ages 9+); the U.S. documentary about bullying and the effect that rejection has on the children life: Reject directed by Ruth Thomas-Suh who will be present for Q&A (ages 15+); the hilarious French animation The Painting by Jean-Francois Laguinie (ages 7+)' and Sonia Frit's adventure film Start of the Estuary (all ages).
Several other shorter length films will be shown as compilations, including Kid Flix Mix, a colorful collection of short films from around the world hand-picked by the audience from the 2012 New York Int'l Children's Film Festival. This collection is suited for our youngest audiences (ages 4 and up); and Party Mix, a collection of hilarious, heartfelt and beautiful short films from around the world, suitable for older kids ages 8 and up.
A unique cinematographic event, KidCinemaFest is an interactive showcase for kids to learn about and celebrate the importance of film literacy and film criticism; encouraging kids to participate by completing a ballot for the Audience Award. The films chosen this year are made for children, not just about them, and reflect the strong cultural and social identities of their respective cities and countries
The 5th Annual KidCinemaFest: The Washington Heights Children & Young People's Film Festival is a project of Cine-Art Entertainment Productions and is made possible with the collaboration of City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center and sponsored by Emblem Health, Columbia University Medical Center, Hispanic Federation, Latin Trends, Manhattan Times, Explora, Tu Comunidad Magazine.
For a complete list of films, show times and high resolutions still photos please, visit our website www.kidcinemafest.com. You can also email kidcinemafest@gmail.com.
