The Audi Dublin International Film Festival’s Fantastic Flix has launched its packed festival of children’s films from around the world.
The event - which also includes workshops and short film selections - runs from 10th – 18th Feb 2017 in cinemas across Dublin including the Light House Cinema, Movies@Swords, Movies@Dundrum, Omniplex Rathmines and The Ark.
Beloved children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s books are full of memorable characters that have resonated in the hearts, minds and imaginations of young readers around the world. As a Fantastic Flix guest curator, she will select three films and present two films Mandy, The Secret Garden that captured her imagination and one adaptation of her work The Illustrated Mum (courtesy of Channel 4) that she’d like to share with her young readers here in Dublin.
Looking ahead to the Festival, Jacqueline Wilson said ‘I’m very much looking forward to returning to Dublin in February to present three of my favourite films. I’ll be introducing the excellent film adaptation of my own book The Illustrated Mum, directed by Cilla Ware, followed by a Q & A with me. I will also introduce Mandy, a black and white film about a little deaf girl, which made an enormous impression on me as a child, and The Secret Garden, directed by Agnieszka Holland, a truly magical film. It will be a lovely opportunity to meet lots of you!’
Highlights of the programme for older children include a preview of Michaël Dudok de Wit’s Cannes prize-winning The Red Turtle (10+), a strange and enchanting story of the mysterious visitor to a man on a desert island that is imbued with the distinctive style of co-producers Studio Ghibli; and Kai (10+), the Korean animation that tells the story of young Kai fighting to save his village from the evil snow Queen Hattan.
Treats for youngsters include Snowtime! (4+), a hit Canadian animation that captures the excitement of one village’s massive snowball fight; the brilliant stop-motion animation Louis & Luca – The Big Cheese Race (5+); Zip & Zap and the Captain’s Island (8+), a story of two brothers stuck on a peculiar island where mischief occurs; and Abulele (8+) that tells of one boy discovering an enormous, furry abulele monster of an ancient legend in his own apartment building.
Growing up into adulthood can be an emotional rollercoaster ride for teenagers, the growing pains on the journey to self-discovery are captured brilliantly in weird and wonderfully edgy Australian drama Girl Asleep (15+).
Fantastic Flix will also be presenting the winning entries of the Drugs.ie National Youth Media Awards short Video category. The awards aim to encourage discussion by inviting young people to produce a piece of original content.
Fantastic Flix is introducing a new voice to the festival, the Fantastic Flix Children’s Jury of 11-12 year-olds who will watch, evaluate, and review Fantastic Flix titles from around the world before deciding on one film as the Best Fantastic Flix Film of 2017.
Check out more at diff.ie.
