A world-renowned festival of performing arts for young audiences, the Vancouver International Children’s Festival has been educating, entertaining and inspiring young audiences since 1978. The 36th annual event, takes place May 27 – June 2 on Granville Island .Professional performing artists from Norway, Africa, Germany and Canada will be performing12 shows in six Granville Island venues , including four indoor and two outdoor Festival environments. In addition, the Festival hosts over 15 hands-on arts activities such as shadow puppetry, an outdoor weaving sculpture, bicycle spin-art, origami, a sock puppet workshop, circus skills, the Twist & Toddle play area and much, much more. Wow, there really is so much going on, it hard to decide what you should do. So at R2R we have decided to give you a helping hand and pick our TOP 5 TIPS for Vancouver International Children’s Festival. Here we go -

Tip 1 – QUEEN OF COLOURS
This play stood out to us as it uses shadow puppetry and as you may recall we had Mere Phantoms media artists at R2R this year with their interactive shadow installations.They left us with a curiousity to discover more of this art and this play fits the bill. This enchanting world-wide hit has delighted audiences across the globe. Loosely based on Jutta Bauer’s children’s book, the play uses a blend of shadow puppetry, live music, painting, and video projection to create a magical event for young. Here a bossy, bored little queen lives in a monochromatic universe until the court painter, using audience requests, injects a painterly palette into her drab world revealing the emotional resonance of colour.
“…imagine an animated picture book being assembled on the fly … a remarkable accomplishment” ~Andy Probst, theatremania.com

Festival web page for more details – http://www.childrensfestival.ca/festival_events/performances/performances43.php

*For more Shadow Play check out the Exploration Zone and explore the magic of light through sound, movement and play using shadow puppets.

TIP 2 – JAMES HILL – UKULELE MAGIC
Zooey Deschanel plays one. So do William H. Macy and Mr. Schuester on Glee. Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder accompanies himself exclusively on one for his recent albums, Ukulele Songs. Meanwhile, every third TV commercial seems to feature a soundtrack of a strumming ukulele.With the Ukulele enjoying a surge in popularity in recent years and being a brilliant instrument for kids to learn, this show should be a delightful musical treat.
Barely in his 30s, ukulele master James Hill has four genre-bending albums to his name and a fan-base that spans the globe. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin calls him a “rare peer” of Hawaii’s premier ukulele players. His inventiveness and passion for sharing music through this fun, kid-sized instrument makes him an instant hit for all ages. Accompanied by Anne Janelle on cello, this pioneer of “ukulele in the classroom” will delight and surprise! “This is an exciting moment for the ukulele… A powerful new voice has emerged.” Leo McKay (April, 2011)

James Hill on youtube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEK4nr3viyI&feature=youtu.be

Festival web page for more details – http://www.childrensfestival.ca/festival_events/performances/performances41.php

TIP 3 – EXPLORATION ZONE
There are over 15 creative arts station at Vancouver Children’s Festival so there is something to keep every child entertained and stimulated. From toddlers to tweens, kids of all ages can get creative or just have some fun at one of the many creative arts stations. We’ve picked 3 of our favourites -

Bicycle Spin-Art with Make at Granville Island – Create your own one-of-a-kind spin-art painting while riding a bike!
Hai! Origami – Experience the magic of learning the Japanese art of paper folding.
Sock it To Me! – Travel the sock circuit and choose from pipe cleaners, wiggly eyeballs, shiny objects and material to decorate your own unique sock puppet! Bring your own sock or use one of ours – we provide the rest. No smelly socks!

Festival web page for more details – http://www.childrensfestival.ca/festival_events/activities.php

TIP 4 – PYJAMA NIGHTS
At R2R this year we enjoyed great success with our Pajama breakfast party and it was so much fun to see everyone in their colourful and comfy pajamas. We are delighted to see that you can keep your jammies on and enjoy some events at the Children’s Festival too. It’s a jammies revolution! Dress the kids (and yourself) in their favourite jammies, and head down to Granville Island for the ultimate bedtime story with these special 6.30pm shows. Jammes optinal; snacks will be served!
Tue, May 28th – Bobs & Lolo
BC’s widely adored musical duo performs Nature Rocks, an action-packed musical experience.
Wed, May 29th – Queen of Colours
This world-wide hit uses puppetry, art projections and live music to tell a simple story about kindness and originality.

Festival web page for more details -http://www.childrensfestival.ca/festival_events/special_events.php

TIP 5 – VARIETY SHOW – SATURDAY, JUNE 1 – 6:30pm

If all else fails and you don’t have an opportunity to make anything during the festival then you can enjoy the Variety Show. It’s always a highly anticipated event.
Watch Festival performers cut loose at the annual Variety show! This year’s tour de force boasts dazzling acrobatics, traditional African music, cutting-edge ukulele and electrifying Acadian rhythms. Hosted by puppeteer Robert Morgan of Morgan’s Journey with acts by Cirque Zuma Zuma, Grand Dérangement, James Hill, Aboulaye Koné and Nathalie Cora of Baobab, this evening show is always a Festival highlight.

Festival web page for more information - http://www.childrensfestival.ca/festival_events/performances/performances50.php

Information on tickets - Tickets for featured performances are $25 per adult, $15 per child including tax and service charges, with exceptions for Sparrow ($25 adult, $5 child) and the Variety Show ($25 adult, $22 child). Show tickets include access to all hands-on arts activities so come for a show but stay for the whole day! For access to hands-on arts activities only: purchase an Activity Wristband for $8 per person (sold onsite only). Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at childrensfestival.ca, by phone at 1.877.840.0457, in advance at Tickets Tonight, Plaza Level, 200 Burrard Street, Vancouver or during the Festival at our on-site box office located between Festival House and the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island. http://www.childrensfestival.ca/tickets_and_info/public_tickets.php

VICF SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS For more details visit www.childrensfestival.ca, on Flickr  on Facebook, on Twitter and on Pinterest.

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Reel 2 Real may be over for another year but you can still get your fix of engaging and challenging films for youth courtesy of DOXA Documentary Film Festival 2013 with their 5th annual Rated Y for Youth (RYY) program.

‘DOXA selects programming specifically for school-aged students, giving youth an opportunity to attend the festival, view thought-provoking documentaries and participate in lively post-film discussions with filmmakers and community members. This collection of films covers everything from hip hop to the Occupy movement to animal rights with intelligence, energy and a huge amount of heart.’

The RYY program includes The Mosuo Sisters, Occupy The Movie, Empathy: Pass it On, The Great Hip Hop Hoax and The Ghosts in Our Machine.

Full information on all titles can be found here – http://www.doxafestival.ca/festival/youth

Reel 2 Real’s 3 Top Picks for Youth are:
Short Film packages are a big part of the R2R’s Program so we are really looking forward to this selection which  includes a panel discussion after.

EMPATHY: PASS IT ON
Shorts Program | 100 mins including panel discussion
Suitable for Grade 6-12 students | G
Wednesday May 8, 2013 | 1:00PM | VIFF’s Vancity Theatre

A collection of powerful films about coming to terms with difference. Whether that means understanding identity, celebrating challenge, or finding strength through imagination, each of the protagonists in these films are the heroes of their own stories.

Films include:
Camp by Tomasz Jeziorski, Poland, 2012, 19 mins G
Straight with You by Daan Bol, The Netherlands, 2012, 19 mins G (coarse language)
Freestyle Life by Adam Palenta, Poland, 2012, 10 mins G
Mookie by Neske Beks, The Netherlands, 2012,19 mins G (coarse language)(Also screened at R2R Film Festival 2013)

FEATURED SPEAKERS AT PANEL DISCUSSION:
DR. KIMBERLY SCHONERT-REICHL is an Applied Developmental Psychologist and a Professor in the Dept. of Educational and Counseling Psychology and Special Education at UBC. For more than 20 years, her research has focused on the social and emotional development of young people, with a particular emphasis on empathy, altruism, compassion, and resiliency.
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THE MOSUO SISTERS
Marlo Poras | China/USA | 2012 | 110 mins incl. panel discussion
Suitable for Grade 8-12 students | G
Monday May 6, 2013 | 12:30PM | VIFF’s Vancity Theatre

The Mosuo people in China make up one of the last matriarchal societies in the world. Juma (25) and Latso (22) are sisters from a remote Mosuo village tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayas. The film follows the sisters as they navigate their way through two parallel worlds: China’s changing economy and Mosuo tradition. When the sisters move to Beijing, to take jobs in the entertainment industry, their understanding of the world undergoes a profound shock. As one sister says, “I felt like a tiny grain of sand.” The scale of the city is like nothing they have seen before. Even the idea of apartment dwelling confounds the sisters. When they first arrive they think that each skyscraper tower is a single dwelling, only to discover the homes are divided up like an enormous beehive. Just as they’re settling in, the economic downturn of 2009 forces Juma and Latso to postpone their dreams of higher education and modern jobs, and return to their village.
Determined to keep their family out of poverty, Latso agrees to stay home to help their mother on the farm, while Juma heads back to the city to make money as a singer. Juma learns to protect herself from gangsters and other wealthy bar dwellers and Latso gives up her dream of education to take on hard labour and child rearing. Whether it’s breathing in the dusty air of farm life or the second-hand smoke of cocktail lounges, both lifestyles carry their own set of challenges. “Staying at home, or leaving. They are both hard,” says Latso. The burden these women must bear takes its toll on their relationship. Despite their disagreements and disappointments, what keeps these sisters strong, is their open communication and unquestionable loyalty. After all, as Juma says, “The family you are born into is the most important thing in all life.” –SC

Trailer – http://vimeo.com/49598580

FEATURED SPEAKER AT PANEL DISCUSSION
DR. GRAHAM JOHNSON is Professor of Sociology Emeritus at UBC, where he taught for 36 years until his retirement. His professional focus was on China, in particular the study of migration. From the late ‘70s he followed the rapid industrialization of south China, which has occasioned a migration of 25 million people from the country to the cities. Graham travelled extensively in China for 40 years, including the areas where many of China`s minority peoples live.
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THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE
Liz Marshall | Canada | 2013 | 120 mins including panel discussion
Suitable for Grade 8-12 students | PG Scene of animal slaughter
Friday, May 10, 2013 | 12:30PM | VIFF’s Vancity Theatre

Humans have cleverly separated animals into three categories: domestic pets, wildlife and the ghosts in our machine.The latter are those animals who suffer at the helm of global industries. This film follows internationally renowned photographer Jo- Anne McArthur as she travels around the world documenting the lives of these animals. The result is a cinematic portrait of the ghosts who keep the machine of the modern world running.
Caged foxes, lab monkeys and beagles bred for research are just some of the ghosts Jo-Anne encounters on her journey. Part investigation and part art-project, her goal is to change the way we view our relationships with animals. “I’m not there to liberate them, I’m there to document them,“ she says. “As much as I’d like to liberate them from their cages, my role is to educate people so there won’t be future generations of these animals.”
Although careful not to evoke individual guilt, Jo-Anne’s photos are as disturbing as they are beautiful. The Ghosts in Our Machine makes it clear that the human/animal relationship is, indeed, the next big hurdle in our social and moral development. Avoiding the typical handheld camera activist aesthetic, the images are patient, simply resting on the eyes of each animal that Jo-Anne encounters. Beautifully composed photographs and the minimal score allow for a filmic space much needed to reflect on the question haunting our collective conscience. Animals: property or sentient beings? -SC

Trailer – http://vimeo.com/59741668

FEATURED SPEAKERS AT PANEL DISCUSSION
Toronto-based filmmaker LIZ MARSHALL, director, writer and producer of The Ghosts in Our Machine.
KELLY DAVIDSON, animal lover and shop manager at a Vancouver LUSH Cosmetics store. Motivated to make change, in the summer of 2012 Kelly embarked on the ‘Ghost Free Journey,’ a customized vegan lifestyle challenge designed to inspire and educate a broad demographic about the value of becoming a conscious consumer.
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School Groups
If you’re a teacher or counsellor interested in bringing students to a Rated Y for Youth screening at the group discount rates, please follow this link for pdf doc and further information – http://doxafestival.ca/sites/default/files/FILMS2013/RYY/2013ryyinfo2.pdf
If you have further questions, please contact Educational Coordinator, Caroline Coutts at education@doxafestival.ca

All films are approved and classified by Consumer Protection BC.
Group tickets are $5 per student when purchased by school groups.
Enjoy the celebration of nonfiction filmmaking at DOXA and congratulations to DOXA on another exciting program for 2013.

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The French/Belgian co-production, Ernest and Celestine was the big winner at the
Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth, receiving three of the top awards
announced on the Closing Night, Thursday, April 18 at the Vancity Theatre.

The animated feature tied for the Youth Jury Award for Best Picture (ages 9+), won
the Adult Jury Award for Best Picture, and also won the Edith Lando Peace Prize, a
$ 500 cash award for “the film that best utilizes the power of cinema to further the goal
of social justice and peace on earth.”

Youth Jury Award for Best Picture (ages 9+) – tied

ERNEST & CÉLESTINE, directors Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner -
ALFIE, THE LITTLE WEREWOLF, director Joram Lürsen

Youth Jury Award for Best Picture (ages 13+)

WUNDERKINDER, director Marcus O. Rosenmüller

Adult Jury Award for Best Picture

ERNEST & CÉLESTINE, directors Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin
Renner

Edith Lando Peace Prize

ERNEST & CÉLESTINE, directors Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin
Renner

Most Innovative Short Film (ages 9+)
Alexandre Dubosc – ALIMATION

Most Inspirational Short Film (ages 9+)
Angel Manuel Soto – THE LETTER

Most Innovative Short Film (ages 13+)
Carlo Vogele – UNA FURTIVA LAGRIMA

Most Inspirational Short Film (ages 13+)
Afarin Eghbal – GRANDMOTHERS

National Film Board of Canada Award for Best Animated Short
Dina Velikovskaya – MY STRANGE GRANDFATHER

For more information: (604) 224-6162, or info@r2rfestival.org, www.r2rfestival.org/
festival2013 , or www.facebook.com/R2Rfestival

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The Legend of Sleeping Beauty
This video was created by grade 5/6 students at Sk’aadagaa Naay Elementary School in Skidegate, BC:

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Fuchsia the Mini Witch
Director: Johan Nijenhuis
The Netherlands, 84 min.

For a limited time, you can purchase a DVD copy of Fuchsia the Mini Witch!

A small witch creates mayhem at Witch School but tries to make amends when she discovers a plot that threatens the forest where she and her friends live. This film charmed audiences around the world, and was the winner of the Gryphon Award for Best Film at the Giffoni International Children’s Film Film Festival. Order your copy now – the DVD is only $20, plus $5 for shipping. Fuchsia is dubbed in English, and suitable for ages 6 and older.

View the trailer

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By pre-registration only.
To register, please phone 604-224-6162.
Cost: by donation

Use your creative talents and make your own film while spending an afternoon with renowned British animator Charlotte Blacker. Students will work together in a small group, bringing creatures and characters to life, while learning some key skills in animation. Students are encouraged to bring a cuddly toy with them to star as the main characters.

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1. Think of one scene from the movie that sticks in your mind. How does that scene make you feel?
2. Describe the scene: what colours do you see, what sounds do you hear, what kind of lighting is used, and what is happening?  Ask yourself why the filmmaker made these choices.  What does this tell you about the world the director has created in the movie?
3. Try to write a catchy first paragraph. Include something that grabs a reader’s attention or arouses their curiosity or makes them laugh. Journalists call this a ‘hook’, and it makes the reader want to keep reading.
4. Don’t be afraid to have strong opinions about a movie. Just be sure you can support your views with clear reasons why the film is terrible or terrific.

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annual cross-Canada animation celebration

Get Animated! marks International Animation Day with an amazing selection of films: from boldly experimental to flat-out funny, there’s something for everyone. Add workshops that show you how to make your own animated films, and you’ve got a truly irresistible series of events—all absolutely free. All films created in the workshops will be uploaded to our website, or you can bring a flashstick and take a copy of your film home. You can also bring an ipad with the NFB Pixstop app downloaded. 

Schedule

Saturday, October 27

Vancity Theatre
Vancouver International Film Centre, 1181 Seymour Street
2 PM – 5 PM Hands-on Animation Workshop -with Scott Kiborn (pre-registration is not necessary)
3:00 PM Family Program 1
3:45 PM Family Program 2

in collaboration with

The Reach Gallery Museum 
32388 Veterans Way, Abbotsford

1:00 PM Hands-on Animation Workshop* -with Elisa Chee
2:00 PM Family Program 2
3:00 PM Hands-on Animation Workshop* -with Elisa Chee

* Pre-registration required for the animation workshops.  Please call 604-864-8087 or register online.

in collaboration with

Sunday, November 4

Richmond Cultural Center
7700 Minoru Gate
Board Room

11:00 AM  Family Program 1

1:00 PM Family Program 2

2:00 PM New Releases

2-4 pm Hands-on Animation Workshop -with Jody Kramer (pre-registration is not necessary)

in collaboration with

Thursday, November 8

New Westminster Public Library
716 6th Avenue
Public Library Auditorium
3:30 PM Family Program 1
3:30 PM Hands-on Animation Workshop (9 – 12 years old)- with Scott Kiborn
6:30 PM Hands-on Animation Workshop (13+)- with Scott Kiborn
8:00 PM Family Program 2

*Pre-registration is required for these Hands-On Animation Workshops. Please call 604-527-4667.

in collaboration with

Click here for a complete schedule.
Get Animated! is brought to you by the National Film Board of Canada in collaboration with theVancouver Short Film Festival, The Reach Gallery, Cinevolution, New Westminster Public Library, and the R2R Film Festival.
Thanks to Modo Car Sharing for getting us to all these venues!

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