The Best Films for Kids: Disc 1
10 Award-Winning Short Films for Children ages 4–8 |
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 St Mathurin’s School of Practical Joking
Chris Waitt 9:42 | Drama | Scotland
A school where
pupils learn about peashooting, stink bombs and food fighting is threatened
with closure by the arrival of a humourless government official.
Bartholomew, N. Stuetz 4 min. | Family | Australia A little girl
discovers that freedom and happiness are found when you let go of all the
things you want and relish what you have.
Josh Staub 9 min. | Animated | USA
Created in its
entirety by first-time filmmaker Josh Staub, The Mantis Parable is the charming tale of a humble caterpillar trapped in a bug
collector’s jar and in need of a helping hand.
Joseph, Susan & Katherine Procopio 5 min. | Drama | Canada
With the help
from 3 friends, a lost toad finds his way home. Joseph Procopio is 12 and one
of the most awarded young film makers in Canada.
Alison Teal Blehert-Koehn 6 min. | Family | USA
Rita is a true
story based on the filmmaker’s childhood. Alison Blehert-Koehn’s early life was
filled with the stuff of dreams. But not until the family’s expedition to Mt.
Everest, did seven-year-old Alison get to experience her own dream.
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Jeffrey Travis 1:55 | Comedy | USA
Millions of
children each day are left alone with crayons and paper—the vast majority of
whom gleefully animate without loss or injury. There are those precious few,
however, who must bear the weight of wax-gone-bad. Three-year-old Aidan may
have followed all the rules, but in a moment of carelessness, his own creation
will go horribly wrong.
Olivia Peniston-Bird 4 min. | Drama | Australia
The story of
six-year-old Billy whose encounter with a couple of girl bullies on the way to
the pool takes a surprising turn.
T. Powell & M. Nebauer 7 min. | Comedy | Australia
Zali gets to
spend a day alone with her dad and in her mind plans a fun outing with him.
However, things don’t go as planned.
Marty Shea 9 min. | Comedy | USA
The guidance
counselor wants Candace to decide on a career path. Candace is in the second grade.
Stephen Lance 12:23 | Drama | Australia
Set in a
televised 1958 mathematics competition, Eustice Badgery finds a friend and the
courage to stand up to his mother.
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Disc 2
10 Award-winning
Short Films for Children ages 9–12
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Stuart Clegg 12 min. | Comedy | Australia
When Tom’s bike
is stolen by a junk store dealer, he hatches a plan to get it back.
Matt Pinder 9 min.| Comedy | Scotland
Seven-year-old
Sammy is convinced that he has been bitten by a poisonous snake. He spends the
afternoon diagnosing what he believes to be the first signs of his impending
death. Can his father come to his rescue?
Jennifer Ussi 18:30 | Children’s | Australia/South Africa
Although they
are from different cultures, life is one big adventure for two best friends as
they explore rural Africa.
Kris Booth 11 min. | Family/Adventure | Canada
For all the
marbles follows the escapades of a ten-year-old boy as he attempts to
Jenny Mackenzie 24:40 | Documentary | USA
Kick Like A Girl
is the story of what happens when “The Mighty Cheetahs”, an undefeated third
grade girls soccer team competes in the boys division.
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Philip Smith 11 min. | Comedy | Australia
Strong-Arm Sam
and his promoter Gus are down on their luck. Tired of hearing about how much
stronger Crooked Mick of the Speewah is, they decide to find the mythical
Speewah and challenge legendary Crooked Mick. A film based on traditional
Australian myths, told in a heightened way using the latest technology.
Divya Kumra 10 min. | Documentary | India
In the middle of
a cracked, mud desert of mirages, Ramesh and his friends go to school.
Dana Dorian 1:30 | Animation | UK
Colin takes his
dog Cumberland to the park for a game of fetch, but Cumberland has other
ideas. What happens when mans best
friend refuses to co-operate?
Colin McIvor 15 min. | Drama | Northern Ireland
Seven year-old
Charlotte has a talent for painting. Her Father has a talent for burglary. When
Van Gogh’s ‘The Sunflowers’ visits Belfast, Charlotte’s Father can’t resist the
biggest heist of his career.
Julie Anne Meerschwam 18:45 | Drama | USA
A story about
the rise and fall of a friendship between a little girl and her imaginary
friend.
When 5 year-old
Nelly’s mom passes away she creates “Celamy”, an imaginary friend, to help her
cope with her loss. For years the two girls are inseparable. But once Nelly
becomes a teenager, it becomes obvious to Celamy that she’s no longer needed,
in fact that she’s in the way. So now it’s up to Celamy to choose: should she stay like she wants to or leave so that Nelly can grow up?
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Notes
[L] [V] [S] *With special thanks to the Heart of Gold International Film Festival for guiding us to some truly heartwarming films. Heart of Gold films are marked with a heart. |
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Ruby Who?
The Mantis Parable
Lost and Found
Rita
What’s Wrong With This Picture
Goggles
Looking Good
The Planning Lady
Eustice Solves a Problem
Tommy the Kid
Snakebite
The Unique Oneness Of Christian Savage
For All the Marbles
Kick Like a Girl
Crooked Mick of the Speewah
Going to School in a Mud Desert
Fetch
Charlotte’s Red
Celamy
