Annual Boston International Kids Film Festival Runs November 16-18, 2018
A Festival for Families of Greater Boston Will Showcase Films For, By and About Kids
Boston, MA October 14, 2018 — From November 16-18, 2018, families from across Greater Boston will gather at the Somerville Theatre, Lesley University College of Art and Design and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to celebrate and inspire creativity in today’s youth at the sixth annual Boston International Kids Film Festival.
The mission of the BIKFF is to inspire kids to use the media to tell their own stories while screening some of the best films that independent filmmaking has to offer. Over 50 films have been accepted to this year’s festival, representing 16 countries. There is something for everyone; professionally made feature-length films and documentaries, shorts appropriate for ages 10 and under and short films for middle school students and older. Roughly 40% of the films being screened are student-made, with the producers and directors being 18 years or younger.
Student-made films will be screened on Saturday, November 17 beginning at 1:30pm and will be live-judged. Lisa Strout of the MA Film Office has signed on to be a judge and a number of other invitations to prominent members of the filmmaking community are pending.
All screenings are open to the public and tickets can be purchased at http://bikff.org/
“The Boston International Kids Film Festival is all about kids. In a city that provides ample opportunity for adults to watch independently-made feature films and documentaries, we wanted to create an event geared specifically towards middle and high school students and their families,” said Laura Azevedo, executive director of Filmmakers Collaborative, the festival’s presenter. “The student-made films are particularly fun to watch. The stories are as varied as the filmmakers and the skill level of the producer/directors have a broad range, but their voices are proud and brave and we are happy to magnify them.”
The selected films will be shown in twelve programs, taking place in three venues, including the Somerville Theatre in Somerville, University Hall at Lesley University’s College of Art and Design in Cambridge, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. Highlights of the 2018 festival include:
Wally’s Opening Day, presented in partnership with the Boston Red Sox
Saturday, November 17, 2018 10:00am at Lesley University College of Art and Design
In this animated special designed to entertain baseball fans of all ages, Wally the Green Monster springs to life. It’s Wally’s job to get Fenway Park ready for Opening Day, but when he misses the bus and a freak spring snowstorm rolls in, Boston’s annual Spring tradition is almost canceled. Wally realizes that relying on his team is what he needs to save the day. Special guests will include executive producer Linda Henry as well as WALLY & his sister TESSIE. Attendees will have the opportunity to take photos with the Red Sox mascots, see how many home runs they can hit in the #SoxVR Home Run Challenge as well as participating in an animation workshop to learn how to draw Wally.
Eighth Grade
Saturday, November 17, 2018 7:30pm at the Somerville Theatre
A film that promises to genuinely entertain both parents and kids alike, EIGHTH GRADE follows thirteen year-old Kayla as she endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school—the end of her thus far disastrous eighth grade year before she begins high school. The critically-acclaimed Eighth Grade was written and directed by Hamilton, MA native Bo Burnham, in his feature film directorial debut. Actress Catherine Oliviere will be in attendance for Q&A.
Science Fair
Saturday, November 17, 2018 3:00pm at the MIT Green Building
Presented in partnership with the MIT Department of Physics, SCIENCE FAIR follows nine high school students from around the globe as they navigate rivalries, setbacks and, of course, hormones, on their journey to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair. As 1,700 of the smartest, quirkiest teens from 78 different countries face off, only one will be named Best in Fair. The film offers a front seat to the victories, defeats and motivations of an incredible group of young men and women who are on a path to change their lives, and the world, through science. Cast members from the film will attend the screening.
Making the Grade
Friday, November 16, 2018 7:00pm at the Somerville Theatre
Each year in Ireland, over 30,000 students prepare for graded piano exams. Directed by Ken Wardrop, Making the Grade is an endearing documentary that explores the bond between piano teachers and their pupils as they struggle through these grades. It examines the transformative power of music and the pride and happiness it provides both the students and teachers.
Tia and Piujuq
Friday, November 16, 2018 7:00pm at the Somerville Theatre
In this film directed by Lucy Tulugarjuk, Tia, a 10 year-old Syrian refugee living in Montreal, finds a magic portal and travels to the Arctic where she befriends an Inuk girl with who she immerses herself in a world of Inuit myth and magic.
The festival will also feature blocks of short films as well as a selection of films made by students in the FC Academy, an after-school and summer vacation filmmaking program that introduces kids to the latest technology and filmmaking techniques, providing an opportunity to expressing themselves creatively and providing them with invaluable tools for their academic futures and beyond.
In 2018, the Festival will present awards for the Best Documentary, the Best Short, the Best International, the Best Student Film, the Best Student Documentary and the Audience Choice Award. The festival will also present the Peggy Charren Award for Excellence, created in honor of Peggy Charren, who worked tirelessly to achieve quality and diversity in children’s television and organized the parents in her community to create an advocacy group, Action for Children’s Television (ACT).
For more information or to purchase tickets to the festival, visit http://bikff.org/
Filmmakers Collaborative
The Boston International Kids Film Festival is a project of Filmmakers Collaborative (FC), a non-profit organization that encourages and supports the making of great films and media projects by people of all ages and experience levels. FC offers grants management, mentoring and workshops to a diverse and national community that includes award-winning PBS documentarians, first-time producers and directors, and young people just discovering the power and potential of visual media. For more information, please go to: www.filmmakerscollab.org.
