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As the creator of the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, we at Facets have discovered 10,000 of the very best films for children and youth over the past 3 decades.
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Best of the Fest DVD
Award Winning Films from the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival
Facets Kids’ Film Network is proud to present 10 amazing multi-cultural, short films that challenge, entertain and engage children’s creativity on ONE DVD!
Specially selected for children ages 5 to 9 (grades K through 3), the “Best of the Fest” DVD comes with a FREE professionally prepared 75-page curriculum guide, prepared by an Illinois Learning Behavior Specialist.
The 10 short animated and live-action films can be screened together or separately. Host a children’s film hour–public performance rights are included!
Domo-Kun and the Egg (Tsuneo Goda, Japan, 2005, 5 mins.)
Luka (Adrienne Michel-Long, Ireland, 2004, 3 mins.)
Mondo’s Myths: Where Did the Night Come From? (Andres Lieban, Brazil, 2005, 8 mins.)
Nineteen (Jorg Hiller, Colombia, 2005, 8 mins.)
Egghunt (Paul Yan, USA, 2005, 4 mins.)
The Mantis Parable (Josh Staub, USA, 2005, 8 mins.)
Do Other Things (Helena Giersz, USA, 2005, 4 mins.)
The Magic Lion (C harles Githinji, Canada, 2004, 7 mins.)
Confection (Eva Saks, USA, 2003, 4 mins.)
Little Pig Is Flying (Alicja Jaworski, Sweden, 2004, 10 mins.)
You also have the option of purchasing the Best of the Fest Curriculum Guide, a 76-page activity book with engaging lesson p lans for each film, created by learning behavior specialist Virginia Boyle Lopez, Ph.D, M.Ed, or you can download PDF sections of the guide
Click here to order the DVD!
95332 – 29.95
Home use only. Includes an English voice-over option for those films in original language with subtitles.
98037 – 129.95
Institutional copy. Includes public performance rights, curriculum guide download, and an English voice-over option for those films in original language with subtitles.
98747 – 24.95
Best of the Fest Curriculum Guide (bound).
Best of Fest DVD Film Discriptions
Domo-Kun and the Egg
Directed by Tsuneo Goda
Domo stumbles upon a strange egg at the foot of a large tree. His godfather, Usaji, disapproves of keeping the egg. But Domo’s determination wins out. Domo and Usaji bide their time until, one day, the egg begins to crack. You’ll want to see the big surprise that awaits Domo and his godfather!
Japan, 2005, 5 min
Luka
Directed by Adrienne Michel-Long
A young boy named Luka steps into a timeless world of mishap and adventure in a moment of distraction as he follows a balloon racing across the sky.
Ireland, 2004, 3 min
Mondo’s Myths: Where Did the Night Come From?
Directed by Andrés Lieban
Inspired by the geometric designs of the clay objects made by Brazilian Native Indians, this animation takes us back to a mythological “age of dreams,” when objects had life and when a big snake kept the night locked inside a coconut.
What would life be like without the night?
Brazil, 2005, 8 min
Nineteen
Directed by Jörg Hiller
A shy boy named Pipe wins a baby chick in a raffle and names him, “Nineteen,” because that was his lucky number. Pipe develops a special relationship with his new pet, who soon becomes Pipe’s best friend. But when the chick grows into a rooster, it longs for a life with other chickens. Pipe realizes that he must let his friend go. In the process, Pipe learns of the importance of making friends and connecting with other kids like himself.
Colombia, 2005, 8 min
Egghunt
Directed by Paul Yan
This is the tale of a hungry caveman on a quest to fill his stomach. He discovers a nest full of plump eggs just out of reach. He must devise a way to get the eggs or lose them all. Along the way, he discovers a lesson in friendship.
USA, 2005, 4 min
The Mantis Parable
Directed by Josh Staub
In this moving tale, a caterpillar is trapped in a bug collector’s jar and is in need of help. The film presents a classic parable — a short story with moral, often featuring animals — in a manner that engages young viewers in figuring out the message of the film.
USA, 2005, 8 min
Do Other Things
Directed by Helena Giersz
This upbeat story brings two young rabbits waiting for their apple tree to grow. They need the apples so their mother will bake them an apple pie!
USA, 2005, 4 min
The Magic Lion
Directed by Charles Githinji
Set in the country of Kenya, a boy goes on a quest to save the life of his grandfather who is very sick. The boy sets out in search of a mysterious village of healers who make special medicines. But on the way, the boy encounters a strange lion, caught in a trap, that takes him on an adventure — but will the boy be able to get the medicine and return to his grandfather in time?
Canada, 2004, 7 min
Confection
Directed by Eva Saks
Amanda receives a delicious pastry — one she plans to eat soon. But on a busy New York street corner, Amanda has a change of heart after a poor man applauds her talents. This film leaves viewers with a very good feeling and food for thought. USA, 2003, 4 minutes
Little Pig is Flying
Directed by Alicja Jaworski
Little Pig dreams of being able to fly. She leaves the pigsty and all her friends who tell her that pigs can’t fly. On her journey, she meets animal friends who teach her many of their skills. But she doesn’t learn to fly… until she meets a pilot with an airplane.
Sweden, 2004, 10 min
Downloadable Curriculua
Best of Fest DVD Intro Pages
Domo-Kun and the Egg (Tsuneo Goda, Japan, 2005, 5 mins.)
Luka (Adrienne Michel-Long, Ireland, 2004, 3 mins.
Mondo’s Myths: Where Did the Night Come From? (Andres Lieban, Brazil, 2005, 8 mins.)
Nineteen (Jorg Hiller, Colombia, 2005, 8 mins.),
Egghunt (Paul Yan, USA, 2005, 4 mins.)
The Mantis Parable (Josh Staub, USA, 2005, 8 mins.)
Do Other Things (Helena Giersz, USA, 2005, 4 mins.)
The Magic Lion (C harles Githinji, Canada, 2004, 7 mins.)
Confection (Eva Saks, USA, 2003, 4 mins.)
Little Pig Is Flying (Alicja Jaworski, Sweden, 2004, 10 mins.)
Best of Fest DVD Resource Guide
Testimonials
“It makes my students more aware of the impact that media has on their lives”
-Catherine Jardien, St. Jon Berchmans.
“It can trigger their imaginations and, most surprisingly, it can engage the students who struggle with reading.”
-Kathy Jacobs, Prescott Elem.
“Media literacy can aid students’ cultural awareness, and for educators it can enhance their views of their students and the way children view things”
-Kimberly Lebovitz, Douglas Academy High.
“We had lively discussions requiring comprehension of plot, characters, problems encountered and inferences made.”
-Veronica Rieck, Lafayette Elementary.
“Media Literacy can make students and educators critical consumers and viewers. We are often passive viewers and listeners.if we understand that we should make judgments about what we see, we may make better choices.”
-Michelle Warden, Wadsworth Elem.
About CICFF
The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF), the largest and longest running children’s film program in North America and the first juried, competitive festival of children’s film in the United States. The CICFF discovers the best in world cinema, featuring over 200 films from 40 countries, and is the only children’s film event to be recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an “Academy qualifying” festival. The CICFF advocates positive programming for kids and families: creative, fun, and culturally diverse films that not only tell stories about children and teens but also present things from kids’ point of view. With year round programs, audiences of 30,000 and more than 100 directors in attendance, the CICFF redefines what a children’s festival can be.
- The CICFF shows more films than any other children’s festival in the world.
- Through the Festival, over 416,000 Chicago-area children have been exposed to positive films and videos from hundreds of filmmakers.
- More than 10,000 underserved children attend the Festival free of charge each year and interact directly with filmmakers, actors and educators.
Kids Film Network
The Kids Film Network provides social, educational and community-based organizations with the resources necessary to become active, transformative agents for presenting positive children’s media in their own communities, creating an environment in which positive films for children can thrive.
“Despite proliferating technologies and media saturation, quality children’s films are hard to find,” said Nicole Dreiske, Director of Children’s Programs at Facets Multi-Media. “The Facets Kids Film Network makes every library and every classroom part of an alternative network of venues where great children’s films, especially short films, are viewed, discussed and cherished.”
The idea of the Best of the Fest DVD originated with teachers and parents whose children saw a film at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and wanted to share it with others. But “a Festival screening is just that — a screening. Then the film print goes back to the producer. The Best of the Fest DVD allows us to introduce thousands of other children to these great children’s films.”
How It Works
In development for more than two years, the goal of the Facets Kids Film Network is to empower teachers, librarians, activity directors of after school programs to become “film programmers” who can give children an opportunity to experience the best, most creative and imaginative films from around the world.
This unique Best of the Fest resource will be available to schools, libraries and other children’s institutions after the September premiere in the form of a one-hour DVD. Facets curated the program, secured the rights, authored and created the DVD with leadership grants from The Boeing Company and the Louis R. Lurie Foundation.
Support materials include posters, flyers, publicity materials and a comprehensive 80-page teacher’s study guide. The DVD comes with rights cleared for public performance exhibition. Now educators, librarians and after-school programs seeking positive, multi-cultural media for children can create their own mini-children’s film festival, which essentially comes packaged in a box.
KFN Support
The Facets Kids Film Network and Best of the Fest DVD are made possible by grants from the Louis R. Lurie Foundation, The Boeing Company and additional funds from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council and the Chicago Community Trust.