Take the kids to a movie - or 12

The Tel Aviv International Children's Film Festival runs this week, with great entertainment and learning options for all ages.

By HANNAH BROWN
film good 88 (photo credit: )
film good 88
(photo credit: )
Many parents who have grown frustrated at the lack of variety and depth in children's movies will be happy to hear that, for the fourth year, the Tel Aviv Cinematheque is hosting the Tel Aviv International Children's Film Festival, which runs from September 24-27. During these four days, children (and the parents who accompany them) will have the chance to see dozens of films, aimed at three basic age groups: four and up, eight to 12, and young teens. These films include features and shorts from all around the world, as well as animated films (ones made by studios other than Disney/Pixar and DreamWorks). There are also several workshops that teach children about filmmaking techniques (including special effects), as well as programs of films made by Israeli children and teens. All films are either dubbed into Hebrew or shown with Hebrew titles, depending on which age group they are intended for. The opening-night movie is Mother Nanny, a rare, export-quality film from the Philippines. This movie has won awards at festivals all over, including in Cairo and Egypt. It tells the story of the rivalry and bond that develops between two girls. One is the poor daughter of a woman who works as a nanny and the other is the rich girl whom the nanny cares for. It raises issues that touch the lives of many children but are rarely brought up in films. The International Category offers features from several other countries, including China, Germany, Finland and the Netherlands. Where is Winky's Horse, which was the opening night film at the Kinderfest category at the Berlin Film Festival, tells the story of a Chinese girl living in the Netherlands who dreams of riding a white horse she feels has special powers. It's the sequel to a popular 2005 film, Winky's Horse. Hide 'N' Seek, an Indian film, is about two teens who get more of an adventure than they bargained for when they visit Ladakh and go for an outing with their cook's child, who gets kidnapped. Max Minsky and Me is a contemporary story of a young German Jewish girl, conflicted over her upcoming bat mitzva because of her strong faith in science, who gets help with her struggle when a new boy moves to the neighborhood. A special program of films on nature, especially animals, should be of interest to pet-loving kids. This program features films from Africa, Australia and the Netherlands. Special screenings include Castelo Ra-Tim Bum, a movie that has been described as the Brazilian Harry Potter. It's directed by Cao Hamburger (be sure to tell the kids it's pronounced Cow Hamburger) and tells the story of a young wizard who must create new spells to save the world before planets collide. There's also a 1938 animated version of Gulliver's Travels; and three Danish films about the the bonds that develop between children and animals. In addition to the special-effects workshop, there will be a workshop on dubbing, to explain the process to children, and a workshop to demonstrate the use of miniatures in moviemaking. There are also several programs of short films by and about children, including Minutes of Independence, short films by children that represent all different segments of Israeli society, sponsored by Keshet and Mifal Hapayis; A Day in My Life, short films about the lives of different children throughout the country, by Channel 1; Children Making Movies, sponsored by the Children's Channel; and Life as a Movie, a project about children of different religions. So if you have a budding filmmaker - or just a movie lover - in your family, check out the festival Web site: http://kidsfestival.cinema.co.il/default.asp.