The big(ger) picture

COME FLY WITH ME The nature short Chickens of the Sea is part of a screening that is just for toddlers.

Get ready for some armchair travel around the world: The 26th annual Chicago International Children’s Film festival starts on Thursday 22. The only Academy Award–qualifying children’s fest will screen 265 films from 40-plus countries—more than in any previous year—and offer two weekends filled with workshops on everything from auditioning to stop-motion animation for budding movie-industry types. There are added venues this time around, too. The Harold Washington Center in Bronzeville and Bank of America Cinema in Old Irving Park are screening films this year in addition to five other theaters around the city and suburbs, meaning more kids get to see more movies. We talked with Nicole Dreiske, CICFF’s founder and artistic director, to find out what she’s most looking forward to and what she hopes kids gain from this year’s massive fest.

What films are must-sees?
CICFF has major U.S. premieres this year including A Shine of Rainbows, starring Aidan Quinn and Connie Nielsen, which tells the story of a boy who discovers the magic of Irish culture after being adopted by a woman whose husband isn’t so sure he likes the child. From Time to Time is directed and written by Julian Fellowes [a Best Screenplay Academy Award winner for Gosford Park in 2001], who will be attending screenings. It’s a marvelous ghost story about a boy who befriends some spirits from the past and crosses over to their time to help them. The film explores the nature of friendship and touches sensitively on racial equality.

Why is it so important for kids to have a film fest of their own?
The CICFF is more than just movies—it’s about the whole experience of watching films, understanding how they’re made and what they mean. In a culture where kids routinely watch more than 1,400 hours of media a year, that’s pretty important.

So the fest is about more than just a good time at the movies. What do you hope kids learn?
We help kids notice and understand their own responses to movies. We give them an active role in the festival with voting after every screening and short discussions before and after the movies. Kids like talking about movies! If they learn to process what they’re watching at the festival, they can do it anywhere.

CICFF’s workshops are as popular as the films. How do you decide what to cover?
The workshops help kids to develop an active response to media instead of just letting them be passive consumers. Plus, learning how movies are made helps kids identify the “tricks” in filmmaking and makes them less vulnerable to being disturbed by what they’re watching. This year, we’re offering master classes [on stop-motion animation] with the creative team behind Coraline and acting lessons with Alimi Ballard (Numb3rs). Kids are going to get their “how to” tips from the best in the business.

The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival runs Thursday 22–November 1. For schedules, screening locations and ticket info, go to cicff.org.

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