Sprockets

Toronto – TIFF is proud to announce an incredible slate of films for kids of all ages at this year’s Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children and Youth. The 14th annual Sprockets festival takes place April 5-17, 2011 and showcases more than 100 films from 28 countries for children aged 3 through 18. The festival offers an exclusive opportunity for audiences to see films from around the world on the big screen. This year, Sprockets has expanded its programming from 7 to 13 days. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at tiff.net/sprockets.

“We’re very pleased to be able to offer our programming over two weekends this year. Themes range from bullying and childhood obesity to dreams of car racing, circus performing and making it big,” says Elizabeth Muskala, Director of Festivals and Events, TIFF. “Our selections include The Crocodiles Strike Back, the sequel to the Sprockets 2010 Audience Award winner The Crocodiles, and a special presentation of the inspiring The Sound of Mumbai: A Musical. There is also plenty of adventure with The Secret Letter, based on the best-selling novel from the Netherlands, and Tiger-Team, a mystery in which three adventurers travel from Germany to Beijing.”

“We’re thrilled to see Sprockets moving into our new home, TIFF Bell Lightbox,” says Shane Smith, Director of Public Programmes, TIFF. “Our young audiences will take over all five cinemas as well as our learning studios for hands-on activities and workshops for the whole family. Again this year, Sprockets will continue to engage the audience in fun and creative ways: we offer showcases for young aspiring filmmakers and a line-up of special guests to facilitate post-screening discussions.”

Guests this year include the young director of Finding Kind, Lauren Parsekian, discussing girl-on-girl bullying; filmmaker Greg Jacobs and one of the stars of the slam poetry documentary, Louder Than A Bomb; and filmmaker Arne Birkenstock from Chandani: The Daughter of the Elephant Whisperer. Preceding the screening of The Sound of Mumbai: A Musical is a performance by the local youth orchestra, La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra.

As previously announced, Sprockets presents the World Premiere of Pixar Animation Studio’s newest short, Hawaiian Vacation, a Toy Story Toon, on Opening Night. As part of the Sprockets Opening Night programme on Friday, April 8, audiences will also be treated to a sneak peek at scenes from the upcoming Disney Pixar release, Cars 2. Sprockets attendees will learn how the magic is made during a special behind-the-scenes presentation by a Pixar animator who worked on both Hawaiian Vacation and Cars 2.
Following our annual awards ceremony, the festival closes on Sunday, April 17 with the World Premiere of the inspirational Circus Dreams. In this documentary, the young performers of Circus Smirkus learn much more than walking a tightrope as they deal with classic teen issues, while also performing under the Big Top for one memorable summer. Sprockets is also proud to debut the weekend matinee series Family Classics, which launches with the timeless Disney film Mary Poppins.
In addition to feature film, Sprockets also screens the best in short film. Reel Rascals showcase films specifically for kids aged 3-6. Our Loot Bag – On the Move! features an animated version of the much-loved children’s book, The Gruffalo and Loot Bag
– Strange Places, Funny Faces is a brand new additional programme especially for kids aged 9-12. This year’s programme includes the Academy Award® winning short, The Lost Thing from Australia.
Celebrating its tenth year, Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase presents short films created for young people by young people. This stimulating event gathers the best work by Ontario youth in grades 3 through 12, highlighting their creativity, originality and unique vision. Screenings will be followed by a short Q&A session.

Sprockets High School programme runs April 5-8 and Elementary School programme runs April 11-15, 2011. The general public can purchase tickets to our school programme screenings subject to availability. Sprockets School Programmes take students and educators beyond the classroom and use the power of film to foster thought and encourage discussion about the complex and challenging issues facing young people today. Our school programme is designed with curriculum links and support materials for educators.
Tickets for Sprockets go on sale to TIFF members March 8 and to the general public March 22. Visit tiff.net/sprockets, call 416-599-TIFF (toll free 1-888-599-TIFF) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or visit the Box Office at TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West, Toronto. Open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.Tickets are priced at Adult $12.00, Student/Senior $9.50 and Children (12 and under) $8.50. Family packets of 10 tickets are available for $75.00. Visa† is the only credit card accepted by TIFF.

FEATURE FILM PRESENTATIONS
This year, Sprockets is pleased to present the following 33 feature films:

African Cats, directors: Keith Scholey & Alastair Fothergill, USA
Against the untamed backdrop of the African savanna, Disneynature brings us this heart-warming true-life adventure, which follows the real-life journeys of two clans of lions and cheetahs. In this epic film, we meet Mara, an endearing and curious lion cub; Sita, a brave cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, the proud leader of the pride who must defend them from a rival lion. Sprockets is thrilled to be showing this special presentation of Disneynature African Cats in advance of its theatrical release on Earth Day, April 22, 2011. Age recommendation 8 and up.
Big (Dik), director: Maartje Bakers, The Netherlands. Dutch with English subtitles
North American Premiere
“Eating is actually a drug,” reveals 15-year-old Frederieke in this eye-opening documentary about two teens forced to confront their weight issues. Big follows Frederieke and her new friend Dylan as they head to a special camp to learn about healthier lifestyles, where they find inspiration and support from others facing the same issues of self-confidence and isolation. Age recommendation 14 and up.
A Cat in Paris (Une vie de chat), director: Jean-Loup Felicioli & Alain Gagnol, France. French with English subtitles
Canadian Premiere
Dino the cat may not have nine lives, but he has at least two. During the day he lives with his young owner Zoé and her mother Jeanne, the Paris Police Commissioner. At night, Dino joins up with Nico, a daring burglar with a surprisingly big heart. When Zoé’s curiosity leads her to follow Dino on one of his nightly escapades, she triggers a bizarre series of events culminating in a grand chase across the rooftops of Paris. Age recommendation 9 and up.
Chandani: The Daughter of the Elephant Whisperer (Chandani und ihr elefant), director: Arne Birkenstock,
Germany/Sri Lanka. Sinhala with English subtitles and English.
Canadian Premiere
Children’s Jury Prize, Documentary, Chicago International Children’s Film Festival 2010 The profession of mahout (elephant whisperer) in Sri Lanka has traditionally been an exclusively male one, so when young Chandani becomes determined to follow in her father’s footsteps and learn the secrets of the trade that has been passed down through generations of her family, she has to work with extraordinary dedication to prove herself. Age recommendation 9 and up.
Circus Dreams, director: Signe Taylor, USA
World Premiere
This vibrant documentary examines the lives of the young performers of Circus Smirkus, a traveling circus group and training programme. The performers, all aged 12-18, have to learn the difficult arts of juggling and walking the tightrope while dealing with
the classic teen issues (gossip, burgeoning romance), and have to step up to save the circus when it faces a mounting financial crisis. Age recommendation 10 and up.
The Crocodiles Strike Back (Vorstadtkrokodile 2), director: Christian Ditter, Germany. German with English subtitles
Children’s Jury Award, Best Feature Film, Children’s Film Festival Seattle 2010
In this action-packed sequel to the Sprockets 2010 Audience Award winner The Crocodiles, our favourite gang of pint-sized detectives stumbles across a plot involving a local factory threatened with a mysterious closure. Worried that their parents will lose their jobs, the young sleuths must work together to uncover the sinister plan. Age recommendation 10 and up.
Finding Kind, director: Lauren Parsekian, USA
Canadian Premiere
The pressing issue of girl-against-girl bullying is skilfully addressed in Lauren Parsekian’s vital new documentary. Lauren and Molly Stroud, both victims of bullying by their peers, undertake a trip across the U.S. with their mothers, interviewing hundreds of females young and old who offer profound insights into how bullying can not only damage a young woman’s self-esteem but can also result in depression, eating disorders, drug and alcohol use, or even suicide. Age recommendation 12 and up.
Fuchsia, the Mini-Witch (Foeksia de miniheks), director: Johan Nijenhuis, The Netherlands. Dutch with English subtitles
North American Premiere
Adapted from the popular book by Paul Van Loon, this delightful film from Disney Netherlands follows a diminutive young witch named Fuchsia, who is hatched from a tiny egg discovered by the wizard Quark. Warned to stay away from humans, Fuchsia accidentally meets and befriends a young boy named Tommie. When the Witches’ Wood is threatened by Tommie’s uncle, a local developer, Fuchsia and her fellow witches must stand side by side to protect the environment. Age recommendation 6 and up.
The Happets: In the Kingdom of the Sun (La tropa de trapo: The Happets), director: Alex Colls, Spain. English language.
North American premiere
In this feature-length 3-D film adapted from the joyful computer-animated television series, Moo Moo the cow meets a herd of performing sheep and decides to hit the road to the Kingdom of the Sun in hopes of becoming a star. As Moo Moo encounters a series of obstacles on the road to fame – not least trying to fit in with the super-stylish sheep – her friends Alfred the dog, Rita the giraffe, Milo the bear and Olga the pig set out to find her and convince her that she’s special just for being herself. Age recommendation 4 and up.
Here Comes Lola (Hier kommt Lola), director: Franziska Buch, Germany. German with English Subtitles In this sweet, award-winning feature, 9-year-old Lola seemingly has it all – in her dreams, at least. In her fantasy world, she leads a fabulous lifestyle as pop star Jacky Jones, who rides in stretch limos and plays concerts for thousands of adoring fans. Back in reality, however, she discovers that the one thing missing in her life is a (real) best friend. At first Lola resents being forced to sit with her classmate Flo, who smells of fish and teases Lola about her fear of frogs. But after spending time together, Lola learns an important lesson about friendship. Age recommendation 7 and up.
Jitters (Órói), director: Baldvin Z, Iceland. Icelandic with English subtitles
North American Premiere
A refreshingly realistic take on teenage life, Jitters follows Icelandic teenager Gabriel on a trip to England, where he has a life-changing encounter with the rebellious and freethinking Marcus. As Gabriel reconnects with his tight-knit circle of friends back home, his confusion about his sexual identity is brought to the fore when tragedy befalls the group, forcing them to re-evaluate their fragile relationships to each other and to their families. Age recommendation 15 and up.
Karla and Jonas (Karla og Jonas), director: Charlotte Sachs Bostrup, Denmark. Danish with English subtitles
The third in a trilogy of films based on a book series by Renée Toft Simonsen, Karla and Jonas offers an original twist on the coming-of-age story. After sharing her first kiss with Jonas during the summer, 13-year-old Karla, inspired by a reality television show reuniting estranged children with their birth mothers, decides she wants to help him find the mother who had given him up as a young child. Armed with only a name and a photograph, they embark on an eventful and emotional journey. Age recommendation 10 and up.
Kérity, la maison des contes, director: Dominique Monféry, France. French with no English subtitles
Dans l’ancienne maison Kérity se trouve une collection d’éditions originales contenant un merveilleux secret: à la tombée de la nuit, les personages de ces fameux contes sortent des livres. Natanaël, un petit garçon de sept ans pas encore capable de lire, reçoit, au décès de sa tante Éléonore, cette fameuse bibliothèque. Après avoir vendu les livres à un antiquaire sans scrupules,
Natanaël découvre que si par malheur les livres quittaient Kérity, leurs histoires seraient oubliées et tous les petits héros disparaîtraient à jamais. Pour sauver ses minuscules amis et leurs histoires, Natanaël, en affrontant ses peurs, se lance dans l’aventure! Arrivera-t-il à temps pour lire la formule magique qui les sauvera tous? Âge recommandé: 6 ans et plus.
Life, Above All, director: Oliver Schmitz, South Africa/Germany. Pedi with English Subtitles
Co-presented with Human Rights Watch Canada
This stunning adaptation of Allan Stratton’s best-selling 2004 novel Chanda’s Secrets focuses on Chanda, a young girl struggling to maintain the semblance of a normal life amidst the difficulties and tragedies her family has to endure. When her HIV-positive mother is forced to flee their South African township, Chanda’s courage, compassion and loyalty come to the fore. Age recommendation 14 and up.
Light of the River, director: Tetsuo Hirakawa, Japan. Japanese with English Subtitles
Canadian Premiere
When their riverbank home is destroyed by a construction project, a family of rats is forced to flee to the city. They must learn to navigate unfamiliar territory, make new friends and ward off dangers as they search for a new place to call home. Age recommendation 4 and up.
Louder Than a Bomb, directors: Greg Jacobs & Jon Siskel, USA International Premiere
This energetic documentary follows five teams of teenaged students from neighbourhoods across Chicago as they prepare for the annual slam poetry competition that gives the film its title. As the students learn to work together and share their personal stories, they discover how they can eloquently transform their unique experiences and daunting emotional issues into intricate and expressive rhymes. Age recommendation 14 and up.
The Magicians (Het geheim), director: Joram Lürsen, The Netherlands. Dutch with English Subtitles
Ben Stikker and his father share the same dream: to become great magicians like Hans Smid. Together they perform as Stikker and Son, assisted by Ben’s friend Sylvie. But when Sylvie disappears during a new trick, Ben’s happy family begins to fall apart. As the whole town tries to solve the mystery, Ben realizes it’s up to him to save Sylvie and his family before it’s too late. Age recommendation 7 and up.
Mary Poppins, director: Robert Stevenson, USA
This beloved musical fantasy stars the Academy Award®-winning Julie Andrews as the magical nanny who descends from the sky to take two unruly children in hand, leading them on adventures with dancing chimneysweeps, animated penguins, and a high-stepping song-and-dance man (Dick Van Dyke). Packed with classic songs—“A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and of course “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”—Mary Poppins is still practically perfect in every way.
Modra, director: Ingrid Veninger, Canada.
Canada’s Top 10 Selection 2010
This deeply affecting coming-of-age tale follows teenagers Lina and her travel companion Leco as they set out to visit Lina’s extended family in Slovakia. Featuring a cast composed entirely of first-time actors, Modra captures the relationship that blooms between Lina and Leco as they explore the Slovakian landscape and culture and embark on their own journey of self-discovery. Age recommendation 14 and up.
Most Valuable Players, director: Matthew Kallis, USA
Canadian Premiere While high school sports in the U.S. are lavished with funding, publicity and scholarships, drama programs are often relegated to the wings. But every year in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, talented young theatre students are given one special night to shine in the televised Freddy Awards, considered the Super Bowl of high school musical theatre. Observing three high school performing arts companies as they compete for the title, Most Valuable Players illustrates that the arts require the same kind of teamwork, camaraderie and dedication as the playing field. Age recommendation 14 and up.
Out for the Long Run, director: Scott Bloom, USA
Canadian Premiere
This timely documentary investigates the charged issue of homophobia in high school and college sports. Through interviews and video diaries, openly gay young athletes recount harrowing stories of the mockery, ostracization and abuse they have endured, and how this has affected their ability to compete. Testimonies from gay professional athletes offer a message of hope for those struggling to be true to themselves. Age recommendation 14 and up.