The 2016 TIFF Kids International Film Festival (April 8 – 24)
TIFF Kids International Film Festival Logo
(@TIFF_NET Tweets)
The festival kicked off with a special opening night party beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Canadian premiere, and 'gala' event screening of ODDBALL played afterwards, at 7:00 p.m. The film's director Stuart McDonald was present, and took time afterwards for a public question and answer period. Tickets for the event not only included access to the party, and screening, but also allowed access to the digiPlaySpace, and included a TIFF Kids gift bag. GAP Kids sponsored the event and displayed an array of fun advertisements for ticket holders to take cool selfies.
ODDBALL is a family fun film which takes place near the ocean side of Warrnambool, Australia. A family there run a protected fairy penguin sanctuary, though due to an overpopulation of foxes in the area, only about twenty little penguins are left. The sanctuary (a small offshore island) acts as a safe haven for the birds, though somehow the foxes are still nabbing them.
The penguins, in desperate need of safety, have been disappearing one by one. If even one more penguin disappears, a whale-watching company threatens to turn their penguin port, into a corporate business. Running out of options, the family's father finds a possible protector for the animals in ODDBALL, the troubled family dog. Will the rambunctious sheepdog banned from town save the sanctuary and protect the penguins? You will have to watch the movie to find out!
The fun, frightening, educational, and pro-environmental film is something the entire family can enjoy. ODDBALL is a story about a family who come together to fight to protect themselves, their land, their dog, and their penguins.
A second screening of ODDBALL took place Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 1:15 p.m. Link to trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7AV2ZYlxvI
TIFF Kids digiPlaySpace...
(Credit: Cameron Bailey (TIFF) / Desc: Cameron Bailey and his kids at digiPlaySpace)
Once again, the TIFF Kids Film Festival included the annual, interactive digiPlaySpace. The collaborative 'playground of the future' showcased 25 installations from nine countries and is all about learning through accessibility, exploration, and imagination. Try to imagine if the Ontario Science Centre was inside the TIFF Bell Lightbox. It's really cool...
Some of the new creations and inventions presented this year included really cool project names like Marshmallow Clouds, Digital Bird Playground, Trackoons, Augmented Reality Sandbox, and Monster Mingle. One invention, Toothbrush Machine, will show you a revolutionary way of brushing your teeth. One sits down, unwinds, and let's a robot do the job. Interested? Because I may just stick to my toothbrush...
For a complete list for all of what the 2016 TIFF Kids digiPlaySpace had to offer, be sure to check out the following link...
Link to the 2016 TIFF Kids digiPlaySpace: http://tiff.net/kids-family/digiplayspace16
2016 TIFF Kids Films...
CODEGIRL
(Credit: TIFF Kids / Desc: Film CODEGIRL explores tech and female empowerment)
CODEGIRL is an inspirational film about a revolutionary time where in a male dominates tech market, things soon begin to change. Directed by Leslie Chilcott, an award winning writer, filmmaker, and producer, this story is one about trying, teamwork, and triumph. In this educational and exciting documentary, nations of high school girls meet from around the
globe to challenge the tech world by adding a whole new perspective to a currently male dominated industry.
The App market is currently valued at approximately $75 Billion while over 80% of developers are all male. The films setting follows a global 'Technovation Challenge' as a new age of fifteen year old girls struggle, and vow to hold their own. The winning group is awarded $10,000 to fund, complete, and release their App, though they will all find out along the way, it is not as easy as they all had thought it would be...
CODEGIRL screened at TIFF Kids Film Festival on Sunday, April 10, and is available to buy digitally online. It's 107 minutes in length, rated G, and suggested for children ages 10 and up.
Link to trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRb5iel-3Ck
LITTLE DOOR GODS
(Credit: Kurt Halfyard / Desc: Kids review 3d animated adventure)
3D animated folklore tale, Little Door Gods made it's Canadian premiere at the festival this year. The Chinese film directed by Gary Wang (founder of Light Chaser Animation Studios) is the story of a god from the spirit world who embarks on a personal quest into the human world. In search of his own worth he accidentally unleashes a demon, as the gates between both spirit and human worlds should never have been so open.
As the film is rated PG, certain children may find some scenes frightening. The story involves the death of a character's grandparents, and reminder of constant threats of danger. It is suggested that all children who watch this film should be a minimum of 10 years old.
Link to trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAGMDOZhloY
TIFF Kids Industry Conferences...
(Credit: TIFF Kids / Desc: TIFF Kids logo)
The TIFF Kids Industry Conferences include three days of speeches and presentations from actors, directors, programmers, game developers, and interactive producers.
(Credit: TIFF Kids / Desc: @thatmilliedavis tweet)
Highlights included a conversation with Bonnie Arnold; Co-President of feature animation at DreamWorks Animation, and a presentation by Constance Steinkuehler; Co-Director of the Education + Games + Learning Society. The conference provided an opportunity to listen to these people discuss their many talents, years of professional knowledge, and lists of lifelong achievements.
The conferences took place from April 18 to April 20.
