East Lansing Children's Film Festival

Lights, Camera, Entertainment!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ENTERTAINMENT! 8TH ANNUAL EAST LANSING CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL TO HIGHLIGHT 100 FILMS FROM 14 COUNTRIES

For Immediate release: February 1, 2005 - East Lansing, MI:

The 8th annual East Lansing Children’s Film Festival ("ELCFF") will continue its tradition to entertain, enrich, educate and inspire children of all ages with an exciting lineup of over 100 films from 14 countries!

February 25-March 3, 2005 marks the date for this year’s festival featuring 19 programs of films for children ranging from the youngest audience (6 and under), all ages, 8 and older and NEW! TeenREEL - films for teens and older. Admission is $3/child and $5/adult per program. Tickets are available on-line at http://www.presaleticketing.com until 1 p.m. on Friday, February 25 or at the door 1 hour prior to show times.

Opening night features LITTLE LONGNOSE at the Albert A. White Performing Arts Theatre, East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, at 7:00 p.m. LITTLE LONGNOSE is the first theatrically released animated film from Russia in over 40 years. Directed by Ilya Maximov, the film, based on the fairy tales of Wilhelm Hauff, tells the tale of a boy named Jacob who is turned into a dwarf after refusing to help an evil witch take over the world. Jacob befriends Princess Greta, a goose by way of the witch’s spell and the two join together to find that with a little magic, some brainpower and perseverance, it pays to stay true to what you believe. After the film, enjoy the kid friendly tunes of Mystic Shake and a piece of our celebration cake!

Throughout the day on both Saturday, February 26th and Sunday, February 27th, the ELCFF presents blocks of films beginning at 12:30 p.m. at South Kedzie Hall on the Michigan State University Campus (corner of Farm Lane and Auditorium) and at NCG Eastwood Cinema (Lake Lansing Road and US 127). For specific program information, go to http://www.elcff.com. Convenient parking is available at both venues.

In between screenings, children can participate in An Introduction to Animation: Flipbook & Zoetrope Workshop. Visiting filmmakers and animators will be on hand to demonstrate the basics of animation with fun and easy to use methods. These free workshops run Saturday February 26th and Sunday February 27th, noon-4 p.m., South Kedzie Hall lobby.

For children with some drawing experience, start the festival weekend early Saturday morning, February 26th, with award-winning photographer and animation teacher Ken Scott and artist Chris Allen-Wickler for an exciting animation workshop, HHAM (Hand-held animated movies) from 9-11 a.m. at the Scene Metrospace, 303 Abbott Road, East Lansing. Participants will create a series of drawings which will be captured and sequenced, using computers, to make a collaborative movie. Music, sound and credits come next and the completed original film will premiere on Sunday, February 27th. Many of Scott’s students’ films have been entered and awarded prizes in the annual ELCFF Youth Film Competition. The workshop is open to students 10-years-old and up. Cost is $20. Space is limited, call the ELCFF office at 517-853-0502 to reserve a spot!

Another workshop offering is from SEMAFX Network (Southeast Michigan Animation and Special Effects Network) President Jake Pollok who will be bringing the SEMAFX ‘Tricks of the Trade’ to children ages 7 and up in this fun workshop held from 9-11 a.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center. Pollok and other members of the SEMAFX Network will demonstrate how to create animated characters and produce single-frame animation stories. Cost is $20 and space is limited. Call the ELCFF office at 517-853-0502 to reserve a spot!

From 4:00-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, filmgoers are welcome to attend a festival celebration at FLATS GRILLE, 551 Grand River Avenue. Complimentary appetizers will be served --- come mingle with festival guests.

NEW! TeenREEL - presenting feature films and short programs for older film buffs (12 and up), begins Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m., February 26th at NCG Eastwood Cinema. TeenREEL opening night will premiere soon-to-be-released live-action film, MILLIONS (Fox Searchlight). Directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting), the film follows two brothers, Anthony and Damian, who are trying to start over after the death of their mother. When a suitcase full of money falls out of the sky at Damian’s feet, it sets the boys out on an adventure of a lifetime that leads them to realize that true wealth has nothing to do with money. Boyle reinvents the cinematic experience for all young dreamers in this heartwarming film.

Sunday morning, February 27th, will continue with the Directors Roundtable Series, 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Beaumont Room of the East Lansing Marriott at University Place. Enjoy a continental breakfast as filmmakers and industry guests offer the inside scoop on the art, craft and business of film. Continue the festival day at 12:30 p.m. with film programs at South Kedzie. At 2:45 p.m. come screen the winning films of this year’s 2005 ELCFF Youth Film Competition. Winners will receive cash awards. These awards recognize elementary through high school students throughout the state of Michigan who submitted original films that were judged and considered to be of exceptional creativity and skill. A new award has been added this year - the Girls in Film award, recognizing excellence in filmmaking and creativity by girls in each school category. A reception will follow this screening.

TeenREEL programs at NCG will begin each night at 6:30 p.m. starting Saturday, February 26th through Wednesday, March 2nd.

ELCFF Closing Night, Thursday, March 3rd, all ages are invited for a special compilation screening of BEST OF THE FEST 2005! This program will be created when audience award ballots are tallied from the February 26-27 weekend festival programs. Come see your favorites again, or catch some short films you may have missed!

The ELCFF is a year-round non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing films from around the globe that enrich, inspire, educate and entertain children without violent or exploitative content. Now a seven-day festival, it is devoted to the highly creative and enriching world of film. Offerings throughout the year include a state-wide youth film competition that focuses on films made by children in grades K-12, year-round media literacy programs and filmmaking workshops for children K-12.