Just received this notification in my inbox and I am pleased to share widely all the details! We have been to several of these festivals ... just pick and choose from the offerings all day long. While at LACMA, pick up a NextGen free membership for your child and he/she can bring in an adult free too. Pose for a photo of yourself lifting the big rock, or do some free painting while at LACMA this weekend in between film showings!

This year's offering are especially rich in animation, including some created by children.
Everything marked in purple blocks are free showings, which is practically everything.

My 10-year old had a substitute teacher a few days ago who told of the wonders of working at DreamWorks -- and that is enough to encourage her to start learning about creating animation films. Who knows when you will see your own children's creations in a future film festival!

The 9th annual Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival happens this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

We will present films from around the world for children and teens - animation, live action and documentary. Free admission to screenings for everyone!

Among the selections:

The West Coast premiere of "Clara and the Secret of the Bears," a smart, exciting and poignant film about a teen girl who makes a ghostly connection with a girl who lived on her farm two centuries earlier
Some wonderful animated shorts from the UCLA Animation Workshop and CalArts
Short animation from around the world, made by children, in our partnership with the Varazdin Animation Festival International
Meet Syfy channel show "Face Off" contestant Rod Maxwell, who will appear to present his ever-popular one-man short film "The Wishing Well," and a short documentary on his making of the Flavor Monster character for the Truth campaign. Interested in film makeup? This is the program!

No need for advance tickets for any of the screenings, just show up for the programs of your choice and get your free tickets in front of the historic Bing Theater at LACMA.

For more information and the film schedule, visit www.lachildrensfilm.org

Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival


	Live Action Shorts A Pony for Connie Tansy Michaud A little girl who won’t talk. A caring older brother with a plan. (USA) 8th Marcos Casilli Three best friends in different schools spend their last day of 8th grade together. (USA) A Film by Abigail Paul Vernon A child discusses her new toy video camera she received for Christmas, leading her to create and explain the characters and plot of an intricate story she has for a film. (UK) A Pony for Connie Tansy Michaud A little girl who won’t talk. A caring older brother with a plan. (USA) Be Mime Katie Harbin Can a mime woo a new girlfriend without words? Love speaks the truth. (USA) Cootie Contagion Joshua Smooha Biohazard. Cootie levels: Maximum. Patient: Matt. Infected by: Rebecca. Patient still interested in her. Patient must be quarantined! (USA) CyberFair: U.S./Russia Youth Civil Partnership Crystal Page/Yvonne Andres Students in Southern California connect with youth in Russia to design projects urging youth volunteerism worldwide. (USA/Russia) Down Under Hour! Misc. In our partnership with the Australian children’s film festival KidzFlicks, we present five short films from the land Down Under, the varied and enjoyable films “White Rabbit’s First Sleepover,” “My Eco-Friendly House,” “The Simple Things in Life,” “Quirky Rome,” “Josh and the Bean Talk,” and “Generation One 2012.” Enjoy, mate! (Australia) Florida State University Showcase! FSU is one of our longtime festival partners, producing some of the best live-action shorts in the country for young audiences. Join us for a showcase of some of the best recent films from the university, comedies and dramas about young people learning to be themselves. Funny, poignant, memorable. Garpenfargle Bill Kersey/Edward Kim Can one dog obey orders to stay clear of the trash can? Doubt it. (4:00) (USA) Lemonopolis Josh Cartwright Love and lemons: Sometimes a dangerous mix. (USA) Luminaris Juan Pablo Zaramella In a world controlled and timed by light, an ordinary man has a plan that could change the natural order of things. (Spain) Monster Noah Camenker Monster in the bedroom closet? There’s never an easy answer. (USA) Mr. Peewee Rebekah Rae Peck A football referee makes a big mistake in a huge game. Can he remedy his reputation in Pee-Wee football, and make his son proud? Quique’s Guiro Julio Benito Cabrera Old Guiro has little use for the modern music of the new generation. But maybe he can help them see things his way? (Puerto Rico) Ride of the Mergansers Steve Furman Newborn merganser ducklings make their way to the real world. (11:08) (USA) Sled Yassine El idrissi Ismail is an 8-year-old child living with his sister in a mud house in the Atlas mountains. Nobody expected a sled to come into their lives. (Morocco) Star-Crossed Katie Aldworth Young love is not bound by gravity, but galaxies can get in the way. (USA) The End is Near Che Espiritu Friendship trumps sticks and stones. (USA) The Flavor Monster Rod Maxwell In this short documentary, makeup and effects master Rod Maxwell creates this “monster” for the Truth campaign, part of an ongoing education program around the dangers of tobacco. (USA) The Hatchling John Wikstrom Two siblings find a really, really big egg. Now what? (USA) The Kangaroo Anna Gutto A playful film about a young girl’s struggle to accept a big change in her family. (USA)Photo: Wendy Strauss The Wishing Well Rod Maxwell An experimental one-man production, created and starring one person who plays a cast of characters without speaking a single word. Entirely self-shot, directed and edited from a home studio. Love doesn't come so easily, in this romantic comedy of a pop-up book come to life.(12:00) (USA) The Year Book JP Jacobsen As 5th grade closes, Leena summons the courage to ask her secret crush to sign her yearbook. (USA) To the Moon Eric Jaffe A soccer ball helps bridge worlds. One giant leap for two small children. (USA) Un Dia (Extra) Ordinario Andrea Puente A camera captures the moments Oscar knows can’t be forgotten. (USA) Unveiled Courtney Harmstone A Muslim teen tries to adapt to life and friends in a new country.		Animated Shorts I've Awoken Nicholas Mastrangelo A robot crash lands on a planet and tries to settle into his new "home"...until he begins to miss the things that warmed his heart the most. (USA) Abridged Arjun Rihan Two pieces of the Bay Bridge must work together to get the job done. Could love follow? (USA) Ahco on the Road Soyeon Kim A baby elephant is on a journey home after being separated from her mother. (USA) Airport Goodbye Katie Maren Childhood memories remain forever special. (USA) Anansi and Turtle Andrew Aiton Based on the West African folktale, the story of selfish spider Anansi, taught the value of sharing by Turtle. Baseball Boogie Vivian Lee LeRon is the best ball player in the neighborhood, but for this young slugger, every home run is like a strikeout. (USA) Bottle Kirsten Lepore Stop-motion short detailing a transoceanic conversation via bottle. (USA) Bubble Maija Burnett A boy lives in a bubble-world that only he can dream up the means to escape. (4:12) (USA) Bunny Business Rebecca Olson A young man needs to fix his favorite stuffed animal. (USA) CalArts Animation Showcase Some of the best animation from CalArts in recent years, a buffet of animated delights! Some of the best animation from CalArts in recent years, a buffet of animated delights! Titles and directors include: Omelette (Maddie Sharafian); When I Grow Up (Jasmin Lai); Crayon Dragon (Toniko Pantoja); The Princess Who Never Smiled (Sun Jae Lee); Love (Tom Law); Know Me (Sam Kremers-Nedell); Momma's Boy (Seth Boyden); Story Time Confessions Vol. I – III (Hannah Ayoubi); The Light Collector (Erin Loelius); Puppy Love (Hyojin Bae); Kagemono: The Shadow Folk (Sabrina Cotugno); The Funny Thing About Lois (Amelia Lorenz); Swelter (Jacob Streilien); The Trackpad Jam (Jeff Liu); Shape (Eusong Lee); You've Been Mimed (John Kim); Princess of the Magical Tears (Brian Carter); Eyes (Tom Law); Punctuwool (Jacob Streilein); Origin (Jessica Poon); Vampire Gastelbrau (Hannah Ayoubi); 1995 (Jeff Rowe); little boat (Nelson Boles) (A) (USA) (USA) Closed Albert Radl A locked door. A stubborn person. Who wins? (Germany) Dead Bug Julio Benito Cabrera Don’t be too quick to judge nature. It may surprise you. A colorful animation-meets-live-action treat. (Puerto Rico) Deathly Beloved Natalie Xavier Seymour the skeleton boy has a large skull and falls down frequently. When he meets the ghost girl Prudence, things change for him. (USA) Elmer's Nest Jackie Marion A young bird builds a nest in an unconventional way. (USA) Fish Tank Fantasy Alison Chin Frustrated by the boundaries of life, a fish has an epiphany that could bring him happiness. (USA) Follow Nicholas Mastrangelo In this music video by the band Haunted by Heroes, bravery wins out in a battle involving robots and monsters. (USA) Gallery Girl Andrew Marshel Tired of her flat existence, a girl painted on an Egyptian hieroglyphic wall decides to explore the other paintings. (5:09) (USA) Growing Tariq Ramawi Even in the aftermath of war, life grows on. Life, though, is not always a game. (Jordan) Hubo Erick Oh That ball really bounces. (USA) I've Awoken Nicholas Mastrangelo A robot crash lands on a planet and tries to settle into his new "home"...until he begins to miss the things that warmed his heart the most. (USA) Jeff the Robot Adam Holmes Jeff is a robot made from a washing machine, a vacuum and other spare parts. One day, he goes on a hike. (USA) Lightheaded Mike Dacko The story of some curious creatures who venture from the warmth of home to discover their purpose. (USA) Lost and Found Philip Hunt A boy returns a lost penguin to the South Pole. (UK) Maccupation Jackie Marion The young squirrel Mac hoards his precious acorn, but soon learns the value of sharing and friendship. (USA) Made by Kids Animation Showcase Varazdin Animation Festival (VAFI) All-new collection of films made by kids of all ages through our partnership with VAFI. Short, animated films made by children in Croatia, Russia, China, Japan, Canada, U.S., Italy and more! (Global) Made by Kids Animation Showcase: The Sequel Varazdin Animation Festival (VAFI) More all-new, creative and delightful films made by kids of all ages through our partnership with VAFI. Short, animated films made by children in Croatia, Russia, China, Japan, Canada, U.S., Italy and more! (Global) Move Mountain Kirsten Lepore A girl journeys through a vibrant, pulsing, macrocosmic landscape (USA) Munchimonster! Charlotte Puerin The Munchimonster and friends help kids learn more about good eating and the fun and health benefits of exercise, in the films “Munchercise with Munchy Monster,” “How to Save Seeds” and more. Pas De Deux Glace Natalie Xavier Ordinary champagne glasses in an empty house change into a graceful ice-dancing duo. (USA) Propose Daniel Racusin A music video for the Japanese band Paraele Stripes. Mars and Matsu journey through a magical landscape where nature and music are one. They guide a very special egg through the landscape to a tree where a secret will be revealed. (4:30) (USA) Rainy Day Ducks Danielle M. Heitmuller Mai meets a family of ducks at a gas station on a rainy afternoon. Can she help them navigate the urban landscape? (USA) Soup Meghann Artes The alphabet like you have never seen it before. (5:00) (USA) Stepped On Latoya Raveneau A boy is not allowed to speak, but finds his value as a friend goes beyond words. The Mantis Parable Josh Staub A parable of friendship, hope and promises kept. (USA) The Secret Life of Shirts Eric Leppo A man, a chicken, and the shirt they share. (USA) Tuurngait Paul-Emile Boucher An Inuit child wanders away from his village, fascinated by a wild bird. (France) Umbrella Girl Saeko Igarashi A girl learns an umbrella not only keeps you dry, it can take you on adventures. (USA) Wepo Jackie Marion Wepo the alien runs out of gas in the middle of outer space. A plan emerges. Yarn, Paper, Scissors Rebecca Olson A stop-motion animated short about a yarn critter who must save his paper friend from a malevolent pair of scissors. Made at the UCLA Animation Workshop. (USA)