KIDS FIRST! Radio

One of the perks of this job is watching great films. Two animated, non-narrative films in the KIDS FIRST!  line up are El Salon Mexico, which is about the culture of fiestas in Mexico and Un Duelo, from Garage Post in Mexico City.

EL SALON MEXICO
Running Time:13 minutes
KIDS FIRST!® Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Two talented people, Paul Glickman and Tamarind King collaborated to create a short animated film based on Aaron Copeland’s musical composition, El Salon Mexico. Tamarind and Paul met in 2002 when a mutual friend suggested to the then thirteen year old Albuquerque resident with an interest in animation that she might find a mentor in Paul, a retired film maker up in Santa Fe.

El Salon Mexico is an animated fantasy, set in Mexico in the 1800’s and woven into the musical composition by Aaron Copland. It is the story of a very young campesiño who, along with his burro and rooster, sneaks out of the house one night to see a fiesta for the very first time. The animation is wonderful and enhances the lovely store. The characters are quite fanciful as is the action. If Diego Rivera had made animation, this is what it would look like. Absolutely fun and lovely.  A must for your film festival.

UN DUELO (A DUEL)
Running Time: 3 minutes
KIDS FIRST!® Juror Recommended Age: 5-12
You know those crazy humming birds that just do not share well with each other? Well, in this animated, non-narrative short, two hummingbirds engage in a senseless but sometimes funny battle. There is a moral to the story, but actually it is just fun!

Un Duelo comes from Garage Post in Mexico City and we hope to have more from them.

One of my all time indie favorites, Finn on the Fly is back in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival for 2010. This wacky story about a dog turned into a boy has all the funny, silly humor you might anticipate (think of where dogs drink when in the house) but also a great story about friendship and loyalty. And he plays a mean game of Frisbee! This is one not to miss. 
   
Finn on the Fly is a story about friendship, loyalty and learning to trust your instincts. Finn, a cool, life-loving’, Frisbee-playing dog, and his owner, shy 13-year-old Ben, suddenly find their lives changed when Finn is accidentally transformed into a human being when Dr. Madeline Madsen’s experiment goes wrong. Once on two legs, Finn teaches Ben to feel the wind in his fur, catch Frisbees like a dog and, ultimately, to find his own pack. Starring Ana Gasteyer (The Women, Saturday Night Live, What Women Want), Matthew Knight, Ryan Belleville, Brendon Firla and David Milchard. Directed by Mark Jean (Homecoming)
 

In a unique partnership, KIDS FIRST!, the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. and the Florida Film Festival are hosting a very special call for entries – a short film competition with just one theme and two winners.

The theme, “Orlando Makes Me Smile,” is about fostering family relationships and the joyful experiences that can be found in Orlando. 

The filmmaker should depict how the Orlando experience proves the axiom, “smile and the whole world smiles with you” or show how Orlando makes you smile.

Two winning short films will be selected in the categories of Best Indie Short and Best Student Short. The student competition is open to all students ages 13 to 18. The indie competition is open to filmmakers ages 19 and up. 

This is a short film competition, live action or animation, three minutes or less. Winners will be included as an official selection of both the Florida Film Festival and the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival.  
PRIZES!
Both winners will receive a family vacation for four in Orlando, complete with airfare, lodging, theme park tickets and all access filmmaker passes for the Florida Film Festival, April 9 through 18, 2010. 
DEADLINES!
The competition opens October 15, 2009 and all entries must be postmarked by January 11, 2010. Winners will be selected February 2010 and the winning films will premiere at the Florida Film Festival.
http://www.kidsfirst.org/submit-a-title/OrlandoMakesMeSmile.html