9th Annual Miami Children’s Film Festival

9TH ANNUAL MIAMI CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL
ANNOUNCES COMPLETE PROGRAM

EVENT RUNS NOVEMBER 17-20
2022 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
8 SCREENINGS
4 FLORIDA PREMIERES
SENSORY-FRIENDLY SCREENING
FAMILY FUN ON ARAGON FESTIVAL STREET FAIR WITH HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS AND PARTY ON PERRIN PLAZA
PAY WHAT YOU CAN TICKETS TO FILMS

The Miami Children’s Film Festival, (MCFF) presented by the Coral Gables Art Cinema, South Florida’s leading art house venue, returns November 17 to 20. Celebrating its nine-year anniversary, the festival presents highly acclaimed international cinema for children and families, with more than 27 short and feature-length films, including four Florida premieres.

The festival offers a unique opportunity to experience a diverse range of fun, compelling, and high-quality films for children and teens, many not otherwise theatrically available to Miami audiences. Highlights of this year’s festival include the family animation feature based on the best-selling book series by Rotraut Susanne Berner and written by acclaimed scriptwriter Aje Andrea Brücken, Best Birthday Ever (Germany, Netherlands, Sweden), which makes its Florida theatrical premiere at MCFF and a sensory-friendly screening and Florida premiere of Knot: Weaving a Symphony (Singapore) that provides a special opportunity for individuals living with autism and others to enjoy films in a safe and accepting environment.

As with years past, the festival also offers exciting and enriching opportunities for children and families to engage with the festival throughout the four-day run, including hands-on workshops, and an extension of the annual Party on the Plaza to a street fair (Family Fun on Aragon) on Saturday. These events provide South Florida families with fun, meaningful and thought-provoking activities within a safe community setting.

Coral Gables Art Cinema Executive Director and Programming Director Brenda Moe said, “We’re thrilled to celebrate the 9th year of the festival and provide an opportunity for everyone in the community to experience these unique cultural offerings with pay what you can ticketing for every film, which helps remove barriers to access to the arts.”

“We will be presenting age-appropriate films from all over the world. Children will have the experience of seeing people of varied cultures and gain understanding and appreciation for our differences. In addition, there will be many opportunities for family fun such as hands-on workshops, a petting zoo, a bounce house, music and dance. It will be a great experience for all, and it is free!” said Midge Blumberg-Krams, Chairperson of Children and Family Programs.

MCFF is an outgrowth of the Coral Gables Art Cinema’s success in specialized family film events, summer film camps, and a highly acclaimed first-run art house exhibition schedule. Additional groups collaborating with this year’s Festival include Young Musicians Unite and Imago Art in Action.

Funding for MCFF comes in part from the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; the City of Coral Gables; Magna-Tech Electronic Co. Inc.; Continental Film & Digital Labs, Inc.; Grove Bank & Trust and others. A 2012 grant from the Knight Foundation facilitated the inception of the Festival.

WHAT:
Miami Children’s Film Festival

WHEN:
November 17 to November 20

TICKETS AND INFO:
https://www.gablescinema.com/programs/mcff-2022/

LOCATION:
Coral Gables Art Cinema
260 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables FL 33134
Discounted Parking in Adjacent Lot
(across the street from Books & Books)


SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY – NOVEMBER 19

LIVE ACTION SHORTS PROGRAM, UNIQUE DOCS, FLORIDA PREMIERES AND A SENSORY-FRIENDLY SCREENING OPEN TO ALL

11:00AM
Live Action Shorts

(Ages 6-8+)
94 minutes (10 shorts)

A tale of overcoming deep fears and conveying that on the other side of any challenge is an experience that will strengthen your character and stay with you for a lifetime (India), An adventurous young boy and his determined mother share a passion for Labrador Inuit drum dancing (Canada), and a story about a very special piñata (Mexico). This diverse collection of unique and heartwarming films will delight children ages 6 to 8+.

1:30PM
Zero Gravity

2021, 74 min, Documentary, Recommended for ages 8+, In English
A diverse group of middle-school students goes on the journey of a lifetime when they compete in a nationwide tournament to code satellites aboard the International Space Station.

3:15PM
Yung Punx: A Punk Parable

Florida premiere, 2021, 64 min, Documentary, Recommended for ages 10+, In English
A documentary that follows the punk band Color Killer, formed by four little kids who became the youngest group ever to play at the Warped Tour music festival. This screening is presented in partnership with Young Musicians Unite, an organization that believes that every child deserves access to music education regardless of their socio-economic background.

5:00PM
KNOT: Weaving a Symphony

Sensory-friendly screening
Florida premiere, 2021, 70 min, Documentary, Recommended for all ages, In English
Using rare recordings and archival footage, discover the people and sounds that inspired these special needs children, from a life of knotted dreams to reality. This sensory friendly screening provides a special opportunity for individuals living with autism and others to enjoy films in a safe and accepting environment.

EVENTS
12:00 to 5:00PM
FAMILY FUN ON ARAGON FESTIVAL STREET FAIR

Aragon Avenue will be partially closed from Salzedo St. to Ponce de Leon Blvd. for a festival street fair featuring local vendors, a bounce house, petting zoo and more! This event is free and open to the public and takes place outdoors.

12:00 to 5:00 pm
KAMISHIBAI WORKSHOP

Location: Coral Gables Art Cinema
Price: FREE
Ages 3+

1:00 to 3:00 pm
MUSIC WORKSHOP

Location: Coral Gables Museum (285 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134)
Price: FREE
Ages 2+

No registration is required for participation in the workshops.

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SUNDAY – NOVEMBER 5
SENSORY FRIENDLY PROGRAM & FLORIDA PREMIERES

10:00AM
Animated Shorts

60 min, Animated, Recommended for all ages
This dynamic selection of animated shorts will inspire, entertain, and engage even the littlest filmgoers, showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe.

12:30PM
My Dad is a Sausage

2021, 83 min, Live Action, Recommended for ages 11+, In Dutch with English subtitles
Zoë is best buddies with her father. When he suddenly and inexplicably decides to become an actor, the rest of the family thinks he’s having a midlife crisis. Zoë is the only one who believes he’s an amazing actor waiting to be discovered.

2:30PM
Best Birthday Ever

Florida premiere, 2021, 75 min, Animated, Recommended for ages 3+, In English
Every child loves their birthday and an adventure! This animated feature, based on the best-selling book series by Rotraut Susanne Berner, is about a small rabbit who lives with his parents and is preparing celebrate his 5th birthday.

4:15PM
Oink

Florida premiere, 2022, 72 min, Animated, Recommended for ages 7+, In Dutch with English Subtitles
A charming stop-motion animated feature about a young vegetarian and her beloved pet piglet, who do their best to stay out of trouble during the village’s annual sausage-making contest.

12:00PM – 5:00PM
CLOSING PARTY ON THE PLAZA

MUSIC & DANCE PARTIES • FACE PAINTING • BALLOON ARTIST
The festival closes out with fun activities, music and more! This event is free and open to the public and takes place outdoors on the plaza in front of the cinema.

Tickets can be purchased in advance on the cinema’s website at www.gablescinema.com or in person at the box office during regular screening hours. For more information, visit the website or the cinema’s social media pages (@gablescinema on Instagram and Twitter, or Facebook at facebook.com/gablescinema). You can also contact the cinema by email at hello@gablescinema.com or call 786.472-2249.

Named 2022’s Best Art-House Cinema and Best Movie Theater (Readers’ Choice) by the Miami New Times, Coral Gables Art Cinema serves South Florida as its premiere nonprofit cinema. Open 365-days a year, its state-of-the-art auditorium boasts 141 seats, 4K digital projection, 3D, and shows films on 35mm & 70mm. The cinema is entering its next stage of growth when it will begin the build-out of an additional auditorium and screen for increased programming. The cinema is located at 260 Aragon Avenue (map), directly across the street from Books & Books, on the western end of the ground floor of the Museum Parking Garage.

Funding for the Coral Gables Art Cinema comes in part from the City of Coral Gables; the Coral Gables Community Foundation; the Knight Foundation; Steven Krams and Midge Blumberg-Krams; Bacardi; the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the many businesses, individual donors and members who contribute to the Cinema’s work.

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