TIFF Announces Special Guests to Kids Fest

Running April 8 through 21, 2014, the 17th annual TIFF Kids International Film Festival, one of the biggest film festivals in North America with special programming and activities for children aged 3 to13, welcomes an exciting slate of special guests from around the world.  

Guests attending TIFF Kids include:
Tuesday, April 8
9:45 a.m.
Frans Weisz (director)*
Finn Netherlands, Toronto Premiere
*Also in attendance April 11 at 12 p.m. and April 12 at 2.15 p.m.
Finn is a nine-year-old boy who lives with his single dad in a small village. One day, Finn hears a stranger playing a violin in an old farmhouse nearby, and he becomes entranced by the beauty of the music. But Finn’s father forbids him from visiting the stranger or playing the instrument.
Recommended for ages 9 and up.

Wednesday, April 9
12 p.m.
Pierre Greco (director) and Nancy Florence-Savard (producer)*
The Rooster of St-Victor (Le Coq de St-Victor) Canada, Toronto Premiere
*Also in attendance April 12 at 10 a.m.
Although the annoyingly punctual rooster keeps the town of St-Victor motivated with his ear-splitting morning crow, one group of sleep-deprived citizens has had enough of having their slumber disrupted. But when their plan to rid themselves of the rooster causes the village's fortunes to spiral, their fellow townspeople must find the fowl before the whole town goes under!
Recommended for ages 7 and up.

Thursday, April 10
7 p.m.
TIFF Kids Opening Night!
Carlos Saldanha (director)
Rio 2 USA, Canadian Premiere
It’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids in Rio 2, after they’re hurtled from that magical city to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all — his father-in-law. All your favorite Rio characters are back, and they’re joined by Oscar® nominee Andy Garcia, Grammy® winner Bruno Mars, Tony® winner Kristin Chenoweth and Oscar/Emmy/Tony winner Rita Moreno. Rio 2 also features new Brazilian artists and original music by Janelle Monáe and Wondaland.Recommended for ages 7 and up.

Friday, April 11
10 a.m.
Mark Dippé and Daniel Chuba (directors)*
The Boxcar Children USA, World Premiere
*Also in attendance April 12 at 3 p.m.
Meet Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny, four orphaned siblings who mysteriously appear in a small town on a warm summer night. No one knows who these young wanderers are or where they have come from. The children make a home for themselves in an old abandoned boxcar in the woods, and in this secret place they can keep their family together and safe from the one person who wants to break them apart. A touching tale of family togetherness based on the classic 1920s children’s book by Gertrude Chandler Warner.
Recommended for ages 6 and up.

Saturday, April 12
12 p.m.
Katarina Launing (director)*
Kick It! (Kule kidz gråter ikke) Norway, North American Premiere
*Also in attendance April 13 at 12 p.m.
Anja loves soccer more than anything else, but when a serious illness forces her off the field she receives help from a very unexpected source.
Recommended for ages 10 and up.

2:45 p.m.
Dave Schram (director)*
Regret! (Spijt!) The Netherlands, Toronto Premiere
*Also in attendance April 15 at 10:15 a.m.
Based on the book by popular Dutch author Carry Slee, this all-too-realistic story about a teenager relentlessly tormented by his peers speaks powerfully to the devastating consequences that can result if young people don't stand up and speak out against bullying.
Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Sunday, April 13
3 p.m.
Christian Lo, Norway (director)*
The Tough Guys (De tøffeste gutta) Norway, North American Premiere
*Also in attendance April 15 at 10 a.m.
Considering himself to be a superhero, eleven-year-old Modulf deliberately attracts the attention of the school bullies in order to protect his fellow students; but when his new friend Lise gets in serious trouble after trying to bring the bullies to justice, he's forced to choose between being a superhero or a good friend.
Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Monday, April 14
1 p.m.
Alison Parker (director)*
The Magic Ferret Canada, Toronto Premiere
*Also in attendance April 16 at 10:15 a.m.
A young orphan named Sam yearns to find a forever home, so he and his pet ferret Booger conjure up a little magic.
Recommended for ages 6 and up.

Thursday, April 17
10 a.m.
Martin Miehe-Renard (director)*
The Contest (MGP Missionen) Denmark, North American Premiere
*Also in attendance April 19 at 12:15 p.m.
When Sawsan's parents forbid her from performing on the country's most popular TV singing contest, her best friend Karl hatches a plan to get her to the show's big finale.
Recommended for ages 11 and up.

Saturday, April 19
3 p.m.
Mischa Jakupcak (director) *
The Hero Pose, USA, Toronto Premiere
*Also in attendance April 20 at 3.45 p.m.
Stuck at her dad's house while he tries to sell a car that doesn't run, Mia asks questions that her dad simply doesn't have the answers to. As frustrations mount, Mia and her dad find a new and unique way to communicate.
Recommended for ages 9 and up.

5 p.m.
Ben Stassen (co-director)*
The House of Magic Belgium, Canadian Premiere
*Also in attendance April 20 at 1 p.m.
Seeking shelter from a storm, an abandoned young cat named Thunder sneaks into a mysterious mansion owned by retired magician Lawrence, a.k.a. “The Illustrious Lorenzo.” Lawrence shares his fairy-tale world with many animals and a dazzling array of automatons and gizmos capable of whipping up breakfast while rolling out a spectacular song-and-dance routine. He soon makes Thunder feel welcome, but Jack the rabbit and Maggie the mouse start plotting to get him kicked out. When Lawrence ends up in the hospital, his nephew tries to trick him into selling the house, but its ragtag inhabitants develop a spooky strategy to defend their home. They turn their house into a haunted mansion, using Thunder as their secret weapon...
Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Saturday, April 19
12:45 p.m. Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase Jump Cuts Finalists from across Ontario in the Grades 7 & 8 category will walk the red carpet at the TIFF Kids Festival prior to the screening of their films.

1 p.m.
Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase Jump Cuts Finalists from across Ontario in the Grades 4–6 category will walk the red carpet at the TIFF Kids Festival prior to the screening of their films.

2:45 p.m.
TIFF Kids International Film Festival Awards Ceremony Winners of TIFF Kids’ internationally recognized awards are announced. Awards presented include:

• TIFF Kids Jury Awards: The TIFF Kids Young People’s feature film juries select two feature films representing two different age groups (8–10 and 11–13). Additionally, one jury for ages 9 through 13 selects a winning short film.
• TIFF Kids Adult Jury Award: For the first time during the festival, a jury made up of industry professionals will choose the best live-action and best animated short film.
• TIFF Kids Audience Choice Awards: TIFF Kids audience members choose winning films in both a feature film category and short film category.
• digiPlaySpace Audience Choice Awards: digiPlaySpace visitors select their favourite installation as well as their favourite app from the APPcade.
• Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase Awards: The Frederick Simpson Award for Best Film Grades 4–6 and the Veronica Herman Award for Best Film Grades 7 & 8, selected by a jury of film industry professionals. Each award winner will also receive a Jump Cuts Bursary courtesy of RBC, to encourage the development of young voices in film.
•  TVOKids Choice Award: Presented to the Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase short film in the Grades 4–6 category that best represents TVOKids’ values.

Source: TIFF

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.