This summer holiday the IFI Family Festival will be taking audiences to an Arctic island, Indian backstreets, a Canadian sports field, an incalculably and extraordinarily average town in Germany. It’s a selection of the best family films from around the world, many of them Irish premieres and for some the only chance to see them on the big screen in Ireland. Step inside the head of Riley in Inside Out, see a New Yorker newcomer Mickey and pals try to save a team of wild horses in Wicklow and (for Roald Dahl fans) find out exactly what Esio Trot means. Your summer adventures start here!
The festival kicks off with A Major Emotion Commotion (July 16th 5.30-6.30pm-FREE-All ages), a special opening night event in the IFI foyer which explores what makes audiences happy, what makes audiences mad, what makes audiences sad, when people hide their feelings and when they let them out!
Continuing this theme, this year’s Gala Opening is a special preview of Inside Out (6.30pm, July 16 -Cert G) which introduces audiences to the emotions of Riley – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. The emotions live in Headquarters, the control centre inside Riley’s mind where they help advise her through everyday life as she moves from the Midwest to San Francisco. The programme also includes animated short Lava from Pixar Animation Studios. Inside Out is presented as a Gala Opening with thanks to Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Ireland and opens nationwide on July 24th. RTÉjr’s Clara Murray will be on hand to open the festival.
The Legend of Longwood (6pm, July 18th – Cert: TBC) follows Mickey Miller, a 12-year-old New Yorker whose arrival in a small town in Ireland coincides with the return of the legendary, evil black knight. Mickey and her friends set out to redeem the knight, save a precious herd of white horses and thwart the plans of a greedy woman – a mighty handful for even the bravest girl! Meet the director and other members of the cast and crew who will attend the screening and, if you like performing, join young stars Lorcan Bonner and Scott Graham beforehand for an Actor’s Workshop (Places limited. Booking essential).
Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot (11am, July 19th – Cert: G) was a hit book with children and has now been adapted for the screen. Join director and IFI Board Member Dearbhla Walsh as she presents her film and answers all your questions about working with tortoises. After the show head to for Foyer Trot, a set of activities including a mini-book club discussion, a competition and a chance see some special Esio Trot exhibits.
How far would you go for a slice of pizza? In Crow’s Egg (6pm July 17 – Age: 10+) when two young boys in an Indian slum get fixated on giving a slice a try, nothing can stop them. Older children will also enjoy The Outlaw League (4pm, July 17 – Age 9+), with a Belgian baseball team trying to save their pitch, and Operation Arctic (6pm, July 19th – Age 10+), a thrilling adventure and survival story set in the wild Arctic Ocean.
In Winnetou’s Son (12.30pm July 18, 8+) young Max tries to live like his fictional Native American hero Winnetou but, to fully succeed and play his son in the Karl May Festival, he must learn to ride a horse. Actor Lorenzo Gerrmeno (Max) will be present at the screening. The 8+ age group should also enjoy 10,000 Moustaches (3.30pm, July 19th – Age 7+), a Mexican film that looks at what happens when a 9-year-old grows a big moustache overnight, and Short Tales 2 (4pm, July 18 – Age 8+) which selects the best family shorts from around the world.
Younger children will enjoy diving into the wonderful animated world of sea creatures, reefs, flowers and fauna with Oona and Baba in Puffin Rock (11am, July 18 – Age 3+) on the big screen. Cartoon Saloon’s Lily Bernard will show and tell how she draws the feathered friends from this hit RTÉjr series. Don’t forget to stay afterwards for fluffy puffin activities in the IFI Foyer. There’s also a wonderful selection of films from around the world for youngsters in Short Tales 1 (11am, July 17th – Age 4+) featuring a zebra losing its stripes and a magical circus coming to town. Fiddlesticks (1pm, July 17th – Age 5+) is a live action comedy that shows what happens when a very average town goes absolutely bonkers!
This year’s workshop programme includes Poster Print ( 11am-1pm, July 17 – Age 7-9) where you can design your own film poster, Adventure Venture (11am-3pm, July 18 – Age 8-12) which helps you produce a trailer for an imaginary adventure film and Legendary Picture Books (11am-2pm July 19th – Age 9-12) with illustrator Mark Wickham.
If you can’t make it to the fun in Dublin, fear not! The IFI Family Festival, in conjunction with access>CINEMA, is touring highlights of the festival to Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise (July 24-25), The Model, Sligo (August 11-12) and Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge (August 22-23). See www.ifi.ie/familyfest for full details.
All film tickets are €5 (€15 Family Tickets: 2 Adults + 2 Kids) and are available now from the IFI Box Office on 01 679 3477 or online at www.ifi.ie/familyfest. Workshops (€12-€20) have limited space must be booked in advance by calling 01 612 9445/01 612 9436.
FULL IFI FAMILY FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Thursday, July 16
| A Major Emotion Commotion (Special Opening Night Foyer Activities Event/Reception) |
5.30-6.30pm | All ages |
| Inside Out | 6.30pm | Cert: G |
Friday, July 17
| Short Tales 1 | 11am | Age 4+ |
| Workshop: Poster Print | 11am-1pm | Age 7-9 |
| Fiddlesticks | 1pm | Age 5+ |
| The Outlaw League | 4pm | Age 9+ |
| Crow’s Egg | 6pm | Age 10+ |
Saturday, July 18
| Puffin Rock | 11am | Age 3+ |
| Workshop: Adventure Venture | 11am-3pm | Age 8-12 |
| Winnetou’s Son | 12.30pm | Age 8+ |
| Short Tales 2 | 4pm | Age 8+ |
| The Legend of Longwood | 6pm | Cert: TBC |
Sunday, July 19
| Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot followed by Foyer Trot |
11am | Cert: G |
| Workshop: Legendary Picture Books | 11am-2pm | Age 9-12 |
| 10,000 Moustaches | 3.30pm | Age 7+ |
| Operation Arctic | 6pm | Age 10+ |
See the website for full details of IFI Family Festival On Tour with access>CINEMA. www.ifi.ie/familyfes