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Bellingham Children’s Film Festival

Since 2007, PFC has been teaming up with Children’s Film Festival Seattle and North West Film Forum to present the Bellingham Children’s Film Festival. Each spring the festival brings the best of the Seattle fest to Bellingham so that children and their families in Whatcom County can enjoy the same quality programming that kids down south get to enjoy. The festival program includes animation, live action and documentary short films made by filmmakers both close to home and from countries all around the world.

Too often film viewing is thought to be a passive experience. Our goal for the Children’s Film Festival is to teach media and film literacy and give kids a ‘hands-on’ experience. We want kids to enjoy the films and learn a little about how a film is made. Each year PFC teams up with local arts and theatre organizations to offer free hands-on workshops to all festival attendees.

Bellingham Children’s Film Festival brings artists and filmmakers together with children to offer a wide variety of free workshops. Making storyboards, claymation, improvisation and acting workshops are among those that have been offered in the past.

 

The Best of the Fest: Children’s Film Festival Seattle 2010

 
A gutsy mouse who learns to fly, a sweet kitty who adopts a penguin and a girl who flies away on a paper airplane — these are just a few of the memorable characters you'll meet in this big-screen presentation of "The Best of Children's Film Festival Seattle 2010." The program features award-winning animated, live action and documentary films that will make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings, and take you on a sweet ride through a wide world of moving images.
 
FOR A FISTFUL OF SNOW, directed by Julien Ezri, Switzerland. 6 minutes. A story of the wild, wild North.
 
THE MOUSE THAT SOARED, directed by Kyle Bell (Portland, Oregon) 6 minutes. A classic tale of hope and goodness, this funny film tackles adoption, blended families and nature vs. nurture. It demonstrates that nothing is more powerful than unconditional love. Audience Favorite

GETTING DAD, directed by Hailey Bartholomew (Australia) 5 minutes. A filmmaker’s joyous salute to her imperfect but much beloved father. Winner! Children’s Jury Prize for Best Live Action Short Film
 
NAPPY HEADS, directed by Sabrina Moella (Canada) 3 minutes. A tribute to the glorious diversity of African-American hairstyles.
 
HELLO ANTENNA, directed by Veronika Samatseva and Anna Samoylovich (Germany) 5 minutes. Collage animation and lots of animation tell the story of a girl’s shopping trip and airplane ride.
 
BETTY THE DOLL, directed by Anna Guldager (Sweden). 6 minutes. A little girl spends a rainy day creating a special friend to play with.
 
MR. MACK’S KITCHEN, directed by Mike Attie (Seattle) 6 minutes. A group of intrepid students learn about the joy and discipline of the culinary arts. Winner! Northwest Prize
 
THE KING OF THE ISLAND, directed by Raimondo Della Calce (Italy) 16 minutes. A boy seafaring father returns, but he isn’t the heroic figure the boy has always imagined — he is someone even better.
 
WHEN APPLES ROLL, directed by Reinis Kalnaellis (Latvia) 7 minutes. A sweet kitty cat and a helpful mouse pitch in to care for a little lost penguin.
 
ALMA, directed by Rodrigo Blaas (Spain) 6 minutes. Attracted to the life-like dolls in a toy store window, a young girl finds herself drawn in to a shop . ... Note: This film has spooky moments, if goose bumps aren’t your cup of cinematic tea, make The King of the Island your final film in the program. Winner! Children’s Jury Prize for Best Animated Short Film

Curated by Elizabeth Shepherd and made possible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum.

 

 

The Secret of the Kells

  • Sat. 5/22 TBD
  • Sun. 5/23 TBD

75 minutes • 2009 • France, Belgium, Ireland • In English • G

Film Trailer

Official Website

Part of the 2010 Bellingham Children's Film Festival - Oscar Nominee, Best Animated Feature

"A Tour-de-Force!" "Absolutely luscious to behold!" - Variety

Young Brendan lives in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids. But a new life of adventure beckons when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying an ancient but unfinished book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. But with the barbarians closing in, will Brendan's determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil?