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Children's Film Festival Seattle 2021 [Online] – Short Film Programs
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Children's Film Festival Seattle 2021 [Online] – Short Film Programs

Children's Film Festival Seattle 2021 [Online] – Short Film Programs

Screening online only, Feb. 18–28, 2021

All CFFS 2021 film programs are pay-what-you-can, priced on a sliding scale, $5–25.

No one turned away for lack of funds; email cffs@nwfilmforum.org about free community tickets!

Complete film details and trailers are available on Eventive! Enter the virtual cinema here or via any “Tickets” button below.

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Festival - Children’s Film Festival Seattle 2021 [Online]

About

Through carefully curated short film programs, Children’s Film Festival Seattle presents films for a number of age ranges, topics and languages. These blocks of shorts also explore timely and important themes; environmentalism, gender identity, equity and inclusivity. This year, three special blocks are language-specific for Spanish, German and French language speakers and students.

FESTIVAL SHORT FILM PROGRAMS

Feathered, Fluffy, and Fabulous (Ages 2+)

This collection of animated and puppet films for our youngest festival-goers are filled with tales of fluffy animals and other adorable creatures.

For ages 2+
Total running time: 50 min.

• Sockz Theatre’s The Thirsty Crow
In this puppet film based on the Aesop Fable, a crow needs to problem-solve to quench her thirst!
• Gilly and the Oodle Doodles
Gilly is a wizard in training and the Oodle Doodles are her trio of assistants. Together, they bring a snowperson to life and craft the perfect carrot nose.
• Moogaloops: Magic Art
Mooga, a friendly blue alien, presses his magic button and summons a magical easel which can bring his drawing to life.
• Patchwork Penguin
Patchwork Penguin has a problem: he wants to run fast, but doesn’t know how!
• The Little Boat that Wanted to Fly
The story of a little boat who learned to fly, with some help along the way.
• Bearing
A baby bear tries to get back to his mama after they are separated.
• Fifi and Friends: Whale
A Spanish-speaking bird and an English-speaking bird learn to communicate about a whale they spot together.
• Who Is It: The Troublemaker in the Carrot Field
When a pair of lions find out their carrot field has been destroyed, they follow footprints to find the culprit.
• The Forest and the Trees
A determined little mushroom conquers some tumultuous emotions while journeying through a forest.
• Space Bears – The Starpowder Space Gem
Best friends Becca and Zoe help an old friend restore life to the Great Slumber Tree.
• Sockz Theatre’s Three Little Pigs
Three pigs. Three houses. One wolf with an enormous lung capacity.
• Mimi’s Good Night
A nice routine makes for a sweet bedtime.

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Kaleidoscope (Ages 3–6)

This international and very musical animation program is filled with stories of friendship and adventure that are alive with vibrant colors and music. Most films are nonverbal or in English, but all are gems of bright visual storytelling with an important message: our friends and family make the world go ’round, and with them by our sides, life is so much better!

For ages 3–6 and their parents
Total running time: 69 min.

Content advisory: In Leaf, an old-timey sailor briefly holds a unlit pipe in his mouth.

• Dog of My Dreams
What’s the stuff of dreams in this music video? A day at the beach, a ride on a bike, a sweet dog, and a delicious pickle.
• Da Sola
A little one wants to do things on their own, but a big one wants to help. Finally, they find the best way of all — to do it together!
• Leaf
A huge sailor goes about his busy work on an ocean-bound ship. But when he gets a tiny present from a small girl, it reminds him of the most special place on dry land — his childhood home.
• Snip, Snap, Snut and the Colours
In this colorful claymation, a group of friends must prove that the world is more beautiful with a rainbow full of colors.
• Little Grey Wolfy: Fall Travelers
Little Grey Wolfy wants to go on a trip with the birds, to warm lands with no snow and where bears don’t have to sleep in wintertime. But how can they fly away, with no wings?
• Ink
Despite having so many arms to point with, this neat-freak octopus has a hard time pointing out what someone else needs to tidy up.
• The Musifants
In this music video, you’ll learn to count to eight in German as you blast off to outer space with an elephant, a bear, a chicken, and a little cactus.
• Blanket
A grumpy polar bear learns how much fun it can be to have a friend when a brown bear comes to visit him in the Far North.
• The Kindergarten Show
An owl schoolmaster presides over the year-end kindergarten show, which goes horribly wrong in all the right ways.
• Rhino
The animals are afraid of the large and lonely Rhino, until he shows them through good deeds that he is worthy of their trust.
• Patchwork Clam
Patchwork Clam is very shy. But her friends understand and find gentle ways to make her more comfortable in the play group.
• Truffles
The bears want to cook something they’ve never had before: wild truffles! But they’ll need the help of a boar baby and mama to help them out. Will they find the courage to ask?
• Sockz Theatre’s Little Speckled Frogs
Three little speckled frogs sat on a speckled log, eating the most delicious bugs, ‘til one by one, they all took a bath.
• Warm Star
A bird, busy tidying up the sky, accidentally drops a little star. Down on earth, children find it.
• Georges the Magician
According to an old definition, a magician is a wise person. So we can all be magicians, and fly free, if we are brave enough.

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Wonderful World (Ages 6–8)

These animated films from eight countries will take on a trip around the world, with a lot of twists and turns along the way. You’ll remember all the characters you meet along the way: including a slimy snail, a brave baby owl, a cat with a mind of its own, a wonderful worm, and even kids who might remind you of your incredible self.

For ages 6–8
Total running time: 79 min.

Content advisory: Shooom’s Odyssey, El Diablo Conjuelo and Melting Heart Cake have very mild moments of danger that pass quickly and happily. In RenaiDance, a girl becomes sad that her grandfather has died, but has a beautiful revelation about his place in her heart and in her life.

• A Cat Called Jam
What happens when a fluffy cat wants to play with dogs?
• Life in the Slow Lane (A Snail Odyssey)
The epic tale of one snail’s adventure as he tries to get past two rowdy boys in order to get to a garlic flower Shangri-la. A family film made in lockdown with an assist from a super slimy gastropod!
• El Diablo Cojuelo
A young girl named Yadira decides she must tame a legendary monster, based on a traditional Dominican character, with the power of music.
• A Stormy Night
A little fire, not content in his cozy fireplace, falls in love with a bolt of lightning.
• Coeur Fondant (Melting Heart Cake)
To share her chocolate treat with her friend, Anna must cross a glacial forest that is said to be haunted by a terrifying bearded giant. But when Anna meets him, the leviathan has a big heart, too.
• RenaiDance
This film, that places strong family love and elder culture in a never-ending chain, tells the story of a young dancer who learns that her beloved grandfather’s love is a part of who she is and will become.
• Piccolino, An Adventure in the City
Piccolino is a worm that lives happily inside of an apple in the countryside, until one day he goes outside and finds that his apple is no longer in an orchard, and he is no longer in the country!
• Tricked
When a thief tries to steal a magician’s wallet, he gets more than he bargained for when he winds up down a rabbit’s hole, inside the magician’s pocket!
• Shooom’s Odyssey
A baby owl hatches just as a storm blows her world upside down. After falling from her nest, she sets out into the mangrove, pushing a second egg from the brood behind her, determined to find her mother.

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Making My Way (Ages 6–8)

In this lively mix of live-action and animated films, you’ll see what kids can accomplish, know, and show others — sometimes with a little help from important grown-ups in their lives, but mostly, all on their own. There are also films here that prove that no one is too old, no matter their age, to enjoy a good adventure!

For ages 6–8
Total running time: 79 min.

• The Pit
Extraterrestrial creatures excavate an enormous pit, looking for treasures along the way.
• Tobi and the Turbobus
You fly with no seat! That’s the rule in the Turbobus. But to get a seat is a hard job for a young wolf on his turbo-journey to find real friendship.
• Me, a Monster?
After living a peaceful life on his small planet, the lonely Nono must deal with a visit from a strange new being.
• Ivet & Michuco
Ivet, a 6-year-old girl, gets in all kinds of fun trouble with her adorable cat puppet Michuco.
• Juan Viento
An old man named Juan is in charge of keeping the park clean, so the wind is his worst enemy. But this time, the wind holds a nice surprise for him.
• The Little Thief
At a busy marketplace, a boy pockets a single bean, and learns that even the smallest wrongs must be righted.
• Junu Ko Jutta (The Shoes of a Little Girl)
Junu is a little girl who has trouble learning left from right. But she comes up with a smart way to keep her shoes on the right feet. It isn’t easy, and she does it all by herself.
• The Healing Dance
Rosie is preparing to dance in her first pow wow, but after learning the origin story of jingle dancing, she worries she’s not as ready as she thought. The drums are calling, but will Rosie answer them?
• Umbrellas
In a land where the rain never stops, 6-year-old Kyna spends her days playing under the protective “umbrella beard” of her father, Din. One night, Kyna’s beloved dog Nana disappears. To find her, Kyna will embark on a journey of self-discovery and face her greatest fear, the Rain.
• Jeremy and the Big Protest of the Caribou
When the mayor of the town wants to cut down all the trees in the valley to make paper airplanes, a superhero caribou and their friends try to stop him!
• Aurora
This bittersweet story about love, friendship and growing up starts when a little girl falls in love with a beautiful horse named Aurora.

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I am Strong (Ages 9+)

The characters in these animated and live-action films are finding their way forward to tackle tasks, right wrongs, remember the past, protect the future, and most of all, to find ways to live in the present with more joy and determination.

For ages 9+
Total running time: 69 min.

• Plus One
A boy explains how his differences are his superpowers.
• Oltre I Giganti (Beyond the Giants)
A Don Quixote keeps repeating himself in a fight against windmills. But a child, with a dreamy and pure gaze on the same windmills, will awaken the man to make him understand he is free.
• Yuan Yuan and the Hollow Monster
Yuan Yuan is determined to protect her newest pet, a tiny turtle named Lucy, at all costs – even if it means chasing down a massive hurricane called the Hollow Monster.
• Rainbow
A little flower salesman does something wrong for his client, but he regrets his behavior and tries to make up for his mistake.
• Rehak
A young girl, in the age of losing the magical thoughts of childhood, discovers the world of Rehak, a drawing who comes to life on her bedroom wall.
• Kapaemahu
Kapaemahu reveals the healing power of four mysterious stones on Waikiki Beach, and the legendary transgender spirit within them.
• The Boy and the Mountain
Hernán is a child who likes to fantasize about climbing mountains, but as he grows up, he realizes how hard it is to fulfill his goals. Still, he keeps putting one foot in front of the other.
• Circus Movements
Circus culture is a space of diversity, cooperation and integration. A magical space with real people. In this film, see Ethiopian kids Liya, Beza, Habtamnesh, and Beniyam, perform acrobatics against the backdrop of their beautiful country.

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Indomitable (Ages 9+)

The kids in these films won’t take no for an answer as they solve puzzles, heal their hearts and even change the course of history. These films, too, are about unbreakable family bonds, with the making of one of the films, Saving Amelia, being a family affair that was filmed during the pandemic. Inspired by The Goonies, Back to the Future, and other adventure classics, this film has a surprise ending that will make you smile, and wish that it was true!

For ages 9+
Total running time: 75 min.

Content warning: Saving Amelia was made during the pandemic and references it lightly through news coverage overheard by the characters. Both Talia and Fishbowl are uplifting films about friendship, but touch on serious issues including grief and loneliness. The last film in this program, The Last Supper, is about a child who must chase down his family’s dinner, a turkey. This film may not be suitable for those who do not eat meat or who are sensitive to the idea of animals being eaten, which is why it is placed last in the program.

• Saving Amelia
When two sisters exploring their attic stumble upon an old two-way radio, they realize it can mysteriously communicate with the past. Before long, they’re racing to save Amelia Earhart and change the future.
• Talia
The endlessly curious Talia defies her father to explore the world beyond her front garden. She discovers a special kinship with her next door neighbor, with whom she shares both peace and a similar sorrow.
• Fishbowl
After moving to California because of a military relocation, a young boy finds comfort in an unexpected new friend.
• Vanille
Vanille, a young Parisian girl, arrives on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe for a visit with her aunt. Soon, incredible adventures lead her to meet picturesque characters… and even a magic flower.
• The Last Supper
A sensitive and restless boy, overlooked by his parents and rejected by his schoolyard peers, finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime when he accidentally lets the wily family turkey escape the pen.

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Promise to the Planet (Ages 10+)

This imaginative collection of international films is meant to inspire viewers to protect the planet and take good care of all the beautiful creatures who fill the earth, skies, and seas. These music videos, legends, remixes of familiar tales, and beautiful animated films honor the earth and those who promise to preserve it. Co-presented by Social Justice Film Festival!

For ages 10+
Total running time: 80 min.

Content warning: These films all touch, in one way or another, on environmental issues and the plight of the planet during our present period of climate change. They are uplifting films that we hope will promote discussion at home. The Promise shows a dystopian city; Oasis is a fable about the environmental collapse and recovery of a small ecosystem, and contains some imagery that may be scary to the most sensitive young viewers. Coyote and Big Buff is a fable created by kids who have experienced the trauma of losing their home to a wildfire.

• Be a Pain
A joyous music video for Alastair Moock’s 2020 all-ages record, “Be a Pain” shows us how all movements of social justice and change stem from taking a stand against what’s wrong.
• The Promise
A young thief tries to snatch an old woman’s bag, but she cannot have it without giving something in return: The Promise.
• Coyote’s Canoe
Coyote brings salmon to the people of the interior of British Columbia.
• Oasis
Threatened by a growing desert, a young boy and his mother try to survive in a small oasis.
• Hubris
After arguing with her sister, Kara takes her anger out on the environment by littering her plastic bottle. Her actions awaken the creature Hubris, and she must race against time to undo the damage.
• La Meduse (The Jellyfish)
In an ocean infested by plastic, a little being leaves their reef and goes on an adventure with a jellyfish.
• Worms of Earth
A musical salute to the heroes of the soil: earthworms!
• Cracks in the Pavement
A beautiful and delicate flower grows amid the asphalt jungle, with a protector standing closeby: a street rubbish bin.
• Green Pinocchio
Pinnocchio learns a new lesson in this retelling of Pinnocchio, with an environmental twist!
• Coyote & Big Buff
Answering the question, “What’s a story you’d tell someone who’s afraid of fire?”, two boys recall the night a fire swept through their neighborhood.
• Kapaemahu
Kapaemahu reveals the healing power of four mysterious stones on Waikiki Beach, and the legendary transgender spirit within them.
• The Boy and the Owl
A young boy lives his life in a magical way, surrounded by the picturesque atmosphere of his village, in this fable about love and the act of letting go.

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Aventuras Asombrosas! (Spanish Language Shorts, Ages 8+)

This all-Spanish-language program spotlights funny, sweet and tender films from Spain, Chile, and Colombia that will take you on adventures down city streets, to the tops of tall mountains, into a mysterious forest, and inside the hearts of characters who are in love with the movies.

For ages 8+
Total running time: 79 min.

Content warning: The last film in the program, The Size of Things, has a slightly darker tone and a mysterious story that is not completely resolved in a simple way. It’s placed last in the program because it may not be suitable for less mature viewers.

• Piccolino, An Adventure in the City
Piccolino is a worm that lives happily inside of an apple in the countryside, until one day he goes outside and finds that his apple is no longer in an orchard, and he is no longer in the country!
• Ivet & Michuco
Ivet, a 6-year-old girl, gets in all kinds of fun trouble with her adorable cat puppet Michuco.
• The Boy and the Mountain
Hernán is a child who likes to fantasize about climbing mountains, but as he grows up, he realizes how hard it is to fulfill his goals. Still, he keeps putting one foot in front of the other.
• My Grandpa Knows King Kong
An incredulous grandfather and his excited granddaughter go to the cinema — a place with tasty candy and a fantastic film on the big screen.
• Blue & Malone: Impossible Cases
On the eve of its demolition, Berta visits an old theater and finds out it is not completely abandoned.
• The Size of Things
Diego lives with his father in a house that doesn’t have anything in it. One day, Diego spies a small chair in the forest, and brings it home.

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Wilde Welt (German Language Shorts, Ages 8+)

This all-German language programs will take you on fantastic flights of fancy — fly to the moon with a little cactus, take a wild ride on a turbobus, find out a grandma’s wonderful secret, and watch the drama as a boy’s drawings come to life. The program also includes a bonus film — animation from a daycare center in Germany that tells a story of the challenges faced by immigrants to their new country. Co-presented with Goethe Pop-Up Seattle & SAGA School!

For ages 8+
Total running time: 53 min.

• The Musifants
In this music video, you’ll learn to count to eight in German as you blast off to outer space with an elephant, a bear, a chicken, and a little cactus.
• Tobi and the Turbobus
You fly with no seat! That’s the rule in the Turbobus. But to get a seat is a hard job for a young wolf on his turbo-journey to find real friendship.
• Grandma’s Secret
Lisa and her friend Tom love spending time together at Lisa’s granny’s house. One day, when granny starts behaving strangely, they decide it’s time for a visit, not realizing that they are in for a happy surprise!
• Fulgidusen
Felix lives in a world of his own, drawing paper figures and imagining them coming to life. But while visiting his favorite uncle, something amazing happens — Felix discovers his drawings are real creatures after all.
• It Fits
Made entirely by small children in a German daycare, this film tells the story of a family who must move from their home to a new country, where there is more work. But they find that in many ways, life is harder in their new country.

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Petits Trésors (French Language Shorts, Ages 8+)

This all-French-language program shines with vibrant jewels – poetry, strange and beautiful creatures, wild adventures and epic battles, and a film that will take you from the streets of Paris to the beaches of Guadeloupe! C’est bon! Presented with support from Alliance Française de Seattle

For ages 8+
Total running time: 78 min.

Content advisory: The second-to-last film in this program, Lupin, shows hunters carrying guns, and is about an animal that is first hunted, and then saved. The last film in the program, Dolium Péplum, is about an imaginary battle between boys. These films may not be suitable for those who are sensitive to depictions of violence, which is why they are placed last in the program.

• Worms of Earth
A musical salute to the heroes of the soil: earthworms!
• Marine
This short, poetic film is a salty serenade to the sea.
• You Sold My Roller Skates?
When Lou’s mom sells his beloved rollerskates at a garage sale, he goes looking for them in a buzzing crowd.
• Conquistador
A meditation on the tooth fairy and all her mysteries.
• Colza
A young lizard named Clarence steals a precious plane while the whole village is distracted by the greatest concert it has ever seen.
• Chanson d’Automne
A leaf blower, quietly working away as leaves continue to fall, takes flight.
• Vanille
Vanille, a young Parisian girl, arrives on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe for a visit with her aunt. Soon, incredible adventures lead her to meet picturesque characters… and even a magic flower.
• Lupin
A young wolf ventures out while is his mother is busy hunting. Lost and frightened, he finds shelter in a garden, then meets friends who help him home.
• Dolium Péplum
In a field, a battle takes place among children who join together in a magical, gigantic and supernatural world of imagination.

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Youth Shine (Ages 9+)

In these joyful, creative films, you’ll see young people whose creativity cannot be dimmed by a global pandemic, and learn how their resilience — and yours — can overcome any foe. In spite of great barriers, these films were also brought to life by dedicated educators and filmmakers.

For ages 9+
Total running time: 89 min.

• Quarantine Rag
In a world where nothing is normal, a young girl finds herself in a battle between order and chaos.
• Awesome Homework
Popular Japanese picturebook author Shinsuke Yoshitake gave artistic advice to kids during the Japanese lockdown in May. It’s still good advice now, and will be long after the pandemic is over!
• The Piano, a play-movie
A tour of the INSIDE of the piano is covertly planned by Ms. Clara for her students, Kelly, Julia and Brenda. While Brenda escapes just in time, Kelly and Julia are sucked into the piano.
• The Effects
A short film about the collective challenges experienced by a family facing deportation.
• Behind the Scenes of The Effects
A short behind the scenes doc about Rosemary Gramajo Quiñones, teen-aged writer of The Effects, her family, and the story behind the film.
• Harriet: The Black Swan in the Year of COVID-19
A riveting ballet, told in four seasons in the life of Harriet Tubman.

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Friends and Fam (Ages 10+)

This collection of films – about friends both real and imaginary, as well as deep family love that is not always easy – is meant to tickle your funny bone and tug on your heartstrings.

For ages 10+
Total running time: 80 min.

Content advisory: Though all the films in this program are uplifting, some have content that explores emotions of loss, grief, and shame. The first film in the program, Stay Away, takes place during the pandemic when the main character is left happily at home. She briefly looks at a book about weight loss — a book topic CFFS does not recommend for children or for anyone, really. We are body positive!

• Stay Away
This family-made movie shot during the pandemic shows how one girl stays home alone during the pandemic.
• Monster Sitter
In a world where lake monsters exist, we follow the daily life of Giacomo Rosetti, who takes care of Isy, the monster of Lake Iseo.
• Let’s Play a Story: The Miser
While hanging out with her dad and toy Unicorn on a blanket in the park, a little girl realizes her dad has borrowed the money from her little purse. Together, they make up a story to explain how it happened.
• Lurker
A little girl’s dads want her to go to sleep. But first, she needs a biscuit.
• Piece of Me
An eight-year-old boy begins to lose his best friend, an elderly lady, as her memories fade away to Alzheimer’s. Determined to help, he embarks on a journey to rekindle the memories of their friendship.
• Talia
The endlessly curious Talia defies her father to explore the world beyond her front garden. She discovers a special kinship with her next door neighbor, with whom she shares both peace and a similar sorrow.
• Summer Falls
Two best friends spend their last day together by journeying to watch the sunset before one of them moves to the countryside.
• In the Shadow of the Pines
A little girl goes to a school where her father works as a janitor — something that embarasses her at the time. But when she looks back years later, she has a different view.
• Traces
Deep in the depths of the Ardennes forest, a logger and his horse teach the lessons of their lives to an odd young girl.

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Journeys, Genders, and Identity (Ages 11+)

This program celebrates complex stories of identity and diversity — the characters in these films are one-of-a-kind, living bravely in their authentic selves, rejecting bullying, stereotypes and reaching out to others who respect their journeys.

For ages 11+
Total running time: 73 min.

Content warning: Animated mermaids in Siren’s Tail don’t bother with wearing swimsuit tops. In Esperanza’s Turn, a girl who is an immigrant is bullied by someone who also bullies other kids by calling them an epithet used against LGBTQ people.

• Dog of My Dreams
What’s the stuff of dreams in this music video? A day at the beach, a ride on a bike, a sweet dog, and a delicious pickle.
• Bird & Squirrel
Two best friends – a thrill-seeking bird and a very cautious squirrel – help each other out as they survive adventures big and small in the small forest town of Acorn Acres and beyond. The lesson here? Be brave!
• All of Our Shadows
In these times of uncertainty, this film follows a day in the life of a young teenage boy as he faces anxiety and concerns, with the help of his friends.
• Siren’s Tail
Roque wants to be a siren of the sea; it’s that simple. Why does it have to be hard?
• Being Someone Else
In this documentary, Imogen, a 13-year-old girl with autism, prepares for her favorite event of the year: the ComicCon cosplay convention.
• Love is Love
On a fall afternoon, six-year-old Viola is at the park with her father. She’s just lost her baby teeth, but already she knows things that her father doesn’t understand.
• Amazing Kids: In Their Own Words
Kids from different backgrounds share their unique experiences of the autistic spectrum in their own words.
• Kapaemahu
Kapaemahu reveals the healing power of four mysterious stones on Waikiki Beach, and the legendary transgender spirit within them.
• Biff & Me
Charlotte and Biff, both 14, couldn’t seem more different. But what they both really want, deep down, is to be beauty queens.
• Esperanza’s Turn
A 12-year-old immigrant farm worker taps into her imagination to confront a bully at school.

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Reel Life Stories (Ages 11+)

These documentaries take viewers on a trip around the world and back home again to the Pacific Northwest, to meet kids and young adults who are making their dreams come true, and using their creativity and determination to make their own way. Co-presented by Social Justice Film Festival!

For ages 11+
Total running time: 80 min.

Content warning: These films are meant to prompt discussion. All American Kids is a documentary shot before the pandemic, showing life as it was in 2019, and hopefully will be again soon. Bertha and the Wolfram is an uplifting film about creativity in the face of serious illness of a child. Orchestra from the Land of Silence is, in part, about severe discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan, which leads two girls to run away on a trip abroad.

• All American Kids
This documentary series transports young audiences across the country through kid-driven mini-docs. Meet Melina, photographing wildlife in Alphabet City to Laila, throwing fast pitches in Jemez Pueblo. Both have big plans and dreams for the future.
• Bertha and the Wolfram
Meet Bertha, a 13-year-old Belgian girl who has a secret weapon: creativity. She uses it to fight against her ultimate enemy: Wolfram, a rare disease that affects her nervous system.
• Amazing Kids: In Their Own Words
Kids from different backgrounds share their unique experiences of the autistic spectrum in their own words.
• Orchestra from the Land of Silence
Zohra is the first all-female orchestra of Afghanistan. The girls are preparing for a journey to play a concert in Europe, but once they arrive, four orchestra members decide to run away.

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CFFS for Grownups (Ages 15+)

Who says you have to be a kid to enjoy CFFS? These beautiful and mysterious films are perfect for grownups and older teens, with hand-drawn and hand-knitted animation, strange creatures, tender stories, dark fables, twisted tales and deeply felt stories of love and loss.

For ages 15+
Total running time: 83 min.

• Sophie & Chanel at Home
A loveseat and a vintage television set navigate the pandemic of 2020 and beyond with patience, a little humor, and a lot of screen time.
• Why Slugs Have No Legs
Slugs have a hard time keeping up with the pace of life in the city of insects. When a financial crisis hits, the industrial bees only see one solution.
• Hello, My Dears
An old lady loves and waits for her dear relatives. And relatives come. They are a bit strange, but it is only at first glance.
• The Covid is a Monster in the Forest
Three young girls who are quarantined try to solve the global pandemic by hunting “The Covid,” a monster that lives in the forest.
• The Size of Things
Diego lives with his father in a house that doesn’t have anything in it. One day, Diego spies a small chair in the forest, and brings it home.
• Uncle Witold’s Cigarette Case
A film about a little girl and her father’s best friend, who became a special person in her life and left her a precious keepsake.
• Out of My Depth
While walking down a beach, a man recalls a traumatic event he was caught up in.
• The Silence of the River
Juan, a nine-year-old Peruvian boy, lives with his silent dad in a floating house on the Amazon River. This idyllic background sets an allegorical journey into the rainforest jungle, where nature, gender, truth and all things begin to reveal the identity of his dad.
• The Bird and the Whale
A young whale struggles to find his voice. After straying too far from his family to explore a shipwreck, he discovers its sole survivor – a caged songbird. Lost at sea, they struggle to survive together.
• The Boy and the Owl
A young boy lives his life in a magical way, surrounded by the picturesque atmosphere of his village, in this fable about love and the act of letting go.
• Souvenir
This is the story of a father, a daughter, and their journey through their memories.
• Covid Bach
This free-flowing, stream of consciousness hand-drawn animation, set to J.S. Bach, weaves in and out between abstract and nightmarish visions.

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Radolescents! Films by Youth (Ages 8+)

These films, made in Seattle and around the world, show off the creative chops of young documentarians and storytellers, celebrating their range from streamlined, economical filmmaking to extravagant exploration of their craft.

For ages 8+
Total running time: 87 min.

Content warning: A Letter from Sumatra, an animated film, shows in a non-graphic way how humans have treated rhinos so cruelly that they have become endangered. I’m Ready is about making the choice to date.

• Film Forum Youth!
(15 min, in English or nonverbal)
A reel showcasing visual storytelling made by youth at Northwest Film Forum in virtual camps and programs in 2020. Their creativity and determination shines through in these wild tales, thoughtful docs and bold experiments.

New Normal
(Aarav Sinha, India, live-action, 2020, 5 min, nonverbal)
A 10-year-old filmmaker tells the story of coping with sudden change around him, through before-times, lockdown and then the new normal that waits outside.

The Very Book
(Taisiya Solovyova, Russia, live-action, 2020, 10 min, in Russian with English subtitles)
When children discover lost pages from a magic book, it is the start of a wild adventure in traveling to another world. This film was created by a group of children ages 8 to 12, who did not know or live close to one another.

Making Sense
(Highfield Junior Film Club, United Kingdom, live-action, 7 min, nonverbal)
During a prolonged lockdown, this group of children made a film about the world around them — especially, the way that it felt to their touch.

Roger the Cat 2:15
(Audrey Guerrero, USA, animation, 2:15 min, in English)
When a mysterious cat appears, Roger — a floppy guy made of wires, with googly eyes — learns to believe in himself.

I’m Ready
(Maya Jai Pinson, USA, live-action, 2020, 17 min, in English)
Fifteen-year-old Lo is a smart and responsible teen who finds herself taking an interest in more than just her books, but how does she know she’s ready to date?

The Lost Adventures of a Claw Machine
(Kids Unlimited Team, Public Television Service Foundation Film Camp, Taiwan, live-action, 2020, 10 min, in Mandarin with English subtitles)
Claw machines are fun for people of all ages, but what happens when you get too sucked into the magic of the machines?

The Butler and the Ball
(Andrew Chan-Possemato, USA, live-action, 2019, 11:57 min, in English)
When a lonely boy enters a contest to become the new butler of a grieving, reclusive singer, he finds himself in a world of adventure.

A Letter from Sumatra
(Daniel Kim and Benjamin Kim, USA, animation, 11:53 min, in English)
A rhino named Jeff tells a tale about how Sumatra Rhinos save each other, but still need humans to change their ways and come to the rescue so they can survive.

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Seattle, WA 98122
206 329 2629

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