2015 CFF Guide for Viewers

2015
Viewers
Guide
WELCOME!
10th Annual Rochester International
Children's Film Festival!
We are so glad you have joined us for our TEN YEAR
ANNIVERSARY of honoring the Month of the Young Child
with the work of artistic filmmakers! This year’s Festival
collection includes ten films that creatively illustrate life and
imagination for children. Notably, two of the films have been
made with children involved in the creative process. There
are films from eight different countries — Croatia, South
Africa, Northern Ireland to name a few — as well as one
made right here in Rochester by local schoolchildren! Many of
the films have received significant awards.
In our effort to link quality work in literature and film, the
Festival will distribute, free to groups viewing the films, the
delightful classic FREDERICK, by Leo Lionni, whose film
adaptation is one of this year’s selections.
The Viewers’ Guide is designed to enhance the learning and
enjoyment of young viewers. Use the DVD in a way that works
best for your group — one or two films at a time, or at one
sitting with moments for introductions and discussion. Before
viewing each film, pause briefly to introduce it using the
vocabulary words and problem questions as starters. Later,
discuss the film’s solution to the problem and other
possibilities. Encourage discussion. What did the viewers
and children notice? What was fun? What was thoughtprovoking? Book suggestions offer follow-up ideas; activity
and movement suggestions add opportunities to learn and
grow. We welcome your creativity and look forward to
hearing about your group’s experience!
Thank you!
1. Crush
Directed by Brent Dawes
SOUTH AFRICA
5 minutes
An elephant goes to extraordinary lengths to revive a delicate
little flower that he has accidentally damaged and is in danger of
destroying. His efforts lead to more trouble and a whirlwind of bent trees
and flying water, though everything turns out just fine in the end!
Summary:
Vocabulary: daisy, accident, fix-it plan, sandstorm, clouds, protect.
What is the Problem? How can the elephant fix a damaged flower?
Related Books: Corduroy by Don Freeman; The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf.
Moving with the Movies: Make a tissue paper flower. Have someone sit on it, see what happens and create a new flower from
what is left.
2. The Elephant and the Bicycle
By Olesya Shchukina
FRANCE
9 minutes
An elephant lives in a town among people and works as a street
cleaner. One day, he sees a big billboard advertising a bicycle. It seems
the perfect size for him! This is the minute the elephant's life changes:
he has to get this bicycle whatever it costs him.
Summary:
Vocabulary: street cleaner, dream, too expensive, right size, appreciative.
What is the Problem? The bicycle the elephant saved for is not the right size.
Related Books: A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams; Tight Times by Barbara Shook Hazen.
Moving with the Movies: Everyone can ride wheel toys today. Sing and do motions to Wheels on the Bus (or Wheels on the Bike).
3. Anatole’s Little Saucepan
Directed by Éric Montchaud
FRANCE
5:47 minutes
Anatole is always dragging his little saucepan behind him. The
pan is a problem that fell on him one day… nobody really knows why.
Since then, it causes problems everywhere. One day, he’s had more than
enough trouble and decides to hide. Luckily, a caring person reaches out
to help.
Summary:
Vocabulary: good qualities, weird, forgotten, helpful.
What is the Problem? Anatole’s saucepan makes life difficult and he can’t get rid of it.
Related Books: Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats; Big Mama by Donald Crews; Do Like Kyla by Angela Johnson.
Moving with the Movies: Act out stages of growth as done on the CD “Rainy Day Songs and Rainy Day Dances” in the last song, The Rainy Day
Dance and Story.
4. Wombo
Directed by Daniel Acht
GERMANY
6 minutes
Wombo is an alien whose spaceship crashes on Earth. Once there he
has problems. First he is chased by a dog. Then he almost becomes part of a
vegetable soup! All this because he looks amazingly like a potato!
Summary:
Vocabulary: alien potato head, mistaken identity, narrow escape.
What is the Problem? To escape the dangers of earth and continue on space voyage.
Related Books: Elisabeti’s Doll by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen; Galimoto by Karen Lynn
Williams, Katherine Stock, illustrator; Roaring Rockets by Tony Milton and Ant Parker; On the Launch Pad: A Counting Book
About Rockets by Michael Dahl, author, Denise Shea, illustrator, Derrick Alderman, illustrator.
Moving with the Movies: Set out the Mr. Potato Head toys and encourage the children to create characters and act out a
story with them.
5. Decorations
By Mari Miyazawa
JAPAN
7 minutes
A frosting decorator tool creates fantasy cake decorations,
including a beautiful princess for the top. But the princess dreams of
life in the big city, and attempts to fly away.
Summary:
Vocabulary: bakery, frosting, cupcakes, cake decorator, baby, growing up.
What is the Problem? Frosting princess has problems as she grows up and wants to go away.
Related Books: Spoon by Amy Krause Rosenthal and Scott Magoon; Cupcake by Charise Mericle
Harper.
Moving with the Movies: Pair up children with complimentary skills and lead them through a pretend cooking project. Or better yet, cook
something for real. Try paper cup cupcakes in an electric frying pan. It really works well!
6. Hidden Talent
By Miran Miosic
CROATIA
5 minutes
A little cat Bjelobrk lives in the Feline City. He is cheerful,
sociable and loves to sing, but he is always out of tune. When his best
friend Lina shows him a poster for the Music School, Bjelobrk decides
to leave for further training. His departure proves to be a blessing of
tranquility for the Feline City, but what about his coming back?
Summary:
Vocabulary: music lessons, out of tune, instruments, graduate, conductor.
What is the Problem? Cat loves to sing, but always sings out of tune.
Related Books: Pete the Cat series, by James Dean; Splat the Cat series, by Rob Scotton
Moving with the Movies: Have a “sing-a-long” with children suggesting their favorite songs.
7. Macropolis
By Noel Simon
N. IRELAND/UNITED KINGDOM
7 minutes
Macropolis is the story of two toys with impairments discarded
from a factory production line. Coming to life, they rebel and chase the
factory delivery van in the hope of rejoining their friends. Lost in the big
city, they are overwhelmed by the challenge ahead.
Summary:
Vocabulary: toy factory, disabled, toy store, buy toy with own money.
What is the Problem? A toy missing an eye and another missing a leg want to play with children like other toys.
Related Books: Where ever You Are by Mem Fox; Don’t Call Me Special by Pat Thomas.
Moving with the Movies: Pair children with complementary abilities, have them work together to build a structure or move across the field or
gym together.
8. Frederick
By Leo Leonni
ITALY
6:19 minutes
While the family of field mice works hard to gather food for the
long, cold winter, Frederick seems to be doing nothing!
Summary:
Vocabulary: poet, imagination, stone wall, winter weather.
What is the Problem? How will Frederick help the family when they have run out of food late in winter.
Related books: The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
Moving with the Movies: Make a class poem-have a small group observe an object and describe it, as
teacher takes dictation, edits, and transforms to poem.
9 & 10. “Hopes for the Future”
& “The Making of…”
Animated by Trenesha, Ian, Isaiah, Zyaira, Nyota, Denisha, Sincere, Vanessa.
ROCHESTER, NY 6 min.
Produced by the Rochester International Children’s Film Festival and Animatus Studios
A first-time animated video created by children from
the Maplewood YMCA Afterschool Program with School #8, at a
free hands-on animation workshop!
Summary:
Vocabulary: music video, story board, animation.
Related Books: Beginner's Guide to Animation: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started by Mary Murphy; The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds;
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson; The Squiggle by Carole Lexa Schafer.
Moving with the Movies: For a fun artistic experience with dots, lines and colors go to the website <jacksonpollock_by_miltos_manetas.swf>.
This project is made possible with funds from the
Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the
New York State Council on the Arts with the support of
Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State
Legislature and administered by the Arts & Cultural
Council for Greater Rochester.
The Rochester International Children’s Film Festival is facilitated
by the Rochester Association for the Education of Young Children (RAEYC)
Other sponsors and collaborators include:
s
Spindler Family Foundation
Spiritus Christi Church
Friends & Foundation of the Rochester Public Library
Office of
Early
Childhood
Rochester
Children’s
Network
The Gilbert Fund/
First Unitarian Church