FACETS' 40TH ANNUAL CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL, NOVEMBER 3 – 19, 2023

ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List 

FACETS ANNOUNCES TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE

FOR THE 40TH ANNUAL

CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL 

CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL

 NOVEMBER 3 – 19

Tickets On Sale Today - Thursday, Sept.  21

Special Early Bird Pricing Through Thursday, Oct. 12

Use Code CICFF40EARLYBIRD15 

FACETS 40th Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF), the first Academy Award qualifying international children’s film festivals in the world, announces tickets for the 40th annual festival are now on sale. The festival is presented from Friday, Nov. 3 through Sunday, Nov. 19. FACETS is pleased to offer in-person screenings as well as limited festival selections available via national streaming. The in-person screenings will take place at FACETS Cinema, Logan Center for the Arts, Music Box Theater and The Kehrein Center For The Arts with special events happening at other venues around Chicago including Chicago History Museum and AMC New City 14.  CICFF showcases films for ages 2 - 18 years old and their families. General ticket prices are $12 for in-person and virtual screening, with festival passes and FACETS’ Member discounts available. 

Tickets are on sale now, ticket buyers should visit https://cicff40.eventive.org/ to purchase tickets and see the current schedule. The site will be updated regularly as additional programming is finalized. The early bird discount rate, available by using code CICFF40EARLYBIRD15, is valid through October 12 on the festival website.

HIGHLIGHTS OF CICFF40:

CICFF40 Opening Event (Friday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.): CICFF40’s Red Carpet Opening at Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. with live entertainment, a special screening of family friendly short films and reception celebrating the festival’s 40th anniversary.

“My First Movies” Event (Sunday, Nov. 5): A family friendly event at AMC New City 14, 1500 N. Clybourn Ave., geared for the youngest viewers. A screening of age-appropriate shorts for children ages 2-5 years old with special attention paid to what will make their first movie experience a delight. For an added treat, FACETS provides opportunities for hands-on play activities and live music for  sing-alongs.

Animation Celebration Event (Saturday, Nov. 11 at 10 a.m): CICFF will celebrate the best animated shorts at Chicago History Museum, 1601 N Clark St., with some new and some fan favorites, showcasing a variety of animation styles. FACETS also offers an animation workshop for budding animators and festive food offerings.

Every year FACETS’ Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF) is proud to present a diverse selection of high-quality films for children and teens from around the world. For the 2023 season, CICFF’s carefully curated selection of several virtual and in-person screenings will fall in five major age brackets:

My First Movies (Ages 2 - 5 years old)

Storytellers(Ages 6 - 8 years old)

Adventurers(Ages 8-10 years old)

Film Mavens (Ages 11-14 years old)

Cineastes (Ages 14 and older)

My First Movies (Ages 2 - 5 years old): CICFF40’s “My First Movies” program strand provides a movie going experience geared towards the youngest viewers, ages 2 - 5 years old, with attention given to high quality content that is diverse and age appropriate. FACETS is intentional in creating an environment that supports the needs and behaviors of young children. They introduce the film program and allow parents to answer questions that may arise while watching, FACETS expects that children might speak out loud sometimes and also expect giggles, belly laughs and a little surprise now and then. No need for embarrassment if children need to get up or walk out to the lobby or spend time in the activity area in the studio space next to the cinema.

Storytellers (Ages 6 - 8 years old): Content for this age group tends to focus on stories from around the world. These could be tall tales, legends from different cultures or amazing adventures that stir the imagination. The accompanying activities will be art activities that allow children to respond to what they have seen creatively and imagine what happens next.

Adventurers (Ages 8 - 10 years old): For ages 8-10, CIFF provides thoughtful films picked to engage kids in new and surprising ways, focusing on programming for curious minds that supports growth development and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and empowering films for girls.

Film Mavens (Ages 11-14 years old): For ages 11-14 CICFFprovides programming that addresses the complexity of coming of age with sensitivity. These young people are coming into their own and the programming assumes that they are the inquisitive, thoughtful and passionate beings they are.

Cineastes (Ages 14+): From the climate crisis to LGBTQ+ rights, these films empower important conversations.

New Dimensions (Ages 18-25+): Unique and diverse films with more mature themes for young adults.

“This year marks the 40th annual FACETS’ CICFF, celebrating the past, present and future of youth cinema from around the world,” said Deidre Searcy, FACETS festival program director. “We are delighted to shine a spotlight and roll out the red carpet for the best films produced for young people ages 2 - 18 and their families. Join us for opening night at the Chicago History Museum for films and family friendly live entertainment. Be sure to check out films for the very youngest audiences at AMC New City or enjoy a celebration of animation with films and make your own animation workshop at the Chicago History Museum.

FACETS Chicago International Children’s Film Festival Mission Statement

Established in 1984, FACETS Chicago International Children’s Film Festival strives to support the work of talented and dedicated filmmakers by showcasing international films of the highest quality and awarding prizes in multiple categories of production formats and genres. The film experiences of young viewers are deepened through a broad range of programs which extend Festival film viewing into discussion and learning.

To maintain its longtime standing as one of the top children's film festivals in the world, films presented in CICFF40 will be issued awards on November 9th  by the CICFF Professional Jury, Youth Jury, and Children's Jury, including in the Academy Award Qualifying Best Animated and Best Live-Action Short Film categories. CICFF juries are composed of independent filmmakers, film industry professionals, educators, parents, and kids and teens who have graduated from FACETS Film 101 summer camp.

About FACETS 

Established in 1975, FACETS expands perspectives and affirms a shared humanity through inclusive engagement with film. FACETS' mission is to create cinematic experiences for youth and adults that foster vital conversations and community action through film exhibitions, media education, and film resources. Learn more at facets.org.

FACETS presents the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF), the first Academy Award-qualifying international children’s film festivals in the world. The 40thAnnual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF40) will be presented November 3 - 19  at FACETS and via national online screening. Tickets are on sale now. Ticket buyers should visit https://cicff40.eventive.org/ to purchase tickets and see the current schedule. The site will be updated regularly as additional programming is finalized.The early bird discount rate, available by using code CICFF40EARLYBIRD15, is valid through October 12 on the festival website.

FACETS’ CICFF40 is supported lead sponsor WTTW; lead program sponsors City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Seabury Foundation, Kirkland and Ellis Foundation, Comer Family Foundation, Liz Stiffel, WBEZ Radio, Illinois Arts Council, A.G. Cox Charitable Trust, National Endowment for the Arts, and Stewart R. Abelson Foundation; program supporting sponsors, Allstate Foundation and Choose Chicago; and program supporter, U.S. Educational Charitable Trust.

FACETS' CICFF OPENS SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 40TH ANNUAL CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL

CICFF40 will take place 

November 3–19, 2023

FACETS' Chicago International Children's Film Festival is excited to announce that submissions are now open for CICFF40. The Festival will run November 3-19, 2023. The Early Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2023 the submission fees are $40 for each short film, and $80 for feature films. The Regular Deadline is May 31, 2023 and submission fees are $60 for each short film and $100 for feature films. FilmFreeway Gold Members receive a 10% discount on all submissions. Submit to CICFF40 through FilmFreeway. Full details here: https://facets.org/programs/facets-cicff-opens-submissions-for-the-40th-annual-chicago-international-childrens-film-festival/

ABOUT CICFF

For almost 40 years CICFF has set the standard of excellence, celebrating films from around the world that break new ground in their approach to storytelling, offer unique or seldom-heard points of view and demonstrate artistic and technical mastery. Our goal is to raise the bar of what films for children and teens can achieve.

CICFF is an advocate for children, prioritizing their human rights and protecting their health and well-being. Films selected for the Festival are child-or teen-driven in their approach to storytelling. The content speaks positively to people of different backgrounds, cultures, and orientations.

We strongly believe that audiences should be engaged, entertained, and enlightened. Films should stimulate discussion and insight into new concepts and motivate active responses from children and teens.

We seek and provide opportunities to connect filmmakers with our festival audiences. In addition to the Festival, CICFF provides year-round thematic programming that promotes media education in the community and the classroom. Through virtual Q&As, available to a worldwide audience, filmmakers have an incomparable opportunity to discuss their work with the widest possible array of viewers.

ORGANIZATION

The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival is the first Academy®-qualifying children’s film festival in the world. Oscar®-qualifying film categories include Live-Action Short Film and Animated Short Film.

Founded in 1984, the CICFF is the oldest children’s film festival in the country and the largest in the world, screening 307 films from 55 countries during the 39th season in 2022.

The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival serves as a global hub for filmmakers and producers of films for young people, as an opportunity to connect with and elevate the aesthetic and production standards for youth cinema production.

Festival films reach unique audiences diverse in age, socioeconomic background, and ethnic heritage, as well as a broad range of children and teens, educators, parents, and peers unduplicated in the youth film festival audience landscape worldwide. At in-person and virtual screening Q&A’s filmmakers have an incomparable opportunity to discuss their work with the widest possible array of viewers.

MISSION

The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival aims to set an internationally recognized standard of excellence in film production for children and youth.

We strive to support the work of talented and dedicated filmmakers by showcasing international films of the highest quality and awarding prizes in multiple categories of production formats and genres. The film experiences of young viewers are deepened through a broad range of programs which extend Festival film viewing into discussion and learning.

The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival is produced and presented by FACETS. FACETS is a nonprofit that connects people to independent ideas through transformative film experiences. Since 1975, we have produced pioneering programs focused on film education, exhibition, and distribution.

As the first Academy®-qualifying children’s film festival in the world, our festival presents the best, most innovative international films for kids and teens. We seek out films that both entertain audiences and challenge them to widen their perspectives. But more importantly, we invite film submissions that are for kids, not simply about them.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Festival films reach unique audiences diverse in age, socioeconomic background, ability, and ethnic heritage, as well as a broad range of children and teens, educators, parents, and peers unduplicated in the youth film festival audience landscape worldwide. At post-screening discussions, filmmakers have an incomparable opportunity to connect with the widest possible array of viewers.

ABOUT FACETS

Established in 1975, FACETS expands perspectives and affirms a shared humanity through inclusive engagement with film. FACETS' mission is to create cinematic experiences for youth and adults that foster vital conversations and community action through film exhibitions, media education, and film resources. Learn more at facets.org

   

FACETS ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS FOR THE 39TH ANNUAL CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL

ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List

“Rickshaw Girl” 

Wins Best of the Fest Award 

and 

"Dostojee” 

Receives the Milos Stehlik Global Impact Award

The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival has long been a family favorite of ours. I volunteered in the box office at FACETS from 1990-to shortly before the pandemic. My kids grew up watching loads of world class CICFF films and even helping with concessions and ticket taking. We highly recommend checking out some of the 304 films, representing 54 nations. CICFF is one of only two Academy Award-qualifying international children’s film festivals in the world. Screenings are happening now through November 20 at FACETS, with in-person and national online screening options. 

FACETS 39th Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF) announces the recipients of its Special and Jury Prizes today along with two new film programs – Award Winning Shorts Program for ages 8-10 and 11-14. CICFF, with selection by the 2022 Festival’s jury members, awarded 65 prizes from a field of 304 films, representing 54 nations, in several categories including live-action, animation, documentary films and television productions. Prizes are given by the Children’s, Youth, Professional and Special Juries and the Professional Jury Live-Action and Animated Shorts categories are Academy Award-qualifying. Tickets are currently on sale here: CICFF39.eventive.org .

Awards presented by the Festival maintain CICFF’s longtime standing as one of the top children’s film festivals in the world. CICFF juries are composed of independent filmmakers, film industry professionals, educators, parents and kids and teens who have graduated from FACETS Film 101 summer camp.

Also presented was the Milos Stehlik Global Impact Award, now in its fourth year, awarded to director Prasun Chatterjee for the feature film “Dostojee” (India) and Amy Bench for the short film “More Than I Want to Remember”(United States). FACETS created this award in 2019 to celebrate the memory of Milos Stehlik, founder and executive director of FACETS, who passed away in July 2019.

The full list of awards are listed below and can be found here .

CICFF39 – AWARD WINNING SHORTS PROGRAMS: 

For Ages 8-10:

A collection of some of the best award-winning short films from CICFF39. This selection represents a range of animation, live-action and documentary and includes winners from the Children's and Professional Juries, with the winners of the Best Production for Young Children and Best of Fest Awards. 

 

The films may be viewed virtually from November 10 - 20 and one may view the in-person screening times here and below: 

Saturday, Nov. 12 at 12:30 p.m. at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. 

Sunday, Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. 

The program winners include:

• “Hush Hush Little Bear” 

• “Birth” 

• “HEY DUGGEE – The Action Hero Badge”

• “The Wind and The Trees” 

• “The Most Boring Granny in the Whole World”

• “Pete” 

• “Charlie and the Hunt” 

• “New Moon” 

• “Wishes in the Wind” 

 

(Ages 11-14+) 

A collection of some of the best award-winning short films from CICFF39. This selection represents a range of animation, live-action and documentary and includes winners from the Youth, New Dimensions and Professional Juries, with the winner of Milos Stehlik Global Impact Award and Best of Fest Awards.  

The films may be viewed virtually from November 10-20 and one may view the in-person screening times here and below:

 Sunday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave.  

The program winners include:

 

Films:  

• “Call and Response” 

• “Slipping Away” 

• “Freedom Swimmer” 

• “Ice Merchants” 

• “More Than I Want to Remember” 

• “Abby” 

SPECIAL PRIZES AWARDED INCLUDE: 

2022 BEST OF FEST AWARD

“Rickshaw Girl,” Amitabh Reza Chowdhury (Bangladesh)

MILOS STEHLIK GLOBAL IMPACT AWARD

Feature: “Dostojee,” Prasun Chatterjee (India)

Short: “More Than I Want to Remember,” Amy Bench (United States)

 

BEST PRODUCTION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (AGES 2-5)

“Hush Hush Little Bear,” Māra Liniņa (Latvia)

PROGRAMMER’S CHOICE AWARD

“New Moon,” Jeff Le Bars, Jérémie Balais (United States)

GIRL EMPOWERMENT AWARD

“Abby,” John Urbano (United States)

STEM AWARD

“The Wind and the Trees,” Todd Allan Stewart (Canada)

LIV ULLMANN PEACE PRIZE - Feature

Feature: “The Apple Day,” Mahmoud Ghaffari (Islamic Republic of Iran)

LIV ULLMANN PEACE PRIZE - Short

Short: “Letter to a Pig,” Tal Kantor (France)

MONTGOMERY PRIZE EMERGING DIRECTOR

“White Berry,” Sia Hermanides (Netherlands)

EMBRACE AWARD

“Adjustment,” Mehrdad Hassani (Islamic Republic of Iran)

 

PROMISE AWARD

“Me. My eleven years. WAR.,” Marusya Shuvalova (Ukraine)

 

PROMISE AWARD

“Yangtze,” Daniel Kim, Benjamin Kim (United States)

 

CHILDREN’S JURY PRIZES INCLUDE:

Children's Jury’s Prize – Animated Short Film

1st Prize, “Pete,” Bret Parker (United States)

2nd Prize, “Birth,” Roberto Valle (Spain)

 

Children’s Jury’s Prize – Animated Feature Film

1st Prize, “Perlimps,” Alê Abreu (Brazil)

 2nd Prize, “My Big Big Friend - The Movie,” Andres Lieban (Brazil)

 

Children's Jury’s Prize – Animated Television

1st  Prize, “HEY DUGGEE - The Action Hero Badge,” Grant Orchard, Sander Jones (United Kingdom)

 2nd  Prize, “Call and Response,” Morgane Duprat--Peter, Daphné Kutnowski, Yoann Bouabré, Sélena Aledji, Anthony Okoko, Laura Sadi Honniball (France)

 

Children’s Jury’s Prize – Documentary Short Film

1st Prize, “Dipsas Speaks,” Craig Daniel Leon (Ecuador)

2nd Prize, “Wishes in the Wind,” Lisa Marie DiLiberto (Canada)

 

Children’s Jury’s Prize – Documentary Feature Film

1st Prize, “YUNG PUNX: A Punk Parable,” Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger (United States)

2nd Prize, “Rosie’s Theater Kids,” Steven Cantor (United States)

 

Children's Jury’s Prize – Live-Action Short 

1st Prize, “Charlie and the Hunt,” Jenn Shaw (United States)

2nd Prize, “Eger, 1552,” Attila Szász (Hungary)

  

Children's Jury’s Prize – Live-Action Feature Film 

1st Prize, “Laura’s Star,” Joya Thome (Germany)

2nd Prize, “Tales of Franz,” Johannes Schmidt (Austria)

 

Children's Jury’s Prize – Live Action Television

1st Prize, “Theodosia,” Matthias Hoene, Matt Bloom, Alexander James Jacob (France)

2nd Prize, “Yard TV,” Pablo Uranga (Brazil)

YOUTH JURY PRIZES

 

Youth Jury’s Prize – Animated Short Film

1st Prize,   ”Ice Merchants,” João Gonzalez (Portugal)

2nd Prize,  “Slipping Away,” Gabriel Hénot Lefèvre (France)

 

Youth Jury’s Prize – Live-Action Short Film 

1st Prize,  “Invincible,” Vincent René-Lortie (Canada)

2nd Prize,  “Bleach,” Mattias Graham (Canada)

 

Youth Jury’s Prize – Documentary Short Film

1st Prize, (tie)

“Freedom Swimmer,” Olivia Martin-McGuire (United Kingdom)

“More Than I Want to Remember,” Amy Bench (United States)

2nd Prize, “BYkids: FAITH'S WORLD,” Faith Guilbault (United States)

 

Youth Jury’s Prize –  Animated Television

1st Prize,  “Call and Response,” Morgane Duprat--Peter, Daphné Kutnowski, Yoann Bouabré, Sélena Aledji, Anthony Okoko, Laura Sadi Honniball (France)

 

Youth Jury’s Prize – Documentary Feature Film

1st Prize,  “Afghan Dreamers,” David Greenwald (Afghanistan)

2nd Prize,  “This is My Black,” Stephen Adetumbi, Jarrett Roseborough (United States)

  

Youth Jury’s Prize – Live-Action Feature Film

1st Prize, “White Berry,” Sia Hermanides (Netherlands) 

2nd Prize, “Comedy Queen,” Ismael Ferroukhi (Morocco, France)

 

Youth Jury’s Prize – Live Action Television

1st Prize, “More Than This,” John Sheedy, Kate Gorman (Australia)

 

NEW DIMENSIONS JURY PRIZES INCLUDE

 

New Dimensions Jury’s Prize – Animated Short Film

1st Prize, Animated Short Film (tie)

“Good Night Mr. Ted,” Nicolás Sole Allignani (Argentina)

“The Seine’s Tears,” Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Nicolas Mayeur, Etienne Moulin, Hadrien Pinot, Lisa Vicente, Philippine Singer, Alice Letailleur (France)

2nd Prize, “Ice Merchants,” João Gonzalez (Portugal)

 

New Dimensions Jury’s Prize – Documentary Feature Film 

1st Prize, “Dear Future Children,” Franz Böhm (Germany) 

2nd Prize, “The Last Election and other Love Stories,” Miguel Silveira (United States) 

 

New Dimensions Jury’s Prize – Documentary Short Film 

1st Prize, “Freedom Swimmer,” Olivia Martin-McGuire (United Kingdom) 

2nd Prize, “The Girl with the Accent,” Nadia Durry (United Arab Emirates) 

 

New Dimensions Jury’s Prize – Live-Action Short Film 

1st Prize, “Invincible,” Vincent René-Lortie (Canada) 

2nd Prize, “Sons of Toledo,” Monty Cole (United States)

 

PROFESSIONAL JURY PRIZES INCLUDE 

 

Professional Jury’s Prize – Animated Short Film  

1st  Prize, “Slipping Away,” Gabriel Hénot Lefèvre (France) 

2nd  Prize, “The Most Boring Granny in the Whole World,” Damaris Zielke (Germany) 

 

Professional Jury’s Prize – Animated Feature Film  

1st Prize, “Journey to Yourland,” Peter Budinský (Slovakia) 

2nd Prize, “The Websters Movie,” Katarína Kerekesová (Slovakia)

  

Professional Jury’s Prize – Animated Television

1st  Prize, “Call and Response,” Morgane Duprat--Peter, Daphné Kutnowski, Yoann Bouabré, Sélena Aledji, Anthony Okoko, Laura Sadi Honniball (France)

2nd  Prize, (tie)

“Giuseppe,” Isabelle Favez (Switzerland)

“Space Nova,” Pablo De La Torre (Australia)

 

Professional Jury’s Prize – Documentary Short Film

1st Prize, Freedom Swimmer, Olivia Martin-McGuire (United Kingdom)

2nd Prize, (tie)

How Hannie are You?, Deborah van Dam (Netherlands)

Maxim - The Greatest, Kaja Fedulova (Germany)

  

Professional Jury’s Prize – Documentary Feature Film

1st  Prize, “Afghan Dreamers,” David Greenwald (Afghanistan)

2nd  Prize, “Dear Future Children,” Franz Böhm (Germany)

 

Professional Jury’s Prize – Live-Action Short

1st  Prize, “Invincible,” Vincent René-Lortie (Canada)

2nd  Prize, “Margot's Sister,” Christine Doyon (Canada)

 

Professional Jury’s Prize – Live-Action Feature Film

1st Prize, Comedy Queen, Sanna Lenken (Sweden)

2nd Prize, Rickshaw Girl, Amitabh Reza Chowdhury (Bangladesh)

 

Professional Jury’s Prize – Live Action Television

1st Prize,  “More Than This,” John Sheedy, Kate Gorman (Australia)

2nd  Prize,  “Kabam!,” Elisabeth Hesemans (Netherlands)

About FACETS

FACETS  connects people to independent ideas through transformative film experiences. Founded by the late Milos Stehlik in 1975,  FACETS inspires audiences to engage with film not simply as entertainment, but as an exciting tool to bridge cultural divides, promote digital literacy, and expand perspectives through empathy-driven storytelling.  

FACETS presents the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF), one of only two Academy Award-qualifying international children’s film festivals in the world. The 39th Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF39) runs November 4 - 20 at FACETS in-person and via national online screening. Buyers should visit  CICFF39.eventive.org  to view all the ticket options and to purchase tickets.

FACETS’ CICFF39 is supported by the Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Comer Family Foundation, NEA Art Works, Illinois Arts Agency (partial support), Kirckland & Ellis LLP, Prince Charitable Trust, Allstate, Conant Family Foundation, Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation, Seabury Foundations (New Dimensions program), Sterling Bay, and WTTW.

WIN TICKETS TO FACETS' 38TH ANNUAL CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL Now Streaming Through NOVEMBER 14

ChiIL Mama’s Chi, IL Picks List:

FLASH GIVEAWAY enter through noon 

Friday 11/12!

Enter HERE for your chance to WIN a 4 movie pass good for your choice of any CICFF films through Sunday 11/14.

The Festival Includes the Launch of Young Adult Program, New Dimensions, In-Person Screenings at FACETS and ChiTown Movies Drive-In with National Streaming through the Eventive Platform 

Here at ChiIL Mama, we've attended, promoted, and volunteered at Chicago International Children's Film Festival as a family for years. I started volunteering at FACETS in 1990, working their box office and concessions a handful of times monthly for decades. Even as technology has changed, FACETS and CICFF remain an invaluable resource in the indy film scene. FACETS Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival is still going strong and celebrating their 38th season with a full streaming option, as well as limited in-person screenings in Chicago at FACETS as well as opening night at ChiTown Drive-In. Don't miss this amazing international, multicultural smorgasbord of films for all ages. 

FACETS 38th Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF), one of only two Academy Award qualifying international children’s film festivals in the world, announces this year’s tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at facets.org.

Presented from Friday, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Nov.14, FACETS is pleased to offer limited in-person screenings as well as the entire festival available via national streaming.  The in-person screenings will take place at FACETS, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. and Opening Night will be held at ChiTown Drive-In, 2343 S. Throop St.

Also new this year will be the launch of New Dimensions, a program designed for film enthusiasts 18 years old and older. CICFF, traditionally showcasing films for ages 3-18, believes the young adult audience should continue to have the opportunity to experience the best in cinema within this festival that cater to their interests, life-experiences and curiosities. The program will contain more mature content, new innovative, edgy animation and high-quality shorts, documentaries and feature films. The full schedule for the CICFF will be available the day of the ticket on-sale, October 14.  General ticket prices are $10 for in-person and $15 for virtual screening, with festival passes and FACETS’ Members discounts available. Ticket buyers should visit facets.org to view all the ticket options and to purchase tickets. 

Karen Cardarelli, executive director of FACETS said, “Through the many phases of programming over the years, none have had as big of an impact as the current global pandemic.  Last year, we swiftly shifted the festival to an all-virtual format and we are so pleased to once again be welcoming guests for live screenings from around the world.  Our new relationship with ChiTown Movies is one we are extremely excited to offer families as it will bring the thrill of the screen to a safe and outdoor space. We are so committed to maintaining quality programming that we are even expanding and offering more films for young adult and college-aged audiences 18 and older.  We have named this program New Dimensions and with its launch we hope to bring back our much loved audience who may think they have ‘aged out’ of our festival and also those who believe in high quality programming and love experiencing the well-curated cinema in general.” 

Every year FACETS’ Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF) is proud to present a diverse selection of high-quality films for children and teens from around the world. For the 2021 season, CICFF’s carefully  curated selection of shorts and features presents girls and young women who are powerful and determined and young people who struggle, triumph and are free to express joy through all the stages of growing up. CICFF38 films feature young and upcoming Black actors and directors like Camrus Johnson ("Luke Fox" aka "Batwing" in the CW/HBOMax series Batwoman), and FreeBird, a short that lovingly depicts a child with downs syndrome for the first time ever in an animated film. CICFF38 also showcases familiar family-friendly content like the animated shortRunaway Bunny based on the award-winning book and narrated by Tracie Ellis Ross with music by Mariah Carey and Rufus Wainwright, and the unfamiliar like the live-action, critically acclaimed short for teens, The Right Words that just premiered at Cannes Film Festival and was selected to screen at CICFF.

 

Festival Highlights - FEATURE FILMS 

Any Day Now (Finland) 

Directed by Hamy Ramezan  • Persian with English Subtitles • 82 Minutes • View Trailer • Recommended for ages 11-14

Ramin is 13 years-old and about to start junior high school. He and his Iranian family have been living in a refugee center in Finland. The audience will see their everyday joys, morning rituals before school, parties with friends and how Ramin and his family keep a positive attitude despite the always looming danger of deportation. It is a sweet coming of age story caught in the difficult reality of immigration. As families await final news about their asylum applications, Ramin wonders how to approach a girl he likes. Any Day Now shows the human side of immigration and provides insight into the experiences, challenges and hopes of youth who await news of their status.

 

Ape Star (Sweden)

Directed by Linda Hambäck • English • 74 Minutes • View Trailer • Recommended for ages 6-10

Based on Frida Nilsson’s award-winning novel “The Ape Star,”, this family film brings together Jonna, a young girl who desperately wants to be adopted with her new mom, who to everyone’s surprise is a gorilla.  As the pair overcome their physical differences, they find common ground and learn about love, acceptance and the true meaning of family. They will have to work together to defeat a town bully who not only threatens the future of the orphanage but also tries to break up their new happy home. 

 

Birta (Iceland)

Directed by Bragi Thor Hinrisskon • Icelandic with English subtitles • 85 Minutes • No Trailer Available • Recommended for ages 8 - 14 

Birta, an 11-year old, overhears her single mom talking about their precarious financial status and determines that Christmas may not happen this year. She decides to take on the responsibility for making Christmas possible for the family and goes on a quest to make enough money before the holidays to help her hard-working mom. Birta is a charming, persuasive, young entrepreneur with amazing problem-solving skills. She enlists the help of her younger sister and best friend to sell everything from cookies to frozen fish.  However, not everything goes as planned.  It's not so easy when one is  only eleven years old and trying to keep it all a secret. Birta is fun, family entertainment that will melt a frozen holiday heart but also has lessons about the true meaning of giving and importance of honesty.

 

City of Lost Things (Taiwan)

Directed by Yee Chih-Yen • Chinese with English subtitles • 91 Minutes • View Trailer • Recommended for ages 14+ 

City of Lost Things has a visual style sure to appeal to lovers of sophisticated animation. It centers on Leaf, a 16-year-old struggling urban teenager. He doesn’t think much about his life. He lacks self-confidence and views himself as worthless and disposable. When Leaf skips classes and runs away from home, he ends up, mysteriously, in a place called the City of Lost Things. There he finds discarded, forgotten trash and decides he has finally found a place where he belongs. He befriends Baggy, a plastic bag who doesn’t see himself as just another piece of unwanted junk. Baggy has a purpose in his life and wants Leaf to help him lead his friends and family away from the City of Lost Things. Leaf faces several challenges along the way and must decide who he is and where his loyalties lie. He must also recognize his own value in order to find his true purpose.

 

Dear Werner (Walking on Cinema) (Spain)

Directed by Pablo Maqueda • English • 79 Minutes • View Trailer • Recommended for ages 18+

In 1974 Werner Herzog walked from Munich to Paris, an act of faith to prevent the death of his mentor Lotte Eisner. In 2020, a young filmmaker follows in Herzog ́s footsteps in an act of love to one of the best filmmakers of our time. Pablo Maqueda collaborated with Herzog and the resulting film has been described as poetic, inspirational and beautiful.  This “film letter” is a meditation on filmmaking and a must see for admirers of Werner and lovers of film. 

 

Youth v Gov (United States)

Directed by Christi Cooper • English • 109 Minutes • View Trailer • Recommended for ages 11+

This inspiring documentary follows the lives of a group of brave, young American citizens from across the country who decide to take on the world’s most powerful government. Twenty-one courageous youth lead a groundbreaking lawsuit against the U.S. government, asserting that it has willfully acted over six decades to create a climate crisis, thus endangering their constitutional rights to life, liberty and property. Youth v. Gov not only informs but motivates young people to take action.

 

Festiva Highlights - SHORTS 

DỌLÁPỌ̀ IS FINE (United Kingdom)Directed by Ethosheia Hylton • English and Yoruba with English subtitles • 15 Minutes • View Trailer • Recommended for ages 11+

Nigerian teenager, Dọlápọ̀ attends a British boarding school. She is bright, fun and free-spirited but when she tries to find a job in London’s financial center, she is pressured by a Nigerian female mentor to abandon her natural hairstyle, wear a wig and use a nickname that is easier to pronounce. Dọlápọ̀ is faced with questions about her identity and self-image. She must decide if she is willing to change who she is in order to meet the expectations of others.

 

Salt (United States)

Directed by Alicia Scott Nichols • Nonverbal • 6 Minutes • Recommended for ages 6-10

This beautifully animated short depicts West Africa near the Senegalese city of Dakar where for generations the people have harvested salt at Lake Retba. Young Sanura learns to find her joy one afternoon, during the salt harvest, working alongside her mother.

Stairs (Mongolia)

Directed by Zoljargal Purevdash • Mongolian with English subtitles • 12 Minutes • View Trailer • Recommended for ages 11+

Stairs is an inspirational story about Sonor, a talented young man who uses a wheelchair. His goal is to get the additional training he needs to land his dream job.  While issues of access and the attitudes of others about disabilities threaten to stand in his way, it is his young sister’s love and unwavering support that inspires and helps him to overcome the obstacles and see his dream fulfilled.

Vanille (France)

Directed by Guillaume Lorin • French with English subtitles • 29 Minutes • View Trailer • Recommended for ages 8-10

Vanille is a fresh example of innovative TV that mixes animation and live action backgrounds to tell the story of Vanille, a feisty, 9-year-old girl who is bi-racial.  Vanille straightens her hair every morning because she doesn’t like the way it looks. She reluctantly leaves her home in Paris to visit her aunt in Guadeloupe. She finds herself on a journey that takes her to the heart of the lush tropical rainforest to battle a shapeshifting creature in order to lift a strange curse. The real journey, for Vanille however, is finding out who she is, where she comes from and learning to love herself just the way she is.

FACETS Chicago International Children’s Film Festival Mission Statement

Established in 1984, FACETS Chicago International Children’s Film Festival strives to support the work of talented and dedicated filmmakers by showcasing international films of the highest quality and awarding prizes in multiple categories of production formats and genres. The film experiences of young viewers are deepened through a broad range of programs which extend Festival film viewing into discussion and learning. 

To maintain its longtime standing as one of the top children's film festivals in the world, films presented in CICFF38 will be issued awards at its conclusion by the CICFF Professional Jury, Youth Jury, and Children's Jury, including in the Academy Award Qualifying Best Animated and Best Live-Action Short Film categories. CICFF juries are composed of independent filmmakers, film industry professionals, educators, parents, and kids and teens who have graduated from FACETS Film 101 summer camp. 

About FACETS  

FACETS  connects people to independent ideas through transformative film experiences. Founded by the late Milos Stehlik in 1975,  FACETS  inspires audiences to engage with film not simply as entertainment, but as an exciting tool to bridge cultural divides, promote digital literacy, and expand perspectives through empathy-driven storytelling.  

FACETS presents the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF), one of only two Academy Award-qualifying international children’s film festivals in the world. The 38th Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF38) will be presented November 5 - 14 at FACETS and Chi-Town Drive In. Learn more: facets.org.

FACETS’ CICFF38 is supported by the Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Comer Family Foundation, NEA Art Works, Illinois Arts Agency (partial support), Kirckland & Ellis LLP, Prince Charitable Trust, Allstate, Conant Family Foundation, Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation, Seabury Foundations (New Dimensions program), Sterling Bay, and WTTW.

WIN A Family Pass ($75 Value/2 Winners) To The 35th Annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival November 1st-9th, 2018

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: 

35th Annual Chicago International 

Children's Film Festival 

November 1st-9th, 2018

Get your tickets to watch the best films for kids and teens! Here at ChiIL Mama, we're elated to partner up with Facets and the Chicago International 

Children's Film Festival on an excellent ticket giveaway for our readers. I volunteered at Facets from 1990 to 2016, and my teens grew up enjoying award winning family friendly films from around the world at the annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival (CICFF). We highly recommend CICFF for tots through teens, and even adults. 

Enter Below for your chance to WIN

A Family Pass ($75 Value/2 Winners) To The 35th Annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival through midnight October 30th, 2018

Pass contains 20 tickets

Each ticket admits one to any public Festival screening

Pass must be presented at the box office

No refunds on individual tickets

ChiIL Flicks On Our Radar

The Festival is a legendary Chicago cultural institution for
globally-minded, creative families, educators, and media
professionals.

Their mission is to seek out and champion films that
represent the best of their kind and can adequately speak
to the experience of contemporary kids and teens.

The Festival is run by Facets, a pioneering nonprofit
that connects over 30,000 people annually to independent

ideas through transformative film experiences.

Get the ultimate Festival experience. 

With a Festival pass, you can watch the best films from around the world for kids and teens right here in Chicago.

Family Pass - $75
Get a 20 ticket pass for your family to use at any Festival screening.

Pass contains 20 tickets
Each ticket admits one to any public Festival screening
Pass must be presented at the box office
No refunds on individual tickets




Lineup:
Get tickets or family passes in advance and check out the full lineup right here.

Enter for your chance to WIN

A 20 Ticket Family Pass ($75 Value/2 Winners) To The 35th Annual 
Chicago International Children's Film Festival  through midnight October 30th, 2018

Pass contains 20 tickets

Each ticket admits one to any public Festival screening

Pass must be presented at the box office

No refunds on individual tickets

ENTER HERE

Disclosure: Here at ChiIL Mama, we're elated to partner up with Facets and the Chicago International Children's Film Festival on an excellent ticket giveaway for our readers. We have been compensated and/or given complimentary tickets for our giveaway and review purposes. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Fabulous Film Fest For The 4th -- Celebrate CPS Off Day With Chicago International Children's Film Festival

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List:

CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL OFFERS SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE CPS DAY OFF ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH

SPECIAL NOVEMBER 4TH PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

ABULELE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

THREE SHORT FILM PROGRAMS FOR AGES 7+

ALL DAY WORKSHOP TELLING A STORY THROUGH COMPUTER ANIMATION FOR AGES 7+

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT www.facets.org 

Here at ChiIL Mama, CICFF has been a favorite of ours for decades. I was a year round volunteer at Facets for over 25 years and covered many "Kids Fest" shifts before and after I had children of my own. My kids have even volunteered to take tickets and fill concessions multiple times over the years. Since 2009 when I began blogging and freelance writing full time, I've written about the fest, interviewed filmmakers, and reviewed films. We'll be back out this Friday through Sunday too.

Oscar® qualifying Chicago International Children's Film Festival announces Special Programs for the November 4th CPS day off and its closing weekend line-up of screenings November 5 & 6 at Chicago's Facets Theatre, Music Box Theatre. Established in 1983, the Festival is the nation's largest for children and teens and is presenting over 280 all new animated, live action, documentary and experimental shorts and features from approximately 44 countries. Tickets are on sale now at www.facets.org. Festival Family Pass' are available now and can be purchased at www.facets.org or at Facets located at 1517 W. Fullerton in Chicago. 

The special programs are featured for kids ages 7+ on the CPS day off school Friday, November 4th. Programs include the popular features Beauty and the Beast and Abulele, three short film programs and the the all day workshop Telling a Story Through Computer Animation. Programs are located at Facets and the Music Box Theatre with tickets and workshop registration available now at www.facets.org.

DATE: November 4th - Full schedule available at www.facets.org

LOCATIONS: Facets at 1517 W. Fullerton, Music Box Theatre at 3733 N. Southport

SPECIAL NOVEMBER 4th SCREENINGS and WORKSHOP DURING CPS DAY OFF - 

Five special film programs and one workshop for kids with the day off school, Ages 7+. November 4th screening locations include Facets and Music Box Theatres.

* Abulele - Live Action Feature Film, Isreal, Ages 10+, Music Box at 10:15AM

* Stone Soup - Shorts Program, Ages 7+, Facets at 9:45 AM

* Higher Ground - Shorts Program, Ages 13+ Facets at 10:15AM

* Beauty and the Beast - Live Action Feature Film, France, Ages 11+, Music Box at 9:45AM

* Express Yourself - Shorts Program, Ages 14+, Facets at 11:45AM

Workshop - Telling a Story Through Computer Animation  - Ages 7+, Facets from 10:00AM-4:30PM

CENTERPIECE SCREENINGS:

* BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - Live-action, France, Christophe Gans, French, with English subtitles

After falling into financial ruin, a kind, widowed merchant does his best to provide for his six children, including brave, beautiful, and well-grounded Belle. One eventful night, he stumbles upon a fantastic castle holding unspeakable treasures and riches. But when he is tempted to take a single rose from an enchanted garden, he becomes indebted to Beast, the castle's keeper, and it is his beloved Belle pays the price. Will Belle transform both Beast's fate and her own circumstances through the power of love? Impressive special effects, cinematography, and costumes in this César Award-winning film, starring Léa Seydoux ("Spectre", "The Grand Budapest Hotel", "The Lobster", "Saint Laurent") and Vincent Cassel ("Jason Bourne", "The Little Prince", "Black Swan"). Recommended ages: 11+

* ABULELE - US Premiere, Live-action, Israel, Jonathan Geva, Hebrew, with English subtitles.

At school, Adam struggles with both grades and bullies. At home, he grapples with the recent loss of his brother. Amidst this difficulty, he stumbles upon an unlikely friend, a little monster named Abulele. But what starts as an innocent friendship leads to a dangerous chase. With the help of his new pal, Tamar, Adam must protect his monster at all costs while showing some powerful adults how to grow up. Recommended ages: 10+

Workshop

Telling a Story Through Computer Animation

Learn how to tell compelling stories through animation and computer programming with filmmaker and tech extraordinaire, Jeff Sweeton.

Like playing video games, but you'd rather tell a story of your own? Start out by learning character development and storytelling basics, and then bring these ideas to life with coding fundamentals. In the end, you will program your very own animated storyboard-or as we call it in the biz, an animatic.

Takeaways:

• Learn principals of storytelling

• Computer programming and coding language

• Universal relationships of characters within media

• Basic drawing

• Animatic creation

Registration: $40 Facets members, $45 non-members

Festival Tickets

CICFF programs are listed alphabetically. Program seating is guaranteed only with advance individual ticket purchase online.

Ticket Prices

Children (ages 2–18):   $6.00

Adults:   $10.00

Facets Members:   $5.00

Family Pass holders:   FREE

Family Pass

Admits up to 4 (adults or children) to all 2016 general Festival screenings including both weekends and weekdays. This pass does not guarantee seating. The Family Pass can be purchased here.

Facets Members

Discounted admission for Facets Patron Circle Members and one accompanying guest to all general Festival screenings. The membership does not guarantee seating. Click here for more information on becoming a Facets Patron Circle Member.

ABOUT CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL: 

Chicago International Children's Film Festival was founded in 1983 to introduce new, thoughtful, provocative, and culturally diverse films for children to American audiences, to recognize excellence in children's filmmaking, and empower children by involving them directly in the jurying process. The Festival experience cultivates an appreciation for the arts, encourages active, discerning viewing, and stimulates lively discussion among peers, families, and the film community. The 2016 event takes place October 28-Novenber 6, with over 280 films from over 40 counties, premieres, filmmaker Q&As, filmmaking workshops, audience voting, and Opening and Closing Night Celebrations. Chicago International Children's Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Alphawood Foundation, Conant Family Foundation, Polk Brothers Foundation, Stuart R. Abelson Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation, The Comer Foundation, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and British International School of Chicago.