Showing posts with label Family Friendly Films On Our Radar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family Friendly Films On Our Radar. Show all posts

Thursday, November 10, 2022

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.


Sunday, October 28, 2018

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




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. 

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING: SMALLFOOT opens nationwide on September 28th

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List:
Family Friendly Films On Our Radar


ChiIL Mama will be ChiILin' with Warner Bros. Pictures at Chi, IL's Regal City north Stadium 14 this Saturday, for a press preview, sneak peek at SMALLFOOT. Check back soon for our recap of "Smallfoot Saturday". Our family has an abiding love for both yeti and animated feature films, so we can't wait to catch the latest from Warner Bros.






Get yeti to go where no yeti has gone before. #SMALLFOOT hits theaters September 28!

An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, “Smallfoot” turns a myth upside down when a bright young yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human. News of this “smallfoot” throws the simple yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in an all new story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery.


For more information, check out http://www.smallfootmovie.com and follow along on our adventures and more via social media with the hashtag #Smallfoot

www.smallfootmovie.com
www.facebook.com/smallfootmovie
www.instagram.com/smallfootmovie
www.twitter.com/smallfootmovie

“Smallfoot” turns a myth upside down when a bright young yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human. News of this “smallfoot” throws the simple yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in an all new story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery. 

​“Smallfoot” stars Channing Tatum (“The LEGO® Batman Movie,” the “Jump Street” films) as the yeti, Migo, and James Corden (“Trolls,” “The Emoji Movie”) as the Smallfoot, Percy. Also starring are Zendaya (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”), Common (“Selma”), LeBron James (upcoming “Space Jam 2”), Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”), Danny DeVito (“The Lorax,” Oscar nominee for “Erin Brockovich”), Yara Shahidi (TV’s “Black-ish”), Ely Henry (TV’s “Justice League Action”), and Jimmy Tatro (“22 Jump Street”).

​“Smallfoot” is directed by Karey Kirkpatrick, Annie Award-winning director of “Over the Hedge” and Annie nominee for the screenplays for “Chicken Run” and “James and the Giant Peach” and co-directed by Jason Reisig. The screenplay is by Kirkpatrick and Clare Sera, screen story by John Requa & Glenn Ficarra and Kirkpatrick, based on the book Yeti Tracks, by Sergio Pablos.  

The film is produced by Bonne Radford (“Curious George”), Glenn Ficarra (“Storks,” “This is Us,”) and John Requa (“Storks,” “This is Us”).  Serving as executive producers are Nicholas Stoller, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Jared Stern, Karey Kirkpatrick, Sergio Pablos, Courtenay Valenti, and Allison Abbate. The creative team includes editor Peter Ettinger, and composer Heitor Pereira.

​“Smallfoot” is set to debut in theaters September 28, 2018.

​From Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Animation Group, a Zaftig Films production, “Smallfoot” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

“Finally Free” 
Written by Ian Franzino, Andrew Haas, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta and Niall Horan.
Performed by Niall Horan
Courtesy of Capitol Records
(P) 2018 Neon Haze Music Ltd for the world excluding the UK and Ireland; Niall Horan for the UK and Ireland, under exclusive license to UMG Recordings, Inc.

ISRC:  USUG11801366



Wednesday, February 21, 2018

IMAX® DOCUMENTARY PANDAS NARRATED BY KRISTEN BELL Begins in Select IMAX® Theatres Starting April 6, 2018

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: Films On Our Radar

KRISTEN BELL TO NARRATE UPCOMING 
IMAX® DOCUMENTARY PANDAS
The Adventure Begins in Select IMAX® Theatres Starting April 6, 2018


IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX) and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that Kristen Bell (Frozen, TV’s “The Good Place”) will narrate the latest IMAX documentary adventure Pandas, a heartwarming global story about reintroducing captive born pandas to the wild. The film will be released in select IMAX® and IMAX® 3D theatres starting April 6, 2018.



The filmmakers from the acclaimed IMAX documentaries Born to Be Wild and Island of Lemurs: Madagascar take audiences on an exciting and educational new journey for the entire family, this time in China with a species loved the world over—Giant Pandas.

“I am thrilled to team up with IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures to help tell this incredible story in the larger-than-life IMAX format,” said Kristen Bell. “Pandas not only spotlights the important work being done to protect these beloved and ridiculously cute animals, but it provides us with inspiration and hope and showcases the great things we can achieve when we work together.”

Greg Foster, CEO of IMAX Entertainment and Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp., added, "We’re tremendously excited to have the talented and engaging Kristen Bell join the IMAX family to narrate Pandas. We can’t wait to share this heartfelt journey that will transport IMAX audiences to the mountains of Sichuan in China and spotlight the incredible steps scientists are taking to protect and reintroduce these magnificent and adorable pandas into the wild.”



Jeff Goldstein, President Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, said, “We are so pleased to continue the tradition of bringing these wonderful IMAX adventures to families.  We’re proud to add Pandas to our slate and to give people an opportunity to see these amazing animals as never before.”

“I am delighted to continue my longstanding partnership with IMAX and Warner Bros. on Pandas,” said producer/writer Drew Fellman, who co-directed the film with David Douglas. “Shooting with IMAX cameras helped us deliver a dazzling and intimate experience and we’re thrilled to have Kristen Bell onboard to guide this one-of-a-kind IMAX adventure.”

Kristen Bell currently stars as Eleanor Shellstrop in season two of the TV series “The Good Place,” with Ted Danson, which has been renewed for a third season by NBC. Up next, she will star in the Netflix comedy “Like Father,” opposite Kelsey Grammer, and lend her voice to the animated film Teen Titans GO! to the Movies, both set for release in 2018.  Bell most recently executive produced and appeared in the ABC special “Encore,” about former high-school classmates who get together for an encore performance of their old musical theater productions. She also reprised her role as Anna in Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, a featurette based on the blockbuster animated feature Frozen, released alongside Coco. She is working on the sequel to Frozen, scheduled to hit theaters in fall 2019. Frozen has grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Bell also recently starred in A Bad Moms Christmas, alongside Mila Kunis and Kathryn Hahn. The film is a sequel to 2016’s Bad Moms, the first STX film to gross over $100 million domestically.

In 2016, Bell was seen as Jeannie Van Der Hooven in the Showtime series “House of Lies,” opposite Don Cheadle, which wrapped its fifth and final season.  In 2014, Bell reprised her beloved title role in the film Veronica Mars, which raised $2 million on Kickstarter in less than eleven hours and broke the record at the time for the fastest project to reach $1 million and $2 million. She appeared in a guest-starring arc on NBC’s hit series “Parks & Recreation,” and played the lead role in the independent film The Lifeguard, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. She also starred in and co-produced the comedy Hit & Run, written and directed by her husband, Dax Shepard. Her other film credits include CHIPs, How to Be a Latin Lover, The Boss, Movie 43, Some Girls, Writers, Big Miracle, You Again, Burlesque, When in Rome, Couples Retreat, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Pulse, Serious Moonlight and David Mamet’s Spartan. Her television credits include “Veronica Mars,” “Unsupervised,” “Deadwood,” “Heroes” and “Party Down.” Her Broadway credits include “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Crucible,” opposite Liam Neeson and Laura Linney.  Her Off-Broadway credits include “Reefer Madness” and “A Little Night Music.”

About Pandas
Pandas are beloved around the world, and now they are coming to the big screen in the IMAX® original film “Pandas,” a breathtaking documentary adventure and amazing experience for the whole family narrated by Kristen Bell (“Frozen,” TV’s “The Good Place”).

At Chengdu Panda Base in China, scientists are taking the captive breeding program to the next level and preparing captive-born cubs for the wild.  This film follows one such researcher, whose passion leads her to initiate a new technique inspired by a black bear rehabilitator in rural New Hampshire.  What starts as a cross-cultural collaboration becomes a life-changing journey for one special panda named Qian Qian. The film, captured with IMAX® cameras, follows Qian Qian on an exciting new adventure into the mountains of Sichuan as she experiences nature for the first time and discovers her wild side.

David Douglas and Drew Fellman, the filmmakers behind “Born to be Wild” and “Island of Lemurs: Madagascar,” directed the film, which Fellman wrote and produced, with Douglas as director of photography.  Donald Kushner and Steve Ransohoff also produced the film, with Li Xiao Dong, David Haring, and Elie Samaha executive producing and Neal Allen serving as line producer. “Born to be Wild” and “Island of Lemurs: Madagascar” editor Beth Spiegel and composer Mark Mothersbaugh collaborated with Douglas and Fellman once again, with sound design by Gus Koven.

IMAX Entertainment presents, in association with IMAX Documentary Films Capital, Jin Yi Culture Investment (HK) and Panda Productions, “Pandas.”  This film, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX, will be released in select IMAX® and IMAX® 3D theaters starting April 6, 2018.  The film is rated G.


About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you’ve never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX’s network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of September 30, 2017, there were 1,302 IMAX theatres (1,203 commercial multiplexes, 11 commercial destinations and 86 institutions) in 75 countries. On Oct. 8, 2015, shares of IMAX China, a subsidiary of IMAX Corp., began trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code “HK.1970.”

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience®, IMAX Is Believing® and IMAX nXos® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in IMAX’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Friday, December 15, 2017

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, A Spoiler-Free Review of The Longest Star Wars Film Yet

What We're Watching--Films On Our Radar

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
LUCASFILM
**Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in U.S. theaters on December 15, 2017**

In order to give audiences around the world the opportunity to enjoy STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI to its fullest and allow them to discover any surprises and plot twists on their own, we're refraining from revealing spoilers and detailed story points. 


Review:
ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: Action Film Favorites

A long time ago (1977 to be exact), in a galaxy not so far far away (a small Ohio suburb), a 10 year old girl had a birthday party and invited her friends to see the first Star Wars movie in the theatre. The space battles, myriad alien lifeforms and storyline were epic. Princess Leia was the kind of role model a girl could look up to. Before Star Wars, the princesses in movies consisted of the coma queens, fairytale princesses like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. Their lives were spent either lying inert awaiting rescue by a prince or trapped under house arrest in a tower, which was much the same thing, until they could be kissed and be queens. They made for boring recess play and not much in the inspiration department. 



Leia was different. She gave a generation of girls a new hope that we could head rebellions, wield power, keep up with the boys, and do it all in a long dress and funky side buns the size of dinner plates. Leia was smart, funny and entirely badass. 

Over the years, that 10 year old girl from Ohio grew up, eagerly awaiting each new iteration of the Star Wars saga, and eventually had a couple kids of her own that she eagerly introduced to the whole series once they were old enough to appreciate it. They too loved the exciting battles, exotic worlds, scary villains, wise elders, convoluted plot twists, adorable aliens, and the eternal fight between good and evil internally and externally.



This past Monday, I reflected on the 10 year old girl I was when I was first immersed in the world of Star Wars. I had a press pass for an early screening of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and knew that if my 10 year old self could have seen 40 years into the future, she never would have believed she'd be watching the 9th Star Wars movie in a theatre with an oversized reclining lounger that vibrated with the sound of the fight scenes, and state of the art CGI, and Dolby sound. So much has changed in the past 40 years on and off screen, technologically, socially, environmentally, politically... 

Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) grew up to be a prolific author, screenwriter and actress, as well as a vocal mental health advocate. Her first novel, Postcards From the Edge, was adapted into a movie starring Meryl Streep. Just about a year ago, December 23rd, 2016, she died of a massive heart attack. Fortunately, she had already shot her parts in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It's bittersweet to think that this is her last feature film appearance, and reflect back on the inspirational influence she had on our world, over the course of her lifetime. She will be missed.







Star Wars: The Last Jedi has adorable new exotic critters, along with familiar favorites.  







Cutting Edge Tech... 









Quiet Spaces for Contemplation and Education (& hiding out)... 



Stunning Visuals... 
from the unique locations, to the battle on the red salt, to individual camera shots composed creatively. 





Star Wars: The Last Jedi has Mighty Girls... 
Though women in 2017 have more career options and freedom than we did 40 years back, I'm thrilled my 14 year old daughter has a new generation of kickass female Star Wars role models in the era of Trump and #metoo.  



and Diverse Heros...






Star Wars: The Last Jedi is action packed, with satisfying fight scenes, plenty of plot twists, and characters that are easy to love and hate. It's bound to be a favorite for generations. There's plenty of complex content to geek out on, if you enjoy getting in depth. If you just like to see fire, fights, and explosions and not think too much, there's plenty of that too. The Last Jedi is highly entertaining. 





I’m especially happy about the diversity and gender equality among main characters and think this enriches the storyline and the franchise as a whole. Kudos to Star Wars for giving kids a range of role models that resemble them. The Last Jedi girls aren't locked in a tower or lying around comatose, awaiting a kiss. 







They're brave, strong and mighty women of action. They're fighters, leaders, wives, and mothers. Sometimes they even rescue the guys. In the last film and this one, they fight alongside a bigger variety of humans too. Even though the franchise got some slack for that from some, in my book, if you get boycotted by bigots, you're doing something right! Star Wars heroes have been fighting alongside aliens from a vast array of planets for decades, and we're elated to see the human diversity continue among the main characters. 



This is the true gem and potential lasting impact of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. If they can accept women and minorities as equals, bosses, and heroes in a galaxy far far away, there's hope we can get it together here in our own country as well, in a not so distant time or place. May the Force be with you. 



Behind the scenes:
I'm married to a location sound engineer in the TV & film industry, so here's a shout out to the hard work, creative genius, and long hours that went into making the on screen magic of Star Wars: The Last Jedi happen. As part of a dual freelancer household, I'm acutely aware that the industry puts food on many families tables. I'm grateful and happy the success of huge feature films like this means work for so many people.  











Genre: Action-Adventure
Rating: PG-13
U.S. Release date: December 15, 2017
Running time: 2 hours and 32 minutes

Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar
Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels,
Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro
Director: Rian Johnson
Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Ram Bergman
Executive Producers: J.J. Abrams, Tom Karnowski, Jason McGatlin
Written by: Rian Johnson

SYNOPSIS: 
In Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.

The film stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman. J.J. Abrams, Tom Karnowski and Jason McGatlin are the executive producers.


**Don't miss this! I can't wait to take my husband and teens back to the theatre for the longest Star Wars film yet, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Got your tickets? Go already.**


Running times of all Star Wars Films:

A New Hope: 125 minutes (2 hours and 5 mins)

The Empire Strikes Back: 127 minutes (2 hours and 7 minutes)

Return of the Jedi: 136 minutes (2 hours and 16 minutes)

The Phantom Menace: 136 minutes (2 hours and 16 minutes)

Attack of the Clones: 142 minutes (2 hours and 22 minutes)

Revenge of the Sith: 140 minutes (2 hours and 20 minutes)

The Force Awakens: 135 minutes (2 hours and 15 minutes)

Rogue One: 133 minutes (2 hours and 13 minutes)

The Last Jedi: 152 minutes (2 hours and 32 minutes)


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