The International Family Film Festival, which takes place November 6-8 at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, celebrates their Platinum Anniversary with a program that offers something for every family. The festival, which specializes in family-oriented stories, will screen over 100 films from 17 countries, as well as student films from numerous professionally accredited film schools. In addition, the festival will feature 31 screenplays competing for top prizes in 8 categories. The complete line-up and details are available at www.iffilmfest.org. All films and screenplays compete, celebrate and honor the importance of family values through the stories they tell.
“Celebrating 20 years of the IFFF is a significant accomplishment and one we are very proud of,” commented Chris Shoemaker, IFFF Director. “In creating this festival, we wanted to highlight and acknowledge the triumph of families and those who comprise families everywhere, to tell their stories as well as encourage and nurture current and future filmmakers. It’s an all-encompassing festival, commemorating the world of cinema and those who create it.”
Screenings kick off on Friday, November 6, highlighting T.C. Christensen’s The Cokeville Miracle, which tells the remarkable true story of a town facing a terrible tragedy and the Sheriff’s investigator who struggles with his faith as he gathers evidence that defies earthly explanation.
Each year, the IFFF honors a career animation talent of the highest caliber and reputation in the Animation/CGI-SFX medium of the entertainment industry. IFFF has presented the “Friz Award” for Excellence in Animation, in memory of the famed Friz Freleng, the father of Warner Bros. animation and the man responsible for creating such iconic animated characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and the rest of the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes gang. Receiving this highly coveted award is Mr. Floyd Norman.
Floyd Norman began his career while still in high school, working as an assistant on Archie Comics. While attending the Art Center College of Design, he was offered a position at Walt Disney Studios. He quickly worked his way up the ranks, eventually landing in the story department working on The Jungle Book. Although he left Disney in the late sixties to pursue his own productions, he eventually made his way back to the Disney Studios and then on to Pixar, having worked on such films as Toy Story II and Monsters, Inc. Mr. Norman continues to work at the studio, as well as illustrating children’s books and working on toys and games.
Previous recipients of the Friz Award include: J.G. Quintel, Bill Farmer, Phil Roman, Charles M. Schulz, Chuck Jones, Joseph Barbera and, of course, the award’s namesake, Friz Freleng.
Presenting the award to Mr. Norman will be Don Hahn (2003 Friz Award Honoree), producer of such classics as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and most recently, Maleficent starring Angelina Jolie, and widely considered to be the most successful animation producer of all time.
This year the festival presents the newly-created IFFF Humanitarian Award to director Eric Kabera for his documentary Intore, which offers a powerful and rare look at how Rwanda survived its tragic past by regaining its identity through music, dance and the resilience of a new generation. It’s a story of triumph, survival, hope and a lesson in how to forgive and live; work has given the Rwandan culture a new dimension of identity and celebration.
The weekend offers a multitude of films, panels, and events –
The highly anticipated YouthFest! is once again playing a big part in Saturday’s schedule – Starting at 9AM to 4PM, YouthFest! consists of Film Blocks, a behind the scenes look at the world of Voice Overs and a ‘Safe Stunts’, action-packed how-to workshop. It concludes with an Awards Ceremony and pizza reception.
An exciting addition is the attendance of Tracey Goessel, author of “The First King of Hollywood: The Life of Douglas Fairbanks” which is apropos since the fest utilizes the Fairbanks Theatre on the Raleigh Studios Lot. Tracey will be signing her book that is available for sale.
IFFF will present two professional panels on Saturday, November 7:
Film Financing Panel, talking about how to fund an independent production, moderated by Gregory Berkin, award-winning filmmaker and software entrepreneur.
Music in Movies, on the important contribution music makes to the overall success of a film or production, moderated by David Bossert, artist, filmmaker and author and Creative Director & Head of Classic Projects at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Two professional panels will be presented at the IFFF on Sunday, November 8, as well:
Indie Film Distribution, about the changing landscape of film distribution, which is no longer confined to a brick and mortar model, moderated by Shauna Shapiro Jackson, co-founder and executive vice president of the SC Group of Companies.
Screenwriter’s Panel, featuring some of Hollywood’s top-tier scribes with such film credits as Peter Pan, Where the Wild Things Are, TV’s The Night Shift and Freaks and Geeks, and a Nicholl semi-finalist, who will discuss how, why and if family films still resonate with audiences in this mobile, social media-sated world.
On Sunday, November 8, the Screenwriters Showcase will spotlight the 2 Feature and Short screenplay Finalists in the following categories – Drama, Comedy, Animation, Sci-Fi Fantasy – with a reading of one scene from each screenplay by the actors from the Lauren Patrice Nadler Studio. Over the 20 years that IFFF has been presenting the Screenwriters Showcase, there have been 4 films that were in competition and have returned as completed feature films. On The Wing was selected for the Screenwriter’s Showcase in 2013 and is a film being featured at this year’s festival! On The Wing starring, Corbin Bernsen and Shirley Jones is an award-winning feature film about four teenagers taking on Big Oil and one very slick politician to save an eagle’s nest. Screenplay Awards presentation and reception will follow.
The IFFF is a market that creates a positive and well-respected networking opportunity for film distribution deals. Past IFFF’s have drawn over 5,000 film fans and industry professionals. Screenplays that compete in the Screenplay competition are frequently optioned and helmed into short and feature films. Through its partnership with Freshi Films, a national leader in digital education, the IFFF distributes digital-filmmaking kits to classrooms and after-school programs, helping youth nationwide discover the art and power of filmmaking.
COST: All-Access Festival Passes are available to the general public for $200. General admission tickets to individual films and events are also available and range from $10-$20.