SLIFF/Kids Family Films Open a World of Movies to St. Louis' Youngest Fans

Contrary to what your kids might think, there is life outside of Arendelle and Radiator Springs. When kids are confined to the neighborhood multiplex and Hollywood blockbusters, there are incredible stories they’ll never hear and characters they’ll never meet.

Sometimes the smallest films have the biggest impact in a world of mega-budget movies. Without a marketing and merchandising machine in action, kids can connect with a film in a different way, exploring a place they never imagined and becoming enthralled, inspired and entertained all at the same time.

Thanks to the SLIFF/Kids Family Films showcase during the 2015 Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival​, kids will have a seat to some of the most renowned live action and animated features and shorts from around the globe. This November, venues in the metropolitan area will open their doors to families and kids’ eyes to the incredible diversity in today’s cinema.

A diverse lineup to reach tomorrow’s movie buffs

Since 1992, SLIFF has brought the world’s greatest films to St. Louis each November to promote independent cinema around the world. SLIFF soon became a year-round program, offering a variety of events, including QFest, the Robert Classic French Film Festival, and the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, eventually changing its name to the all-encompassing Cinema St. Louis (CSL) in 2003.

As it expanded its reach, CSL knew growing an audience for the future was just as important as reaching today’s independent film lovers. As the panel sifted through the 2,400 nominees submitted to the Festival this year, they selected a number of animated and live action films to fuel a new generation of film fans and filmmakers through SLIFF/Kids Family Films.

 “I want our audience to have an enhanced understanding of what is available to families,” explained Cliff Froehlich, executive director of CSL. “Hollywood has great family movies, but there are so many amazing family films that kids won’t have the chance to see outside a festival context. By exposing them to these movies early on, they’ll have fond memories as they grow older and will take a chance on foreign works, documentaries and non-brand films that don’t fit the Hollywood mold.”

From November 13-15, SLIFF/Kids Family Films will present a variety of award-winning movies for free at Washington University’s Brown Hall. From “Good Ol’ Boy,” a coming-of-age tale about a boy from India growing up in 1970’s suburban America, to “Moomins on the Riviera,” a hilarious Finnish animated film Froehlich calls, “an absolute charmer,” there’s something for every member of the family.

One of the biggest draws for the Festival will likely be the SXSW Audience Award-winner, “Landfill Harmonic” to be held at The Stage at KDHX at 6 p.m. on November 14.

Explained Froehlich, “In Paraguay, a group of kids who live next to a horrible landfill end up making instruments from the garbage they find, becoming the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura and known around the world. It’s really an inspiring film, focusing on kids who have triumphed over devastating circumstances.”

In addition, on November 7, Plaza Frontenac will offer the free program, SLIFF/Kids Family Shorts 1, featuring 17 international short films, starting at 12:15 p.m.

Special festival features

During the Festival, SLIFF/Kids Family Films will also welcome a local illustrator who is an industry leader in the animation world.

On November 13 at 7:30 p.m., award-winning cartoonist Glenn McCoy from Belleville will take the audience through the filmmaking process, from character design through concept art, with One in a Minion: Behind the Scenes of Animation.

McCoy, who is the editorial cartoonist for the Belleville News-Democrat, has worked as the director of animation on numerous films and most recently served as a storyboard artist and idea man for “Despicable Me,” “Despicable Me 2” and “Minions.” In fact, he directed a “Minions” short that will be released in 2016.

One in a Minion will be held at Washington University’s Brown Hall and is free to all guests.

SLIFF/Kids Family Films are co-presented by CSL and the children’s book, “Painting for Peace in Ferguson”. Written by author Carol Swartout Klein, a former CSL board member, “Painting for Peace” tells the story of the artists and volunteers who transformed boarded-up windows into inspiring works of art after the Ferguson unrest. “Painting for Peace” will be available for purchase during the Festival, and proceeds will go back to helping the Ferguson community.

Because of sponsorships from across the region, CSL is able to deliver almost all the SLIFF/Kids Family Films at no cost, meaning you can catch a number of acclaimed films without dropping a dime.

Said Froehlich, “We know how expensive taking a child to the movies can be – paying for tickets, the food, the babysitter for younger kids.  The costs mount up pretty quickly. By offering many of the films for free, we’re making movie-going accessible for everyone. There’s no barrier to participation, and you can take a chance on any movie without risk. Every movie is incredible, and families have the opportunity to see something they might never encounter on their own.”

For more information on the Festival and to see a full schedule and film descriptions, visit the SLIFF/Kids Family Films section on the CSL website. 

^{_{Photo stills from Jeremy, Fiddlesticks and One in a Minion courtesy of the St. Louis International Film Festival.}}