Program for the 2012 Festival

Saturday Morning — January 28, 2012.

10:30 am — Short Films

Tchou-Tchou by Co Hoedeman, 14 mins, Canada, 1972. The story of two children and their encounter with an angry dragon, all represented by colorful building blocks. Saari – The Pompom by Pablo Jordi, Veronica Lassenius, Spain, 2008. An animated series for pre-schoolers about the adventures of a creative group of friends who live on a beautiful island called Saari. In each episode, Pulpo the octopus, Buu the lady owl, the sensitive Pii, and Rikitiki the bohemian bird explore the fantastic and imaginary world of Saari, finding surprising and funny ways to face the challenges of childhood. Who Is There? (Kto Je Tam) by Vanda Raýmanová, 10 mins, Slovakia, 2010. A tale of courage and friendship about two boys who are born in an unknown place and decide to build a house to protect themselves from the wolf. Saari – Rainy Day by Pablo Jordi, Veronica Lassenius, Spain, 2008. Another short in the series. How Do You Play Soccer If You Live On A Floating Village?  * by Matt Devine of the Glue Society, 5 mins, Thailand, 2011. The kids that lived on an island in the south of Thailand called "Koh Panyee" loved to watch football but had nowhere to play. They didn't let that stop them. Murphy's Shorts by Todd Hemker, 2 mins, USA, 2009. Playing off "Murphy's Laws of the Universe," this film pokes fun at a boy who is very impressed with himself. La Luna by Enrico Casarosa, 7 mins, USA, 2011. “La Luna” is the timeless fable of a young boy who is coming of age in the most peculiar of circumstances. Tonight is the very first time his Papa and Grandpa are taking him to work. In an old wooden boat they row far out to sea, and with no land in sight, they stop and wait. A big surprise awaits the little boy as he discovers his family's most unusual line of work. Should he follow the example of his Papa, or his Grandpa? Will he be able to find his own way in the midst of their conflicting opinions and timeworn traditions?

12:30 — Saturday Morning Feature Films (double-header)

PADDLE to the SEA by William Mason, 28 mins, Canada, 1966. Based on Holling C. Holling’s Caldecott-awarded children's book, this stunning film follows the adventures of a tiny, wood-carved canoe as it forges its own path from Lake Superior through the Great Lakes and down to the Atlantic Ocean. This Academy Award–nominated film is an unforgettable tribute to the forces of the natural world, as well as a thrilling journey across the waves and rapids of North America. CRIN-BLANC (WHITE MANE) by Albert Lamorisse, 39 mins, France, 1952. In the south of France, in a vast plain region called the Camargue, lives White Mane, a magnificent stallion and the leader of a herd of wild horses too proud to let themselves be broken by humans. Only Folco, a young fisherman, manages to tame him. A strong friendship grows between the boy and the horse, as the two go looking for the freedom that the world of men won’t allow them.

Saturday Afternoon — January 28, 2012.

2:30 pm — Short Films

Picture This  * by Bobby Heaney, 15 mins, South Africa. The story of a girl who wins her father’s heart, and her neighbours’, with her creative talents. Das Haus (The House) by David Buob, 6.5 mins, Germany, 2011. The dream of the little girl is to care for her grandmother, but aunt and mother do not let her do so. There is just one way out. Play Lunch by Tamara Small, 10 mins, Australia, 2011. Shy, little Molly is determined to finish her big lunch before the siren sounds; an encounter with a new new kid brings the possibility of food, footy & friendship. Plato by Léonard Cohen, 8 mins, France, 2010. A man investigates a cube in an animation that alternates between pen on paper drawings and 3D cardboard models, keeping the viewer guessing about what will happen next Dr. Filip  * by Pernille Hellevik, 11 mins, Norway, 2011. While visiting his father for the holiday, little Filip discovers some girls playing outside, so he decides to make contact, only to discover that getting accepted proves to be quite a challenge! Workshop Videos A sneak peek at footage from the BAICFF 2012 workshops.   Dot by Will Studd and Ed Patterson, 2 mins, UK, 2010. A microscopic character battles the perils of being small using the materials at hand and her wits. Gulp by Will Studd and Ed Patterson, 2 mins, UK, 2011. A fisherman catches more than he bargains for. Followed by The Making of Gulp, 5 mins Shot on location at Pendine Beach in South Wales, Gulp depicts a fisherman going about his daily catch. Every frame of this stop-motion animation was shot using a Nokia N8, with its 12 megapixel camera and Carl Zeiss optics. The film has broken a world record for the largest stop-motion animation set, with the largest scene stretching over 11,000 square feet.

4:30 pm — Saturday Afternoon Feature Film

Une VIE de CHAT (A CAT in PARIS)  * by Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli, 74 mins, France, 2010. Dino is a cat that leads a double life. By day he lives with Zoe, a little girl whose mother is a detective in the Parisian police force. But at night he sneaks out the window to work with Nico, a slinky cat burglar with a big heart, whose fluid movements are poetry in motion as he slips and swishes from rooftop to rooftop across the Paris skyline. The cat’s two worlds collide when young Zoe decides to follow Dino on his nocturnal adventures – and falls into the hands of Victor Costa, a blustery gangster planning the theft of a rare statue. Now cat and cat burglar must team up to save Zoe from the bumbling thieves, leading to a thrilling acrobatic finale on top of Notre Dame. A Cat in Paris is a warm and richly humorous love letter to classic noir films and the stylized wit of the Pink Panther cartoons – and Dino the cat manages to steal the show with little more than a subtle swish of the tail and quiet mew.

Sunday Morning — January 29, 2012.

10:30 am — Short Films

The Animal Movie by Grant Munro and Ron Tunis, 11 mins, Canada, 1966. A little boy’s exploration of the ways that different animals move. Saari – The Party by Pablo Jordi, Veronica Lassenius, Spain, 2008. An animated series for pre-schoolers about the adventures of a creative group of friends who live on a beautiful island called Saari. In each episode, Pulpo the octopus, Buu the lady owl, the sensitive Pii, and Rikitiki the bohemian bird explore the fantastic and imaginary world of Saari, finding surprising and funny ways to face the challenges of childhood. The Little Red Plane by Charlotte Blacker, 3.5 mins, UK, 2010. This is a short stop motion, knitted adventure about a boy and his cat who travel far and wide to deliver parcels in their little red plane. Grand Prix by Anna Solanas and Marc Riba, 8 mins, Spain, 2011. Cloudless sky. Vehicles on the grid. Blas, Ivan and Hector take their places. This is about to start! Ready, steady... Mobile by Verena Fels, 6 mins, Germany, 2010. Excluded from society, a cow takes its destiny into its own hoof and makes some waves. Little Sister  * by Luvsan Ariunjargal, 6 mins, Mongolia. A portrayal of life in a rural Mongolian family. Saari – Blue by Pablo Jordi, Veronica Lassenius, Spain, 2008. Another short in the series. La Luna by Enrico Casarosa, 7 mins, USA, 2011. “La Luna” is the timeless fable of a young boy who is coming of age in the most peculiar of circumstances. Tonight is the very first time his Papa and Grandpa are taking him to work. In an old wooden boat they row far out to sea, and with no land in sight, they stop and wait. A big surprise awaits the little boy as he discovers his family's most unusual line of work. Should he follow the example of his Papa, or his Grandpa? Will he be able to find his own way in the midst of their conflicting opinions and timeworn traditions?

12:30 — Sunday Morning Feature Film

LIGHT of the RIVER  * by Tetsuo Hirakawa, 75 mins, Japan, 2009. When their riverbank home is destroyed by a construction project, a family of rats is forced to flee to the city, where they must learn to navigate unfamiliar territory, make new friends and ward off dangers as they search for a new place to call home. This delightful animated adventure illustrates the power of friendship and family and the delicate balance of life.

Sunday Afternoon — January 29, 2012.

2:30 pm — Short Films

Little Boat by Nelson Boles, 4 mins, USA, 2011. A little boat is dropped in water and sent on a trying journey. Luminaris by Juan Pablo Zaramella, 6 mins, Argentina, 2011. In a world controlled and timed by light, an ordinary man has a plan that could change the natural order of things. Pizzangrillo  * by Marco Gianfreda, 15 mins, Italy, 2011. Tired of life, Ettore, 65 years old, everyday tries to find the courage to drive himself and his three wheeler down a country ditch. When Luca, his 10 year old nephew, finds out about his grandfather's intentions, he decides to furtively follow him. Bottle by Kirsten Lepore, 5 mins, USA, 2010. The story of two unlikely penpals: one a mound of sand, the other a pile of snow. Minnie Loves Jr by Andy Mullins and Matt Mullins, 14 mins, Australia, 2010. Junior loves the ocean. Minnie loves Junior. A story about a little girl, a little boy and a big, blue sea. One Plastic Beach by Eric Slatkin, 8 mins, USA, 2011. For over ten years, Richard and Judith Selby Lang have been collecting plastic debris from Kehoe Beach in Northern California and using the found objects to create art. The results are pretty spectacular. Workshop Videos A sneak peek at footage from the BAICFF 2012 workshops.   Dot by Will Studd and Ed Patterson, 2 mins, UK, 2010. A microscopic character battles the perils of being small using the materials at hand and her wits. Gulp by Will Studd and Ed Patterson, 2 mins, UK, 2011. A fisherman catches more than he bargains for. Followed by The Making of Gulp, 5 mins Shot on location at Pendine Beach in South Wales, Gulp depicts a fisherman going about his daily catch. Every frame of this stop-motion animation was shot using a Nokia N8, with its 12 megapixel camera and Carl Zeiss optics. The film has broken a world record for the largest stop-motion animation set, with the largest scene stretching over 11,000 square feet.

4:30 pm — Sunday Afternoon Feature Film

CIRCUS DREAMS by Signe Taylor, 81 mins, USA, 2011. Circus Dreams documents a year in the life of Circus Smirkus, the only traveling youth circus in the United States. This vibrant feature documentary immerses viewers into the lives of the 12 to 18 year old performers, capturing their intense work ethic, passion for performance, deep friendships and budding loves. With a heartwarming story and great characters, Circus Dreams is an inspiring testament to the power of youthful dreams.

Previous Programs

In 2011, BAICFF presented more than 45 films, live action and animated, shorts and features, from countries on four continents. (See 2011 program.)

In 2010, BAICFF presented more than 45 films, live action and animated, shorts and features, from Asia, North & South America, Europe, Africa and Australia. (See 2010 program.)

In 2009, BAICFF presented 23 live-action and animated short films from Canada, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Norway, Russia, Scotland, South Korea, Sweden, the United States. (See 2009 program.)