The New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF), one of the largest film festivals for children and teens in North America, brings its first “Best of” tour to the Center for the Arts’ CFA Kids series on Sunday, October 21, 2007, from noon-6:30pm. NYICFF Directors Emily Shapiro and Eric Beckman selected from an archive of nearly 1,000 films, 12 award-winning features and shorts in animation, live action, and experimental genres from eight countries. Children’s activities and refreshments are planned for the CFA Atrium. Tickets are $10 (single film program); $15 (all-day pass/unlimited viewing) and can be purchased in person, by phone, by mail, and online through the CFA Box Office, 2800 Victory Boulevard, 1P-113, Staten Island. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm; Saturday, noon to 3:00pm; 718.982.ARTS (2787), www.cfashows.com.

PROGRAM 1: WILLIAMSON THEATRE
SCREENINGS: NOON AND 1:30PM
Help, I’m a Fish! (Animation, Hener/Fjeldmark, Denmark, 2000, 72 minutes)
From the Academy Award-nominated director of When Life Departs, the undersea adventure of three kids who stumble upon the hidden cave-laboratory of mad professor MacKrill and drink a potion that transforms them into sea creatures. It features the voices of Monty Python’s Terry Jones and Alan Rickman (Die Hard, Prince of Thieves). Proceeded by Catch of the Day (Animation, John Dilworth, U.S., 2000, 9 minutes). Recommended for ages 4-10.

PROGRAM 2: RECITAL HALL
SCREENINGS: 3:00 AND 4:45PM
Hammer Boy (Animation, Tae Dun An, South Korea, 2003, 73 minutes, in English)
In the year 2112, on a future Earth transformed by cataclysmic earthquakes and tidal waves, the continents are sunk under the sea and remnants of land barely sustain scattered civilizations. Here a small, close-knit community provides a home for a rambunctious boy named Mangchi, who yearns for the world beyond his isolated enclave. Proceeded by Field Guide to Snapping (Animation, Nihhil Adnani, Canada, 2003, 3 minutes). Recommended for ages 6-12.

PROGRAM 3: LECTURE HALL
SCREENINGS: NOON AND 1:30PM
A Program of Shorts (65 minutes)
The Freak (Animation, Aristomenis Tsirbas, U.S., 2002, 7 minutes), Hello (Animation, Jonathan Nix, Australia, 2003, 6.5 minutes), My Head (Experimental, Knut Petter Ryan, Norway, 2004, 4 minutes), Guide Dog (Animation, Bill Plympton, U.S., 2006, 6 minutes), One Day a Man Bought a House (Animation, Pjotr Sapegin, U.S.,1998, 7 minutes), Earthquake (Animation, James Brett, UK, 2002, 2 minutes), Flatlife (Animation, Jonas Geirnaert, Belgium, 2004, 11 minutes), The Runaway (Live Action, Ulrike Grote, Germany, 2004, 23 minutes). Recommended for ages 8 to 14.

The NYICFF was founded in 1997 to promote intelligent, passionate, and provocative cinematic works for ages three through 18 and to help define a more compelling film for kids. Each spring, the NYICFF presents a highly selective slate of the best animation, live action, documentary, and experimental film from around the world. This year, the NYICFF launches its first “Best of” tour.

This CFA Kids event is part of the 2007-2008 CFA season: Island Culture: Near and Far. The CFA is easily reached by car from I-278; campus parking lots 1 and 2 are recommended. By MTA, take the S62, 61, 93, 53, and the Staten Island Ferry with connections to the bus.

CFA Kids is supported by New York State Senator Andrew J. Lanza of the 24th Senate District serving Staten Island. The CSI Center for the Arts 2007-2008 season is additionally supported, in part, with funds from the Richmond County Savings Foundation; a gift by the Carnegie Corporation (made possible by an anonymous donor); the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; the Office of the Borough President, Hon. James P. Molinaro; the National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts; Time Warner Cable; the Staten Island Rotary Foundation; the College of Staten Island; and by our many business and individual patrons.

Island Culture: Near and Far, CSI Center for the Arts 2007-2008 Season
continues with:

Saturday, October 27, 8:00pm Three Sisters from Queens

Sunday, October 28, 3:00pm Cenicienta/Cinderella

Saturday, November 17, 8:00pm I-Land

Saturday, December 1, 8:00pm I take your hand in mine

Saturday, December 8, 8:00pm Ru Sanda Rae (Beauty,
Moon, Night)

Sunday, February 3, noon-6:30pm Best of the New York
International Children’s
Film Festival

Saturday, February 9, 8:00pm Staten Island: Alive in
Wonderland

Saturday, February 23, 8:00pm Two Accordions with
Attitude

Saturday, March 1, 8:00pm Eileen Ivers & Immigrant
Soul

Sunday, March 9, 3:00pm Drum Folk

Saturday, March 15, 8:00pm An Evening of Duets

Friday, March 29, 8:00pm AXIS Dance Company

Sunday, April 6, 3:00pm This American Life

Saturday, April 12, 8:00pm Vernon Reid

Saturday, April 19, 8:00pm Colin Hay

Saturday, May 3, 3:00pm Emilio and the Enchanted
Cow

Saturday, May 17, 3:00pm The Musical Adventures of
Flat Stanley

CSI Center for the Arts: 718-982-ARTS or www.cfashows.com