Animated fairytale sure to be a hit with the kids
There's something for the whole family at the upcoming 12th annual Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF), even young kids.
"Azur and Asmar: The Princes' Quest", an awarding-winning animated French story set in North Africa, and the return of popular United Kingdom brother-and-sister cartoon "Charlie & Lola" are sure to delight young filmgoers at BIFF , which is on from March 20 to 28.
"Azur and Asmar", by French filmmaker Michel Ocelot is a beautiful and original fairytale, reminiscent of Scheherazade's Arabian Nights that has already won Audience Awards at the Montreal Film Festival for Children and Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children.
"We are delighted to be able to screen Azur and Asmar, a film we have been tracking for over a year," said Aideen Ratteray Pryse, the festival director. "Parents and children will remember Ocelot's film 'Kirikou and the Sorceress', which screened at BIFF in 2005, and know what a talented filmmaker he is.
"His films are wonderful experiences for children. Of course, 'Charlie & Lola' is always a great pick too."
The Charlie & Lola series, based on the books by Lauren Child, has won numerous international awards and has proved extremely popular with children aged three and up.
"Azur and Asmar" screens at Liberty Theatre on Saturday, 28 March at 10.15 a.m. at Liberty theatre. Charlie and Lola will screen on Saturday, 21 March at 1 p.m. at Speciality Cinema.
BIFF also announced its line up of seven short films for its "105 Minutes of Shorts" presentation, which will screened at the Specialty Theatre on March 25 (3.45 p.m.) and again at Liberty Theatre on March 27 at 9.15 p.m.
The seven shorts come from the United Kingdom, the United States and Iceland with diverse subjects ranging from mystery, coming of age and sexual identity to murder.
Tickets for these films, the more than 40 other films being screened at BIFF and the UnWrapped! launch party on March 20 are on sale now at www.biff.bm and the BIFF Box Office at 53 Front Street, Hamilton (next the MAC) from 10 a.m. each day.
The mission of the Bermuda International Film Festival is to advance the love of independent film from around the world, and create a community welcoming to filmmakers and filmgoers.