Movie Review

2024 FAMILY Film Festival – Highlights & Winners

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Proud to showcase these amazing films to for the 2024 FAMILY Film Festival. Over 1000 films were submitted. This is an exclusive lineup of the best short films in the world today.

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

Best Animation Film: SPIRIT OF SWEETNESS
Best Black & White Film: DIVISION
Best Comedy Film: CLOWN CORNER
Best Coming of Age Film: ZIBAH
Best Direction: BROKEN WHISPERS
Best Documentary Film: MIDWEST ICE AGE!
Best Drama Film: OF ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS
Best Educational Film: ASTRONOMY GASTRONOMY
Best Environmental Film: THE FOREST OF THE HONEY BEES
Best Experimental Film: SECOND NOZZE IN DRESDEN
Best Family Film: VAARASA
Best Family Animation: SOPIROCOS, CUCURINOS AND PIRICUACOS
Best Fantasy Film: TOY
Best Father/Daughter Film: FAVOR
Best Feature Film: CANDELA
Best Hand Drawn Animation: DREAM FROM BEYOND
Best Historical Film: HOANG THE PAPER BOY
Best LGBTQ+ Film: ON SUNDAYS
Best Long Form Short Film: WHO KILLED MR. MOSS?
Best Micro-Short: YUN YUN
Best Mother/Daughter Film: DEAR DAUGHTER
Best New Media Film: THE POOR KID
Best Performances: L´IRA TUA
Best Period Piece: LA DER DES DER
Best Quest Film: MOON UNDER MY FEET
Best Relationship Film: HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Best Sci-Fi Film: METAVERSE
Best Silent Film: LAW
Best Social Media Film: EXIT
Best Stop Motion Animation: MAGIC DOG
Best Story: MALCRIADA // IMPOLITE
Best Student Film: WETSITALES: APONIBOLINAYEN AND THE SUN
Best Sound & Music: FLAGS
Best Suspense Film: FROM KHOVRINO
Best Teen Film: SHAMSHAAN
Best Thriller Film: NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO YOU

March 23rd – FAMILY SHORTS – RELATIONSHIPS

LA DER DES DER, 8min., France
Directed by Patrice Guillain
«If the last surviving soldier of the first World War wanted to get rid of the terrible burden that kept him alive … his name would be Simon Rosenberg.»

TOY, 11min., Greece
Directed by Natasha Smyrnaiou
New Years Eve. Nikos is looking for a New Year’s gift for his godchild in a toy store with a strange salesman. During his stay there, he evoked memories of his own childhood. He finally gets a toy, but not what he thinks..

https://m.facebook.com/paixnidishortfilm/
https://instagram.com/natasha_smyrnaiou?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

DIVISION, 5min,. Poland
Directed by Joanna Krochmalska
It is a black comedy about a certain marriage. Unexpectedly, the man finds a divorce petition in the letterbox. He does not believe his eyes.

NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO YOU, 20min., Spain
Directed by Estela del Carmen
Ada and Dani are two teenagers who fall in love. Everything is perfect, until an event changes Ada’s mind.

https://www.facebook.com/notevaapasarnada

OF ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS, 22min., Germany
Directed by Till Gombert
When Nina and Ulrich help their son Linus with his move, they observe his increasing autonomy. Surprised by some changes, the parents try to reconcile the new with the image of their son.

March 24th – FAMILY SHORTS – DRAMA

METAVERSE, 10min., Spain
Directed by Rodrigo Canet Criado
Year 2033. Adam is boxing through his virtual reality headset until he leaves the coverage area in an over-digitized and controlled world. Then, his senses connects him to a different and perhaps lasting reality.

L´IRA TUA, 17min., Germany
Directed by Claudio D´Attis
During the 2nd World War in South Italy, the farmer Celestino escapes with the americans, leaving alone his lover Grazia against an invisible enemy…

http://www.youtube.it/clamexicohttps://www.instagram.com/claudioattis

SECOND NOZZE IN DRESDEN, 18min., Italy
Directed by Claudio D´Attis
Dresden XVIII century. Masks were a social decoration in the ancient times, masks actually are a social distance obligation. After her big love Emilio Guarini (an important duke from Apulia, South of Italy), Miss Maria Paladini wants to stay at home… Her two sisters with the help of father Luis will find for her a new husband: the good looking prince of Spain…

SPIRIT OF SWEETNESS, 18min., Poland
Directed by Malgorzata Szyszka, Ma?gorzata Arszennik
My dear children, this is the sweetest, most colorful and at the same time the truest of all fairy tales ever created and which you will hear in a moment. Do not believe adults when they say that fairy tales lie also do not believe that grandfather and grandmother get bored on autumn-winter evenings and come up with uncreated stories that they later tell their children.

https://www.facebook.com/animacjenakolacje
https://www.facebook.com/malgosiaszyszka

THE FOREST OF THE HONEY BEES, 20min., France
Directed by Erwan Le Gal
Isabelle is a violinist-beekeeper in the Ouessant island. She protect her bees and she inspire her daughter with stories and legend about honey bees….

March 25th – FAMILY SHORTS SHOWCASE

CLOWN CORNER, 15min., Australia
Directed by Stephen Richardson
A fun-filled ‘slice of life’ mockumentary that reveals the hidden world of the Clown People for the first time.
http://www.clowncorner.uk/

HOANG THE PAPER BOY, 10min,. USA
Directed by Ly Bolia
Hoang a country boy uses his paper folding skills to prove his worth to the Princess Thy Mai.

https://lrkvac.wixsite.com/my-site

ON SUNDAYS, 8min., Brazil
Directed by Olavo Junior
Domingos, an elderly man with fragile health, follows his solitary routine on a Sunday afternoon, until he receives a visit from a love from the past.

MIDWEST ICE AGE!, 8min,. USA
Directed by Douglas J. Corcoran
A Midwest man faces challenges as he realizes his dream of creating an ice carving company that produces spectacular art while helping to bring communities closer together.

MALCRIADA // IMPOLITE, 7min., Argentina
Directed by Florencia Calcagno
ESP// Magalí se sumerge en un viaje astral para aprender a valerse por sí misma. “Malcriada” forma parte de la trilogía “Amor Animal”, junto a “Otro Hermano” y “Reina”. En esta serie, se abordan distintas facetas del amor y la soledad encarnado en tres mujeres distintas, cada una representada por un animal totémico.

http://zoetropo.com.ar/
https://www.facebook.com/zoetropo
https://twitter.com/zoetropo
https://www.instagram.com/zoetropo_

DEAR DAUGHTER, 7min., USA
Directed by Rob Underhill, Vanessa Neff
A mother’s tribute to her daughter and a reflection on how the love for her evolved throughout the years.

WHO KILLED MR. MOSS?, 26min., Australia
Directed by Ben Whimpey
In a world of 10-13 year-old children, who all have cars, jobs, motives, fancy hats and handlebar moustaches, we meet Detective Donahue, a cool yet daring protagonist, who solves classic crimes of the jazz era. In this classic ‘who dun it?’ Donohue committed by a cast of dangerous bad guys. But Donahue isn’t a badge-wearing, donut-eating police detective. She’s a lock-picking, pipe-smoking private investigator. If the job pays, she’ll take it. In this episode Mr Moss has been murdered and she needs to work out who from all the suspicious subjects in the mansion did the dirty deed.

SOPIROCOS, CUCURINOS AND PIRICUACOS, 6min., Argentina
Directed by Ileana Andrea Gomez Gavinoser
SOPIROCOS, CUCURINOS AND PIRICUACOS COME AND GO

http://www.catalogodecineargentino.com/productoras/grupo-universo-de-arte/https://www.facebook.com/grupouniversodearte

FROM KHOVRINO, 8min,. Russia
Directed by Daria Elena Dashunina
At night in Moscow a little girl Dana is rushing home through dark alleyways. She’s being chased by a suspicious-looking man. hen he finally catches up with her, it turns out he wants to make a gift for a girl, about which she had dreamed of for many years. But their meeting prepares surprises. The thriller develops into a social drama and both become victims.

https://www.facebook.com/darya.elena
https://www.instagram.com/dariaelenadashunina

March 26th – FAMILY FEATURE

BROKEN WHISPERS, 63min., Syrian Arab Republic
Directed by Amir Athar Soheili, Amir Masoud Soheili
Weary of the creative process, an old painter fixes a broken instrument he finds in the rubble. When his students go around looking for someone who can play the instrument, they meet other artists bearing the scars of war.

https://www.facebook.com/masoud.soheili
https://www.instagram.com/masoudsoheili/

March 27th – FAMILY FEATURE

CANDELA, 95min., Spain
Directed by Manuel Camacho
Bea is an immature 16 year old teenager who lives with her mother in a suburb of a large city. Bea just enjoys life and she has fun with her best friend Sandra. No matter what happens around her. But one day will appear a 7 year old mysterious girl called Candela. Thereafter Bea’s life will change, beginning a process of maturity, while a strong relationship between the two states. But, who is Candela?

https://www.asismaval.com/candela

March 28th – UNDER 5 MINUTE SHORTS

DREAM FROM BEYOND, 4min., Albania
Directed by ARMAND BORA, BERTRAND SHIJAKU
THE CITY NEEDS TO SLEEP BUT THE ACOUSTIC POLLUTION DOES NOT ALLOW IT

FLAGS, 4min., UK
Directed by Richard Anthony Dunford
Two flags are about to be hoisted for the very first time. One flag is super excited. The other is scared of heights.

https://www.hypericumfilms.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HypericumFilms/
https://twitter.com/HypericumFilms
https://www.instagram.com/hypericumfilms/

ASTRONOMY GASTRONOMY, 3min,. France
Directed by Geneviève Anhoury
To make a fruit pie you need the whole universe

https://leblob.fr/series/astronome-gastronome

EXIT, 3min., India
Directed by Komalankutty Methil
Social media is often an exit from existing social relations.

LAW, 3min., Serbia
Directed by Nenad Teofilovic
The pathway to the peace and truth leads through persecution of law and justice. Only ones with a pure soul will persists on that vicious turnpike.

https://reditus.rs/law
https://www.facebook.com/reditusfilmofficial
https://twitter.com/ReditusFilm
https://www.instagram.com/reditusfilm

YUN YUN, 2min., Canada
Directed by Emily Ma
Yun Yun (??) eats dinner with her family every night. When she goes to live on her own, the realization dawns on her that eating alone can be lonely.

MAGIC DOG, 2min., Italy
Directed by Lidia Napoli

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12217282

THE POOR KID, 1min,. UK
Written by Badradeen Mohammed
It’s about the importance of education.

March 29th – ASIA FESTIVAL

FAVOR, 20min., South Korea
Directed by Sun Woo Kim
When mother had some problems and left home, Seonwoo comes back home to take care of his father. Father asks Seonwoo three favors during his stay.

https://www.instagram.com/director_ksw

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 12min., South Korea
Directed by Ahn Sangwook
Soocheol tries to give a birthday party which he couldn’t do when he was alive for his wife Heeyeon with his 10 yearold daughter, Arin’s help.

MOON UNDER MY FEET, 20min., Philippines
Directed by Richard Soriano Legaspi
After years of imprisonment abroad for a crime he did not commit, Lino finally returns to his small town. He hopes to relive his lost dreams and bring back everything that was taken away from him. With his red suitcase filled with misery and uncertainty, he reunites with his past. Revisiting what he left behind, he discovers that life went on without him. As he tries to fill the emptiness, he realizes that he is now the void.

WETSITALES: APONIBOLINAYEN AND THE SUN, 12min., Philippines
Directed by Jade Dandan Evangelista
Aponibolinayen is a lovely maiden who went into an unplanned trip to the heavens and met the man of her life, Ini-init. An enchanted adventure mixed with culture and traditions of the Tinguian Tribe. Based on a Philippine Folk Tale.

https://wetsiponworkshop.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wetsipon/
https://www.instagram.com/wetsipon/

March 30th – INDIA FILMS

VAARASA, 20min., India
Directed by Manoj Naiksatam
Babu is running his ancestral business of making lord Ganesh’s idols in rural area of Konkan. As Ganesh festival is about to arrive, he is busy in making idols and his both daughters are supporting him with great enthusiasm.

ZIBAH, 28min., India
Directed by Arunjit Borah
Erem is a free spirited college student who dreams of winning a dance competition, taking the medical exam and building her career; but her closest kin, including her grandmother Shagufta and father Ali are adamant to marry her off to a London based banker, proposed by their close acquaintance Maulana with a condition. A condition that shrieks for the pain and humiliation of generations, Allen has to be “pure”.

https://arunjitborah.com/
https://www.facebook.com/arunjitofficial
https://twitter.com/ArunjitBorah
https://www.instagram.com/arunjitborah/

SHAMSHAAN, 18min., India
Directed by Bittu Kumar
A wish to study takes life. 14 year old child widow Lachi want to study but she got forcefully married again and she has to pay her life in order to wish of study.

https://www.facebook.com/bittu.kumar.12576
https://www.instagram.com/bittu_kumar_director_/

MEGAN LEAVEY – What the critics have to say about the film!

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megan_leavey78% of the critics like the film.

“Megan Leavey” isn’t a big, or particularly surprising picture; it sketches out a simple story and then, reliably delivers.

June 9, 2017 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

If you’re looking for a good cry, Megan Leavey gets the job done, I suppose. But it’s a bit like a wet kiss from a puppy.

June 9, 2017 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

The film – the feature directorial debut for Gabriela Cowperthwaite, whose orcas-in-peril documentary, Blackfish, struck a nerve – treats the handler/dog relationship with respect, not cheap sensationalism.

June 9, 2017 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

With a female-directed, female-driven film this small, criticizing it feels like beating a baby seal. While well intentioned, the human-and-dog interest story lacks narrative drive and star Kate Mara is a limp noodle.

June 9, 2017 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

The emotion in Megan Leavey is not forced. It flows, up and down the leash, just like it’s supposed to.

June 9, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

“Megan Leavey” works because it takes Leavey seriously as a character, and it studies her journey through her life and through the Marines before Rex is even a factor in the story.

June 9, 2017 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE, 2001

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone MOVIE POSTER
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 2001
Movie Reviews

Directed by Chris Columbus
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Ian Hart
Review by Emma Hutchings

SYNOPSIS: On his 11th birthday, Harry Potter is told he is a wizard and is invited to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There he discovers that a dark power is attempting to rise again, the one responsible for the death of his parents and the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

OSCAR NOMINEE for Best Art Direction – Set Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Music, Original Score

 

REVIEW:

Deposited on his Aunt and Uncle’s doorstep as a baby after the death of his parents, we revisit young Harry Potter aged 10 to discover he has lived a miserable life so far. He lives in a cupboard under the stairs and is badly mistreated. One day he surprisingly receives a letter but his Uncle doesn’t let him read it. This turns out to be a mistake, when, as the days go by, more and more letters arrive addressed to Harry. They are delivered by a large number of owls, who perch happily in front of the house, no doubt causing a few raised eyebrows in this little suburban neighbourhood.

The situation becomes so dire that Harry’s Uncle Vernon decides to uproot the family to a hut on a small island, hoping that will deter the sender of the letters. However, in the middle of the night, a half-giant named Hagrid bursts in and personally hands Harry his letter to read; he has been invited to study magic at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Leaving with Hagrid, Harry goes to Diagon Alley and withdraws some money his parents left him at Gringotts, a bank run by goblins, to purchase his supplies for school. He soon realises that in the wizarding world he is quite the celebrity.

The adult cast is a who’s who of British acting talent, giving the film an added bonus for grown-up viewers. They aren’t just clumsily thrown in either, they fit their roles perfectly. I for one can’t imagine anyone else playing Professor Snape; Alan Rickman does a brilliant job and for this film J.K. Rowling provided him with vital details of his character’s back story not revealed to readers until the final novel. As well as the main cast, there are also some big names in small roles: John Hurt plays wand-maker Mr Ollivander, John Cleese plays Nearly Headless Nick and Julie Walters plays Mrs Weasley.Harry Potter is a worldwide phenomenon. Understandably, the expectation for this first film in the series was huge and the pressure on the filmmakers to create a faithful adaptation for the fans was enormous. They didn’t disappoint. By February 2002 it was the second highest grossing film worldwide after Titanic. From watching the film you can tell that those involve care about telling the story. It is ideal for fans of the book who want to see their favourite scenes played out on screen.Once at Hogwarts, Harry uncovers a dark plot. The evil wizard who murdered his parents but lost his powers whilst trying to kill Harry as a child (leaving him with his scar) is attempting to restore himself to full strength. There is a valuable item he needs hidden at Hogwarts and a disciple there is determined to obtain it. Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione, try to uncover the identity of this person while also trying to find out what the item is and where it is being kept so they can get to it first.

Oddly enough, I feel the film’s biggest weakness is that it is a very faithful adaptation. Although movies and books do have a close connection, they are still very different types of media and the best way to adapt a novel for the big screen isn’t necessarily to loyally translate it. Doing so means the director doesn’t use any of his own imagination or try to make his mark on the film. However, this almost certainly won’t affect children’s enjoyment and even most adult’s.

Overall, it is a very enjoyable fantasy adventure for all the family. The three child leads aren’t great (they can sometimes be seen mouthing each other’s lines, among other things) but you can tell there is potential for them to grow and develop as the films continue. And what better place to learn the art than surrounded by a vast number of talented elders in a celebrated film series that already has a huge army of fans

harry_potter_1

Movie Review: MILLIONS (2004)

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Submit your Family Film or Screenplay to the Festival: http://festivalforfamily.com

MILLIONS
MILLIONS, 2004
Movie Reviews

Directed by Danny Boyle
Starring: Alex Etel, Lewis McGibbon, James Nesbitt
Review by MR Parodi

SYNOPSIS:

Millions is a funny and heartwarming story of two young English boys who have recently moved with their father, after the death of their mother. Damian, the youngest, discovers a bag filled with British Pound notes and shows his older brother, Anthony. England is about to join the European Union Monetary system, and the boys need to find a way to spend the money before it becomes obsolete. What will the boys decide to do with the money: invest it, donate it to the poor, or spend it frivolously?

REVIEW:

Danny Boyle revisits a familiar theme from his first two features, Shallow Grave and Trainspotting, in Millions – greed. This time around Boyle looks at it from a young pre-teen boys’ perspective, which makes for a delightful and entertaining comedy.

Millions begins with Ronnie (James Nesbitt) and his two boys packing up and moving out of their house, most likely due to the fact that their mother has recently passed away. Damian (Alex Etel) builds a cardboard fort by the train tracks near his new home, where he can fantasize about Saints, an obsession of his. Damian has memorized everything about every Saint. One day an enormous bag crushes Damian’s fort and it happens to be stuffed with British Pound notes. Damian shows the bag to his older brother, Anthony (Lewis McGibbon), and they decide not to tell anyone about the money due to “tax reasons”.

This decision marks the beginning of the movie’s conflict—Damian, the innocent and honest boy, wants to give the money to the poor, while Anthony views the money as a business opportunity. The boys must decide/think quickly because England is switching to the Euro currency within two weeks, and all British currency has to be converted, deposited in a bank account, or it will become useless. Anthony wants to invest in real estate, and Damian keeps giving the money away with the help of his imaginary Saints.

The boys find out through a schoolmate, whose father is a police officer, that an elaborate plan to steal money is the source of the bag that Damian found. The money was going to be burned by the government, but the thief threw out multiple bags of money from the train to be picked up later. The reality sharply contrasts with Damian’s belief that the bag was a miracle sent from God. Damian’s charitable actions then gain attention at school, and from a mysterious man who the boys run into at the train tracks by their house. The boys must reveal to their father, who is hardly around, that they found loads of cash. The mysterious man threatens Damian, who together with his family discovers how money can cloud one’s decisions and makes life difficult.

This film made me realize how much I enjoy Danny Boyle films. Boyle portrays the theme of greed in a fresh and whimsical way, which I found extremely interesting. The film is so contrary to Trainspotting, the only other Danny Boyle film I had seen when I first watched Millions, that it completely fulfilled and surpassed my expectations.

The characters and story, written by Frank Cottrell Boyce, are amazingly enchanting. Damian is such an innocent boy that you can’t help but love him. Furthermore, Alex Etel fits the role perfectly and is very believable. At the same time, Anthony is my favorite of the two boys. The character is a wise older brother who may be a little too concerned with money, but nonetheless has a good heart. The story is funny, quirky at times, and surprisingly heartwarming. If you enjoy British humor, you will definitely enjoy this film. Boyce adapted the story into a novel during the production of Millions and it was awarded the Carnegie Medal. Moreover, the film has several special effects and eye candy, but it deals with real ideas and issues, making it more than just an entertaining family film.

The film also includes everything else that I love about Danny Boyle films. The visuals, complex theme, a great music score, and writing all stand out as great bits that put Boyle as an excellent part of film history. In addition, Boyle manages to switch genres effortlessly and create a fantastic family film that can entertain both children and adults.

Millions was received extremely well by critics, but is overlooked by many due to Boyle’s success in the Horror/Thriller genre. Roger Ebert, Richard Roeper, and Leonard Maltin all praised the film as one of the best of 2004 with its enchanting story. Millions is one of my favorites, and is always an uplifting experience to watch, deserving a four out of four stars rating in my book. This film won Best Director and Best Cinematography, and was nominated for five other categories. The screenwriter was nominated, and rightly so. Taken from a short story that first appeared in the Saturday Evening Post in 1933 by Maurice Walsh, Green Rushes, Frank Nugent was able to weave a story rich in subtext and conflict.

The collector’s edition of the DVD includes an interview with Maureen O’Hara where she reminisces about filming The Quiet Man, and is well worth watching.