Utah Film Center will once again bring the joys of international cinema for children and youth, and the young at heart, to downtown Salt Lake City with the 6th annual Tumbleweeds Film Festival. The Intermountain West’s only film festival for children presents new culturally-enriching, curated cinema for kids ages 4 and up, September 23-25 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.

This year audiences can choose from 15 feature films, three shorts programs, four workshops, one panel discussion, and a slew of activities in the Kids’ Clubhouse designed to balance visual content and active play. Tickets are on sale now via ArtTix and all festival information can be found on the official Tumbleweeds Film Festival website: www.utahfilmcenter.org/twds2016.

“I am always amazed by the wonderful, international crop of films made for younger audiences and am delighted to bring the best to Utah. This year’s Tumbleweeds program, which is our most diverse to date, includes films from Israel, South Korea and Mongolia, all countries that have not been represented in past Festival lineups. We’re especially excited to bring The Eagle Huntress, a Sundance Kids favorite, but newly narrated by Daisy Ridley, back for local audiences to enjoy,” says Utah Film Center Artistic Director Patrick Hubley.

“Tumbleweeds cultivates the next generation of cinephiles by instilling an appreciation for film and media in our local children. Recent data compiled by the National Endowment of the Arts shows Utah leads the nation in moviegoing. To continue this trend, this year’s Tumbleweeds lineup provides our younger audiences with quality storytelling told on film from around the world and nurtures audiences to value and understand the power of film in sharing new places, people, ideas and cultures,” says Utah Film Center Executive Director Elisabeth Nebeker.

2016 TUMBLEWEEDS FILM FESTIVAL LINEUP

Readers and listening devices will be available at all films with subtitles.

Opening Night
Friday, September 23 | 7pm
Brothers of the Wind
98 min | 2015 | Austria | Not Rated
Directed by Gerardo Olivares and Otmar Penke
Recommended for ages 8+
A powerful tale of hope and discovery about a young boy who saves the life of a baby eagle.

Molly Monster
Saturday, September 24 | 9:30am
70 min | 2016 | Germany/Sweden/Switzerland | Not Rated
Directed by Ted Sieger, Michael Ekbladh, Matthias Bruhn
Recommended for ages 4+
Young Molly Monster spends her days playing with her best friend Edison. When her mama gives birth to an egg, Molly begins a journey to find her new place in the family.

Panel: Tech Talk – FREE
Saturday, September 24 | 10am
Ever wonder how to make a lasting impression on YouTube? Director AJ Clayton will teach burgeoning vloggers the secrets to getting thousands views on their personal videos.

Tumbleweeds Shorts Program 1
Saturday, September 24 | 11:15am
60 min | Not Rated
A program of short films from around the world recommended for children ages 4+.

Secret Society of Souptown / Supilinna Salaselts
Saturday, September 24 | 11:45am
90 min | 2015 | Estonia/Finland | Not Rated
Directed by Margus Paju
Recommended for ages 7+
When the adult population of their small town seems to be acting like children, a group of young treasure hunters search for the antidote by deciphering a book of riddles.

Help, I Shrunk My Teacher / Hilfe, ich hab meine Lehrerin geschrumpft
Saturday, September 24 | 12:45pm
90 min | 2015 | Germany | Not Rated
Directed by Sven Unterwaldt Jr.
Recommended for ages 8+
Presented in German with English subtitles.
Felix is being sent to a strict boarding school after failing out of his previous school. While trying to adjust, he accidentally shrinks his teacher. With time running short, he and his friend Ella must figure out a way to bring her back to normal height.

How to Steal a Dog
Saturday, September 24 | 2pm
109 min | 2014 | South Korea | Not Rated
Directed by Sung Ho-Kim
Recommended for ages 9+
Presented in Korean with English subtitles.
Ten-year old Ji-so, her mother, and younger brother are homeless after her father abandons them. In an effort to find a home, Ji-so hatches a scheme to kidnap the dog of a rich owner and hold it for ransom.

The Little Prince
Saturday, September 24 | 2:45pm
108 min | 2015 | France/Canada | Rated PG
Directed by Mark Osborne
Recommended for ages 6+
Based on the classic story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, an over-scheduled girl befriends an eccentric aviator, who regales her with tales about the adventures of an unusual boy who lives on an asteroid.

KIDNAP: Bo’s Most Exciting Holiday Ever / Kidnep
Saturday, September 24 | 4:15pm
87 min | 2014 | Netherlands | Not Rated
Directed by Diederik Ebbinge
Recommended for ages 9+
When Bo is kidnapped, and his safe and secluded world is turned upside down, he unexpectedly forges a strange friendship with Fred, his gruff and lovable kidnapper.

Hördur
Saturday, September 24 | 5:15pm
83 min | 2015 | Germany | Not Rated
Directed by Ekrem Ergün
Recommended for ages 12+
Presented in German and Turkish with English subtitles.
A coming-of-age film about Aylin, a young Turkish immigrant living in Germany, who is set on the road to self-discovery after being sentenced to work at a horse stable after an altercation at school.

Centerpiece
Saturday, September 24 | 7:15pm
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
100 min | 1971 | USA | Rated G
Directed by Mel Stuart
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is arguably one of the greatest children’s films of all time. This special screening, shown in honor of the late Gene Wilder, will be presented in 35mm and includes Wonkariffic goodie bags.

Belle & Sebastian: The Adventure Continues / Belle et Sébastien: L’Aventure Continue
Sunday, September 25 | 9:45am
97 min | 2015 | France | Not Rated
Directed by Christian Duguay
Recommended for ages 8+
Presented in French with English subtitles.
This thrilling update of the popular 1960s TV series, based on the beloved French children’s novel, reintroduces us to brave Sebastian and his faithful canine companion Belle as they set out to find Sebastian’s adoptive mother following the end of World War II.

Tumbleweeds Shorts Program 2
Sunday, September 25 | 10am
A program of short films from around the world recommended for children ages 7+.

Blinky Bill: The Movie
Sunday, September 25 | 11:30am
82 min | 2015 | Australia | Rated PG
Directed by Deane Taylor, Noel Cleary, Alexs Stadermann, Alex Weight
Recommended for ages 4+
An adventurous young koala embarks on a journey across the wild and dangerous Australian outback in the hope of finding his missing father, but he soon discovers that there is more to being a hero than meets the eye.

Abulele
Sunday, September 25 | 12pm
96 min | 2015 | Israel | Not Rated
Directed by Jonathan Geva
Recommended for ages 9+
Presented in Hebrew with English subtitles.
In this heartfelt family film, a young boy grieving the loss of his brother discovers a monster living in his building’s basement. Befriending the monster, he risks everything to protect his friend from a government force that is trying to capture him.

Long Way North / Tout en haut du monde
Sunday, September 25 | 2:15pm
81 min | 2015 | France/Denmark | Rated PG
Directed by Rémi Chayé
Recommended for ages 10+
Sasha, a young girl from the Russian aristocracy, embarks on an epic quest to the North Pole.

Fortune Favors the Brave / Ente Gut! Mädchen allein zu Haus
Sunday, September 25 | 4pm
96 min | 2016 | Germany | Not Rated
Directed by Norbert Lechner
Recommended for ages 10+
Presented in German and Vietnamese with English subtitles.
The story of an unusual friendship between two immigrant Vietnamese sisters and their daredevil neighbor.

Tumbleweeds Shorts Program 3
Sunday, September 25 | 4:15
A program of short films from around the world recommended for children ages 5+.

Closing Night
Sunday, September 25 | 6pm
The Eagle Huntress
87 min | 2016 | UK/Mongolia/USA | Not Rated
Directed by Otto Bell
Recommended for ages 12+
Presented in Kazakh with English subtitles.
Step aside Daenerys and Katniss, Aisholpan is a real life role model on an epic journey in a far away world. Follow this 13-year-old nomadic Mongolian girl as she battles to become the first female to hunt with a Golden Eagle in 2,000 years of male-dominated history. Narrated by Daisy Ridley.

Official Selection: 2016 Sundance Film Festival

TICKET PRICES

All film tickets can be purchased for $6 (includes service charge) at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Box Office, online at arttix.org, or by calling 801-355-ARTS.

Ten ticket passes are currently available for $40 each. For more information visit:
www.utahfilmcenter.org/twds2016.

WORKSHOPS

To participate, guests must register online and pay a $15 registration fee prior to attending. Register by visiting: www.utahfilmcenter.org/twds2016.

Workshop: Screenwriting for Kids
Presented by Salt Lake Community College’s Community Writing Center
Saturday, September 24 | 1:00-2:30pm
Recommended for ages 8-12
Maximum attendees: 15
The Screenwriting for Kids workshop invites youth to explore how screenplays differ from other forms of storytelling. We will practice character creation, plot development, and scene structure. We will also read a portion of a screenplay and set out to write one ourselves.

Workshop: Maya 3D Design
Presented by Animator Stephen Anderson
Saturday, September 24 | 10am-12pm
Recommended for ages 8-12
Maximum attendees: 10
Experience the art of 3D modeling and learn basic fundamental techniques you can use to create anything in a digital space. Applications include: movies, games, and 3D printing.

Workshop: Critic’s Workshop and Screening
Presented by Salt Lake Tribune Movie Critic Sean Means
Sunday, September 25 | 1:30-4:30pm
$15/person includes ticket to Long Way North screening from 2:15pm-3:30pm
Recommended for ages 10-12
Maximum attendees: 15
Join Salt Lake Tribune Critic Sean Means as he leads a 30-minute pre-film discussion on how to watch film critically. He will talk about what to look for and think about while watching a movie. After this brief discussion participants will watch a festival film in the Jeanne Wagner Theatre. After the movie, you’ll spend 45 minutes with Sean writing your very own review!

Sean P. Means has been The Salt Lake Tribune’s movie critic for 23 years. He also reviews movies every Thursday on the Radio From Hell show on X96.

Workshop: Tell Your Story with Film
Presented by Brian Higgins of Create Reel Change
Sunday, September 25 | 1:30pm-3:30pm
Recommended for ages 8-12
Maximum attendees: 15
Participants will learn to use images and symbols to tell their stories in order to discover new pathways to the world of filmmaking and expressive arts. This workshop incorporates proven inspiration, motivation, and communication techniques to help you craft meaningful films and stories. Attendees will make a short film incorporating theses techniques.

KIDS’ CLUBHOUSE

Saturday, September 24-Sunday, September 25 | 10am-6pm
Free and open to the public.
The Tumbleweeds Kids’ Clubhouse will be located in the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Rose Room. In between film screenings, Festival guests will have the opportunity to participate in numerous activities meant to demonstrate the balance of technology, engineering, art, and active play including: an obstacle course presented by Salt Lake City Cross Fit, STEM and maker activities provided by the Mini Maker Faire, Festival badge making, virtual reality demonstrations and more.

FESTIVAL SUPPORT

Tumbleweeds Film Festival is generously sponsored by Zions Bank, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Lawrence T. and Janet T. Dee Foundation, S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, Chevron, My Good Fund, and Ancestry.

Utah Film Center is generously sponsored by Salt Lake County Zoo Arts & Parks Program, Zions Bank, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, and Catalyst Foundation.