Coastline Children’s Film Festival to kick off its 13th season next month

The Coastline Children’s Film Festival (CCFF) has announced the unveiling of its 13th annual international children’s film festival, which will take place in 10 locations in Berrien County and beyond, from March 3 - 12.

Tuthill. “Our supporters have donated some great experiences. We have live theater and sports tickets, vacation stays and, one of my favorites, a Private Dinner for 14 at Granor Farm in Three Oaks.”

All funds raised from the auction will support the care of the shelter animals at Michiana Humane Society. Michiana Humane Society is a nonprofit organization serving pets and the people who love them in La Porte and Berrien counties and beyond. The MHS team cares for nearly 1,000 pets each year and more than 98% of them get their second chances with loving families.

The films selected for this year speak positively to children and families and include award-winning films that have been screened all over the globe.

Documentary cinema in its purest form, “Free Puppies” explains how - and, more crucially, why –“adopt, don’t shop” came to be a national mantra. Sunken Roads tells a story of inter-generational friendship as 20-year-old filmmaker joins eight D-Day veterans on a journey to France – a commemorative pilgrimage to Omaha Beach for the 70th anniversary of the invasion. The exquisite, animated film “Giovanni’s Island” is a heart-warming historical drama of crosscultural friendship among children in the aftermath of war.

We are again presenting the best and latest short films from the New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF). We are bringing their national tour of four award-winning short film programs to our festival - “Kid Flicks One & Two,” “Halo Cine!” and “Celebrating Black Stories.” and open to anyone age 18 and under from the United States. Awards will be presented to the top three films, along with a Best in Show award and the Audience Favorite, March 10 at a Hollywood red carpet style screening and ceremony in the Oak Room at the Citadel immediately following the 6 p.m. screening. Attend a YFC screening March 4 or 8 to cast your vote for the Audience Favorite. The YFC is juried by Doreen Bartoni, Dean Emeritus, School of Media Arts at Columbia College Chicago.

An open house at the new Coastline Children’s Film Festival Storefront (Flynn Theatre Building in Sawyer) will happen Sunday, March 5. We will be playing film themed board games from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. before screening the acclaimed documentary “Scrap” at 4 p.m. We’ll have office hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, March 6. Stop in and pick up a program booklet or explore our film archive and chat with CCFF board members and volunteers. Coffee will be provided by RAR and cold drinks from Fruitbelt.

STAFF REPORTS

For more information about the auction, visit www/michianapets.org/ events or call 219-8724499. —

The festival kicks off Friday, March 3, with an opening night costume party at Krasl Art Center. Come as your favorite animated character and you could win a prize for the most creative costume. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with popcorn, cupcakes and a music program featuring the First Grade Choir from South Elementary School (Watervliet) led by the amazing Brandon Mattson. “Kid Flicks One,” a selection of animated and live action shorts from the New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF), begins at 7 p.m.

Gather & Kid Flicks will take place at the Friends of New Troy Community Center March 4. Enjoy the musical stylings of Brandon J Woodcox at 11 a.m. There will be a screening of the New York International Children’s Film Festival’s “Kid Flicks One” at 11:30 a.m. There will be an abundant supply of fresh donuts from Red Coach Donuts and delicious local coffee from Red Arrow Roasters. Visit www.friendsofnewtroy.org to learn more.

Join us at Sarett Nature Center at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 11, as we screen the film “Hoot.” Following the screening, Sarett naturalists will take you on a night hike to call for owls. Please bring a flashlight or headlamp for the night hike if you have one. The hike will start at 8:45 p.m.

The Young Filmmakers Competition (YFC) is free

Films will be screened at the following venues: Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph; the Citadel Oak Room and the Sarett Nature Center in Benton Harbor; the New Buffalo Township Library; the Three Oaks Township Public Library and The Acorn in Three Oaks; Friends of New Troy Community Center in New Troy; CCFF Storefront at the Flynn Theatre Building in Sawyer and the St. Joe County Public Library and the Western Branch in South Bend. A comprehensive festival program booklet with a complete list of all the films is available at all venues and from our website. For descriptions of each of the films and a downloadable version, visit www. coastlinechildrensfilmfestival.com.

The festival is sponsored by a major grant from the Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Family Foundation with contributions from Brookview Montessori School, Fruitbelt, Ann Krsul Architect, Modern Dentistry Associates, Sam and Connie Monte, and Red Arrow Roasters. The programs at the New Buffalo Township Library, the Three Oaks Township Public Library and the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks are made possible with a grant from The Pokagon Fund. This activity is also supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Minigrant Program administered by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.

Admission for all films is free. Donations are most welcome. The festival booklet offers parents guidance to content and age appropriateness. For more information call Leslie Sullivan at 269-757-1491.