KIDS FIRST! Radio

Favorites for Halloween are the R.L. Stine Goosebumps stories, One Day at Horrorland, Monster Blood and A Night in Terror Tower. As Jon Bowman, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Film Festival says, “If you are going to scare kids, this is the time of year!” The Goosebumps series has been in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival for several years and will play this coming weekend at the Key West Film Society, the Film Center at Cinema Cafe, the Denver Film Society and the Austin Public Library. For the younger set, KIDS FIRST! has Fat Alberts Halloween Special. Be safe and have fun!

Leonard Cheshire Disability campaigns to change the way people think about, and respond to, disability. Since the campaign launched last November, thousands of people have expressed their desire to change their attitudes. The Creature Discomforts commercials were specially commissioned by Leonard Cheshire Disability from award-winning studio Aardman Animations.
Leonard Cheshire Disability supports over 21,000 disabled people in the UK and works in 52 countries. They campaign for change and provide innovative services that give disabled people the opportunity to live life their way.
Working Globally for Inclusive Development
Leonard Cheshire Disability works with over 250 independently managed disability organizations in 54 countries. The programs support people with disabilities and push disability up political and development agendas.
Education
Leonard Cheshire Disability supports access to a good quality education that meets the needs of every child with disabilities
Livelihoods
Economic independence for people with disabilities is a goal.
Health and rehabilitation
Programs build local capacity among both families and community service providers 
Support for everyday living
Mobility, transport, social activities, accessible accommodation, respite care and day services: all are included in the ongoing support programs.
Policy and campaigns
Campaigns promote the human rights of people with disabilities and push for disability to be higher on the international agenda 
Research
Run jointly with UCL, the Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre provides an evidence base for our programs
www.creaturediscomforts.org Share the commercials and messages with others!

KIDS FIRST! is thrilled to announce the DVD launch of The First of May. This movie was one of the first indie titles in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival. Through KIDS FIRST! introductions, the wonderful indie film was picked and licensed this year. 

Review By Buzz McClain — Video Business, 6/2/2008 Cast of legends led by Joe DiMaggio puts this family film over the top. 

If there is a market for films grandparents can watch with their school-age grandchildren, this one from 1999 will be at the top of the chart. Despite a mind-bending drop-in by Joe DiMaggio as a baseball sage, The First of May starts off at a creaky pace. But gentle magic happens once the principals—young Dan Byrd as an 11-year-old foster-home runaway who befriends neglected senior citizen Julie Harris—get to the circus owned by Mickey Rooney (with Charles Nelson Reilly on hand as a clown). The overarching theme of family is inescapable but conveyed carefully. The title, by the way, refers to a circus rookie. 

Shelf Talk: Compelling live-action family films without a single moment of questionable behavior are few and far between, but this one can be recommended with confidence. Legends Harris, Rooney, Reilly and the Yankee Clipper himself (in his last film appearance) will appeal to an underserviced age demographic, and Byrd recently ended a run in CW sitcom Aliens in America. The worthy 20-minute bonus “A Tribute to Joe DiMaggio” details how the baseball player became involved in the film and spent months learning his lines. Questar boosted May with a viral marketing campaign via YouTube and is developing retailer-specific promos. 

Family drama, color, G (nothing offensive), 111 min., DVD $14.99 

Extras: Joe DiMaggio tribute Director: Paul Sirmons 

First Run: DVD premiere 

Six Weekends of Film Festival fun include screenings at the Sheraton Waikiki with the new festival partner, Starwood Hotel & Resorts Hawai’i
The University of Hawai‘i KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, presented by UH-Manoa Outreach College, returns with another six weeks of FREE summer family fun! The 3pm Sunday screenings kick off June 8^th with Moondance Alexander at the UH-Manoa Art Auditorium. 

This year, the new festival partner, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawai‘i at the Sheraton Waikiki, will host two additional film screenings: June 29^th, Moondance Alexander and July 6^th, Alice Upside Down. Screenings at the Sheraton are at 7pm. 

All of the films are FREE with door prizes given at many of the screenings.  For complete information, visit http://www.outreach.hawaii.edu/summer. For details on screenings at the Sheraton Waikiki, visit www.sheraton-waikiki.com.  Additional plans are in the works with Maui Community College-VITEC, College for Kids Program, as well as Starwood Hotels & Resorts, for screenings on Maui.  Details TBA.

The KIDS FIRST! FIlm Festival, a project of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, travels to more than 100 locations nationwide each year, making it the largest kid’s film festival in the world.  In its ninth year, the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival offers sneak peeks at new films from major studios, classic films, independents and shorts in a variety of styles including animation and live action.  The films are evaluated by juries of adults and kids and must meet the KIDS FIRST! criteria of: no gratuitous violence, no racial or cultural bias, no inappropriate content, and no condescension towards children.

Supported in part by the Sidney Stern Memorial Trust.

Read Across America March 3rd       

Horton Hears A Who! (read-along book) Free to Your Classroom. For the first time ever, an animated digital version of Horton Hears A Who! by Dr. Seuss is being released. Just in time for NEA’s Read Across America Day, this special Seuss classic will be available for free exclusively on kidthing™. The pages come to life on your computer screen with animation, narration and sound effects. Or, turn the sound off and read the book aloud. Download at www.kidthing.com/neasreadacrossamerica

For more information on Read Across America, please visit the NEA’s Web site at www.nea.org/readacross

14 Oscar Nominations for Movies Made in New Mexico
New Mexico-made movies receive 14 Oscar nominations. Governor Richardson credits aggressive marketing and incentives program for continued growth of state’s film industry.
Santa Fe, NM (Vocus) January 24, 2008 — Governor Bill Richardson applauded today’s announcement that four movies filmed in New Mexico have received a total of 14 Academy Award nominations from the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. The films include Best Picture nominee “No Country for Old Men” which tied for the lead with eight nominations.

“These nominations highlight the quality of the projects we are attracting to New Mexico,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “As importantly, they highlight the quality of our support staff, our production crews and the incredible versatility our state offers filmmakers in realizing their vision. We can say with proven certainty that New Mexico is a world-class film destination.”

Since Governor Bill Richardson took office, 90 major feature film and television projects have shot in New Mexico resulting in an estimated economic impact to the state of $1.5 billion dollars.

“The film industry is a key factor in the high-wage, prosperous economy we are building in New Mexico,” continued the Governor. “Because of our success, thousands more New Mexicans are working, and the industry is benefiting local businesses and communities across the state. Plus, with these nominations the additional exposure these films will bring to New Mexico worldwide is fantastic. I’m committed to keeping the industry thriving and to continue developing New Mexico as a full service production state.”

In addition to best picture, “No Country for Old Men” garnered nominations for best director, best supporting actor, adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing, sound mixing and sound editing.

Many consider the film to be the lead contender for this year’s Best Picture award. The Coen Brothers drama was filmed almost entirely in New Mexico in locations such as Las Vegas and Santa Fe. It is based on Santa Fe author Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name. Golden Globe winner Javier Bardem is considered the front-runner for the best supporting actor award for his role as Anton Chirguh the film’s menacing psychopath.

While the film takes place in west Texas, the Coen brothers say they chose to shoot the majority of it in New Mexico because of the state’s attractive film incentives.

Three other films nominated this morning also took advantage of the state’s film incentives, skilled crew base and varied shooting locations. Tommy Lee Jones earned a Best Actor nomination for his work on “In the Valley of Elah.” “Transformers” picked up nominations for visual effects, sound editing and sound mixing. “3:10 to Yuma” also received nominations for sound editing and mixing.

For more information, contact:

Jennifer Hoffman
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Tel: 505-216-0889
Cell: 505-603-8643
Ballantines PR
Ballantines PR: Beijing, Los Angeles, London, New York, Santa Fe, Shanghai
   
Alarie Ray-Garcia
Office of the Governor
New Mexico Governor
Bill Richardson
Office:505-476-2248

The USA Film Festival announces a Salute to Mallory Lewis at the
24th Annual KidFilm® Festival - January 19-20, 2008
DALLAS – The USA Film Festival’s 24th annual KidFilm® Festival announces the schedule of events taking place Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20, 2008 at the Angelika Film Center, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas.
Salute to Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop, Saturday, January 19th at 2:30 pm
Honoring the legacy of her mother, the legendary Shari Lewis, award-winning children’s entertainer Mallory Lewis brings a new puppet (Giggles) to a new generation – with some help from an old friend — the beloved Lambchop!  Mallory brings learning through music to young audiences through her new Phonics 4 Babies program.  KidFilm will feature a live performance by Mallory Lewis and Lambchop, and kids will also receive a free DVD.  Program presented with support and partnership from KIDS FIRST! a program of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media.  (Showtime = Saturday, January 19, 2:30pm.)
The USA Film Festival is a 38-year-old Dallas-based 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the recognition and promotion of excellence in the film and video arts.  Year-round events include KidFilm; the official Oscar Night® America Dallas; monthly screenings; special programs and premieres; and the USA Film Festival, held each spring.  Throughout the year, the Festival presents a variety of membership, exhibition, educational and cultural programs designed to bring together film enthusiasts and filmmakers for a “live cinema” experience.