Quality Children's Entertainment Family Movie Reviews

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LUNAFEST is Looking for Producers of Films by…for…and About Women

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

LUNFEST is looking for amateurs, students and aspiring indie filmmakers and producers involved in films aligned with our by…for…about women theme and are especially thrilled to receive animated, documentary, international and comic pieces. Films are viewed by over 25,0000 people and screened in over 150 venues across the country. There is no limitation based on the year of production and winning filmmakers are awarded $1000 cash! The postmark deadline for this year’s films is April 30, 2009.Please visit their website for more information about LUNAFEST or submit a film. Feel free to contact them at (510)859-2214 or at [email protected] with any questions.

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Student Film and News Festival Looks for International Entries

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

The Shortie Awards: Student Film and News Festival is seeking international entries from all student and teacher filmmakers and news producers.The Shortie Awards is a FREE festival recognizing original digital media productions created by student filmmakers, ages 7-18, and their teachers. The festival focuses on nurturing imagination and choice making in students.SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 03 April 2009Entry Form: http://www.shortie.org/festival/submitFilms may be no longer than 10 minutes – Fact or fiction.The entry categories are in festival are:. Live Action: Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, PSA, Music Video, or Other. Animation: Stop-Motion, Claymation, Machinima, Digital, or Other. Daily News BroadcastThe age categories are in festival are:. 7-10 years old (2nd to 5th grade). 11-14 years old (6th to 8th grade). 15-18 years old (9-12th grade). K-12 teachersTHE ENTRY FORM AND GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THEIR WEBSITE AS WELL AS DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT AT WWW.SHORTIE.ORG.International applicants: contact [email protected] for alternative mailing methods.

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SANTA AND SONS & Daughter

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

“America’s ready for a black Santa!” says Snavely Claws, villain in “SANTA AND SONS & daughter!” movie marking 4th Anniversary Public Access TV Event showing.”That’s a funny, new wrinkle,” says Director, Robert Battaile. “We’ve had a black Santa wanna-be for years. His name is Snavely and he even wears a black, Santa suit!” He sings a mean, talking blues song “Snavely Claws” in our comedy movie “but I thought he’d been cured of his demented ambitions.”Now in its fourth anniversary year, “SANTA AND SONS & daughter!” (www.santaandsons.com) the family musical movie is showing on Public Access TV throughout December in 31 states – over 200 cities in the U.S. and internationally in Austria and United Kingdom; plus countrywide in New Zealand and Ireland. “We’re showing in Vienna, Virginia and Vienna, Austria.” adds Producer/Director, Robert Battaile.”If you’re not near an access channel, we’re available nationally on DISH Satellite at Starfish TV Network.”Watch a :60 trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBDEuextKFU and click on “high quality” for best viewing. Patience please. Or, go straight to Santa’s homepage at www.santaandsons.com and watch movie clips, photo galleries and more.”SANTA AND SONS & daughter!” is an indie musical movie that was produced by Battaile’s video company CALEXAS (www.calexas.com) in northern California in 2004, and appeared in three festivals, Gloria Film Festival, KidsFirst! Film and Video Festival (where it was also nominated for “Best Movie for 8-12 Years Olds”) and STARZ! Festival. Creative Child Magazine gave the film an Award.”SANTA AND SONS & daughter!” introduces Santa’s wife Sara, two sons Nicholas and Klaus, and daughter, Sandy Claus. Sandy flies a talking, anti-gravity sleigh named Blaise and falls in love with Zwerkin, the inventor of a teleportation device that helps Santa get into houses without chimneys. The villain, Snavely puts on his black Santa-suit and sings about “deer kabobs and antler soup.” The comedy musical features seven songs.

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Buddha Wild Monk in a Hut

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Buddha Wild  Monk in a  Hut – the theatrically released feature film  Directed,Produced Written and Presented by Anna Wilding has been gifted to Princess Anne in Person,on her last day in New Zealand by the former Publicity Officer of NZ Save the Children Fund- Judy Wilding.The film has also recently sold to most of the Video Rental Stores in ChCh, including Blockbuster Riccarton,Alice in Videoland, Pannell Discounters Wainoni, Kaipoi Video Ezy and others. Over the next six weeks the title will be available throughout New Zealand.The film played din NZ at Rialto Christchurch and Hollywood Sumner in Christchurch. It may soon be seen in other cinemas in New Zealand.The film, mainly for adults also scooped an award  in Best Feature Documentary Category in the USA for Kids Ages 12-18 .The Award was presented to Miss Wilding in October 2008 at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences- Ms Wilding’s additional responsibilities included cinematography.Music was by Award wining composer Charlse David Denler. The film was shot on location in Christchurch New Zealand.The critically acclaimed feature film,that usually plays to adults, also garnered Critics Pic in LA Weekly and NY Times.   Buddha Wild Monk in a Hut, was  recently selected to launch the Film Center Cinemacafe Film Series in Santa Fe, New Mexico in July 2008 home of the Santa Fe Film Festivlaa. Spokesperson and Program Director for the Film Center Cinemacafe stated at the time,”We are proud to be showing this beautiful and moving film and praise the filmmakers for their incredible work.” Director and Actress Anna Wilding said that she is “honored” Buddha Wild has won a Kids Award. The film was also given the Quality Moniker by the American Coalition of Quality Children’s Media.Ms Wilding stated that “I hope that people will gain a greater insight and understanding into Asian cultures adapting to the West, the lives of monks throughout Asia and the South Pacific and the rest of the world, and a greater understanding of ourselves and a way to living in harmony with the world and environment around us.”The film has been praised by critics for its “well judged mix of seriousness and humor.”The film has been selected for numerous festivals and screenings throughout Canada, India and the USA, including Tibet House NY, Screen Actors Guild Series USA, National Academy of Arts and Sciences USA, the Academy Libraries and formal Oscar qualification ,Calgary Film Series, World Earth Week 2007, Indian International  Festival of  Films on Tribal Arts and Culture,The Kids First Film Festival(sponsered by HBO, Paramount, Universal, Fox, Sony, Discovery, Starz). The film has been selected for mainstream art house releases with more to follow. To date these include Laemmle’s Los Angeles, Santa Fe New Mexico, and Rialto and Hollywood Cinemas New Zealand.The film has been a high seller on Amazon.comAnna Wilding latest feature script,Counterswirl,was recently selected for  the 2008 Atlantic Film Market in Novia Scotia,which took place after Toronto. Ms Wilding has  been invited to speak on many panels and corporate and industry panels throughout the world.Recently Wilding was the guest spotlight speaker on an industry environmental,humanities driven panel at the American Pavillion in Cannes Film Festival 2008. She was also a key note guest speaker for World Earth Week 2007 speaking in the same week long program as Ralph Nader and Dr Kevin Denneher. She recently appeared in the Observer NY Politker section over two days following a succesful debate on foreign policy with Gerneal Wesely Clark and will appear in the biogrpahy on General Wesely Clark by Gordon Suber.Buddha Wild” by Ms Wilding, has been called “beautiful” by Moving Pictures Magazine2008, and “a must see film” by Splash Magazine 2008. It garnered critics pick in LA Weekly Magazine 2007, and Union Jack Newspapers said, “Anna Wilding Captures Our attention.” Moonrise Movies Magazine in Canada said it was “Worth a look. A delightfully sweet and accurate and a fine film for family viewing.”Ms Wilding combined with Rialto Cinemas Australia (New Zealand) to give the proceeds from the first public rough cut screenings to the Tsunami Relief Appeal in Thailand. The film has been welcomed at temples in the USA and elsewhere. The film is in early limited release stages. “Unpretentious,” providing an “affectionate glimpse” and a well-judged mixture of “seriousness and humor” into the cultural and monastic lives of missionary monks, the film explores the tenets of Buddhism, celibacy, politics, the role of women in Asian society, cultural life in the South Pacific, and the day-to-day lives of Theravadin monks. “Buddha Wild” has the tag line “Wild to be one with Nature.” Ms. Wilding’s career spans over a decade in Hollywood, UK and Australia as writer, actress, producer and director. In 2007 Ms Wilding was thanked through her lawyers in New York for her work on all three Lord of the Rings movies by Mark Ordesky, former CEO of New Line

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National Publications List KIDS FIRST! Top 100 List

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

If you voted in the KIDS FIRST! Top 100 survey last spring, your voice is getting heard. Over the next few months, look for mentions of your favorite flicks in numerous magazines across the nation as they highlight the KIDS FIRST! Top 100 list. These magazines reach a wide variety of readers. A partial list of the magazines to look for includes:

Grand Magazine, which will run the list in their September/October issue.

Parent Guide, which will run the list in its Sept/Oct. issue

Dominion Publications, which will run partial list in September issue and feature the full list online.

Moving Pictures, which will run the list in its Fourth Quarter Issue

Bare Essentials, which will run the list in a future issue.

Family Circle, which will feature the Top 100 in November or December.

New Jersey Family, which already ran mention of list.

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