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PBS DISTRIBUTION Series: TV SERIES, AGES 7-18 Topic - Family Description - PBS SoCal, Southern California's home for new PBS program premieres, debuts an entertaining new spin on emergency preparedness with the special What A Disaster! The fun new game show hosted by Jay Jackson (Parks & Recreation) challenges three Southern California families to test their emergency readiness plans in the event of the next wildfire, earthquake, flood or other disaster. Viewers will follow the contestants' progress through a series of fast-paced, exciting tasks that include comical twists designed to educate and teach critical, lifesaving guidance. The competition-themed special seeks to raise awareness on the importance of disaster preparedness as well as equip viewers with an understanding of the "do's and don'ts" in emergency situations. Produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, each family's strategies will be judged remotely by two disaster response experts: El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center in San Bernardino's Lulu Lopez and LISTOS National Program Director Liliana Encinas. The family with the most creative and resourceful solutions will be rewarded with a $1,000 cash prize. The other families with the least number of successes will be receiving a Disaster Preparedness Kit. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - What A Disaster! is an enjoyable family watch, after which you'll be prepared for any disaster that might come your way. The unique format, engaging challenges and crucial message all make this an amazing movie to watch over Thanksgiving! What A Disaster! is a game-show style program hosted by Jay Jackson, centering around three Southern-Californian families (The Yang family, the Smith family and the Luna family) competing to be crowned the most prepared for any natural disaster that may come their way. They're also competing to receive $1,000. The families are led through a series of challenges that include knowing where your utilities are and what to pack if you're running out of a burning building. As this is a PBS production, the 40 minute film is stitched together quite well. The contestants are spontaneous and bring life to the film, especially the little kids! I also enjoyed Jay Jackson's bubbly hosting. He looks upon these families as his neighbors, and the care he has is evident. There are some points where the contestants' voices seem to echo or reverb, though. It is also a bit obvious that the judges are reading from a script, as their eye line is off-center. But overall, the production value does not drag What A Disaster! down. As its title would give away, the film promotes disaster preparedness and staying safe in any situation. Also, this film endorses messages of sticking together, especially with family, and teamwork. This is an especially important message for 2020, given the wildfires that SoCal has suffered, and I'm super glad that PBS produced this program. I give What A Disaster! 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 18. Adults would enjoy this film as well. What A Disaster! premieres in Southern California this Thanksgiving on Thurs., Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal and encores on Sat., Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. on KCET. Reviewed by Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14 KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: TV |
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UNIVERSAL STUDIOS - THEATRICAL DIVISION Series: FEATURE, AGES 5-12 Topic - Family Description - The prehistoric family the Croods are challenged by a rival family the Bettermans, who claim to be better and more evolved. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - see youth review KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - The Croods: New Age is sensational because of the clever and colorful graphics, funny and realistic conflicts. The storyline is about the Bettermens not liking the Croods. They must learn how to get along with one another and they have many adventurous life lessons along the way. I like the story line because it's relatable to real life. The family conflicts and differences make the movie unpredictable. The characters are well developed. The production is state of the art. It is highly colorful and engaging from start to finish. The film is a great follow-up to the first one. My favorite part is when the main characters, Phil Betterment and Grug, are in the Jacuzzi. The message in the film is that we do not have to look the same and we all have far more in common than we realize. It's okay to look different. I give The Croods: New Age 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. It releases November 26, 2020 Reviewed by Bailey Rae F., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10 KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm |
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JANICE LIPSKY MEYERS Series: SCREENPLAY, AGES 8-18 Topic - Family Description - Daniel Wilson is not a typical twelve-year-old. He shares an unusual hobby with his father, Jed. They breed and race homing pigeons! As if that wasn't different enough, Daniel escapes the harsh realities of middle school and his home life by living in a secret world where he can converse with the birds. They reveal their secret society, made up of class dynamics by sundry breed (e.g. fantails are the most beautiful, homers and tumblers are high performers). Daniel's favorite bird is Woot, the coolest racing pigeon in the loft. Jed decides to enter Woot into the upcoming Southwest Regional Pigeon Race and solicits Daniel's help training the bird. Despite Woot's initial promise as a champion, he gets lost during the race when a dust storm and monsoon hit. Daniel becomes distraught when Woot doesn't return, facing the scorn not only of his father, but of the class bully. Over Jed's objections, Daniel sets off to rescue Woot but becomes lost himself in the desert. As Daniel and Woot struggle to reunite, they each encounter personified animal allies (e.g. feral street pigeons in downtown Phoenix) and opponents (snakes, hawks and javelinas), making for some hilarious, as well as moving scenes. Ultimately, Woot leverages his homing instinct to save Daniel, proving the value of this derided species and forcing a catharsis for Jed and for Daniel's classmates. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - This script is fairly seamless and beautifully character driven. The content is learner friendly in its manner of addressing complex issues such as diversity, feelings, healthy family communication, rising about fear of being hurt. By using the characteristics of an above average pigeon, Woot, in communication with a sensitive, creative young boy, Daniel, each trying to find each other and return home, this script is a winner. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Reviewed by Juror #1 KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - This script is fairly seamless and beautifully character driven. The content is learner friendly in its manner of addressing complex issues such as diversity, feelings, healthy family communication, rising about fear of being hurt. By using the characteristics of an above average pigeon, Woot, in communication with a sensitive, creative young boy, Daniel, each trying to find each other and return home, this script is a winner. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Reviewed by Juror #10 KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: App |
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CHRIS BISHOP Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 3-10 Topic - Family Description - A heartwarming tale about a happy and clueless family pet in a wild Christmas adventure as Jingle the Dog is thrust into the real world. Jingle the Dog is enjoying his holiday time with the family. He senses danger outside the neighbor's house from a hungry raccoon and comes to the rescue of the neighbor's daughter. However, the neighbors see it differently and demand that the dog is sent away. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The 2D animated short film, Jingle the Dog is pretty appealing. It tells a very relatable story and leaves you wondering the whole time and feeling different emotions. Without using words, it delivers a wonderful story and a good lesson. This storyline is about a dog that lives with a nice, happy family until a misunderstanding happens. The dad plans to give the wrongfully accused dog away. Instead, the kids think that instead, he should be free and send him off alone. The now homeless dog meets some animal friends and goes on a journey to make his way back home and to try to be accepted again. I like that the story teaches people how bad misunderstandings can be, and also teaches people to try to understand others before you come to conclusions. I really love the animation in this film. It is like watching a story book come to life. The locations are normal places, such as a home, a frozen pond where people ice skate and a snowy forest. The settings are all perfect for a winter film. Even without words, the story is well told and has great Christmas music featuring the marimba (which I love). The illustration and animation artist, Modeo Media Animation Studio has created really fantastic illustrations. My favorite part is when the dog and the raccoon fight. The stances they make before they start fighting are funny. The message of this film is that misunderstandings can end really bad and you should take time to understand a problem before you jump to conclusions. I give Jingle the Dog 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 10. I recommend it for a film festival because it is a great film that kids will enjoy and be able to watch with their parents. Reviewed by Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. This storyline is about a dog that lives with a nice, happy family until a misunderstanding happens. The dad plans to give the wrongfully accused dog away. Instead, the kids think that instead, he should be free and send him off alone. The now homeless dog meets some animal friends and goes on a journey to make his way back home and to try to be accepted again. I like that the story teaches people how bad misunderstandings can be, and also teaches people to try to understand others before you come to conclusions. I really love the animation in this film. It is like watching a story book come to life. The locations are normal places, such as a home, a frozen pond where people ice skate and a snowy forest. The settings are all perfect for a winter film. Even without words, the story is well told and has great Christmas music featuring the marimba (which I love). The illustration and animation artist, Modeo Media Animation Studio has created really fantastic illustrations. My favorite part is when the dog and the raccoon fight. The stances they make before they start fighting are funny. The message of this film is that misunderstandings can end really bad and you should take time to understand a problem before you jump to conclusions. I give Jingle the Dog 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 10. I recommend it for a film festival because it is a great film that kids will enjoy and be able to watch with their parents. Reviewed by Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-10 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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RYAN CHU Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 5-12 Topic - Family Description - A sea otter who is afraid of the ocean is challenged to face his fears when he loses his precious pink shell necklace at sea. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - This is exactly the type of film that KIDS FIRST! loves! It is truly a delight. The student produced, animated film Deep Fears is wonderfully produced and shows a story of growth and personal change. Without using any words, the film is able to show the struggle of the sea otter that is afraid of the water and what he does to overcome it. It's easy to understand and fun to watch. The story follows a sea otter that is afraid of water and is attacked by a crab and loses his necklace in the water. After he almost drowns getting it, he is rescued by a seal that helps get him accustomed to the water. I like how this story is told without using any words, and I like how the sea otter overcomes his fear. The animation is quite lovely and portrays the sea otter quite well, especially its exaggerated expressions. My favorite camera shot is when the sea otter is about to drown and is saved by the seal. The entire film takes place on the seashore and in the sea. The background music is exquisite and really enhances the action. For example, in the beginning, it is sad music, which accompanies us seeing the sea otter being afraid of water. Later, at the end, there is happy music when he overcomes his fears. The main two characters are the sea otter and the seal, both of which are animated. Ryan Chu directs and Joseph Bucsit creates the music. The crew on this film are all students and their work excels in every way. My favorite part of the film is seeing the sea otter poking and prodding at the water, as it really gives a sense of frustration and of fear. The film's message is about overcoming one's fear, and how a friend in need is a friend indeed. The beautiful ending showing the two friends together, the otter and the seal, watching the sun set and their images in the sand says it all. I give Deep Fears 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. Reviewed by Raj S., KIDS FIRST! Juror The story follows a sea otter that is afraid of water and is attacked by a crab and loses his necklace in the water. After he almost drowns getting it, he is rescued by a seal that helps get him accustomed to the water. I like how this story is told without using any words, and I like how the sea otter overcomes his fear. The animation is quite lovely and portrays the sea otter quite well, especially its exaggerated expressions. My favorite camera shot is when the sea otter is about to drown and is saved by the seal. The entire film takes place on the seashore and in the sea. The background music is exquisite and really enhances the action. For example, in the beginning, it is sad music, which accompanies us seeing the sea otter being afraid of water. Later, at the end, there is happy music when he overcomes his fears. The main two characters are the sea otter and the seal, both of which are animated. Ryan Chu directs and Joseph Bucsit creates the music. The crew on this film are all students and their work excels in every way. My favorite part of the film is seeing the sea otter poking and prodding at the water, as it really gives a sense of frustration and of fear. The film's message is about overcoming one's fear, and how a friend in need is a friend indeed. The beautiful ending showing the two friends together, the otter and the seal, watching the sun set and their images in the sand says it all. I give Deep Fears 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. Reviewed by Raj S., KIDS FIRST! Juror KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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LUZ MARIA MACK Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 2-5 Topic - Family Description - In this animation and book, you find Mar�a and her siblings discover fun ways to work together as a family. At the same time, they help out with housework and small backyard farming chores, and the best part it's in English/Spanish. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The animated short film, Maria the Super Helper is very fun to watch and gives you a feeling of happiness! The animation style is good and very simplistic, as is the story. And, it is told in both English and Spanish. This makes it great for younger audiences and for people learning English or Spanish. Although it is a bit slow at times, it is definitely worth watching. The storyline describes a day in the lives of Maria and her family. Maria wakes up, cleans the house, sweeps the porch, washes the dishes and does other chores with her family. They also eat and play with each other. The storyline is quite basic. The images are lovely, however the animation is not full motion animation, which may be a turn off for some. On the other hand, its bilingual element makes up for that and there are many shots that are just charming. One that stands out is the shot of Maria cleaning the house with her siblings as it has an interesting camera angle. Another shot of note is of Maria and her siblings sweeping the porch where the camera zooms out to show an interesting angle of Maria's house. The sets and locations are different parts of inside and outside of Maria's house. We see the bedrooms inside and the pigs and hens outside. I like how it captures the environment that Maria lives in quite well. The sound effects are typical of the environment from birds chirping to running bath water. The characters are Maria, her parents and her brothers. The key influencers of the film are Luz Maria Mack (author), Vanessa Balleza (illustrator), Victor Colon (animator) and Carter Mangan Jr. (musician). Of these, Vanessa Balleza and Victor Colon probably stand out the most because the imagery in the film is what drives it. The film focuses on how Maria and her family work and play hard together. It shows the value of hard work, family and interpersonal relationships. It exudes happiness in every way. My favorite part of the film is the ending, when "super helpers" are able to have a snack with their parents. After spending the day working, they are able to enjoy a moment with their family. I give Maria the Super Helper 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 5. I think it would be a valuable and interesting addition to a youth and family film festival, particular those with a Hispanic or multi-cultural focus. Reviewed by Raj S. KIDS FIRST! Youth Juror The storyline describes a day in the lives of Maria and her family. Maria wakes up, cleans the house, sweeps the porch, washes the dishes and does other chores with her family. They also eat and play with each other. The storyline is quite basic. The images are lovely, however the animation is not full motion animation, which may be a turn off for some. On the other hand, its bilingual element makes up for that and there are many shots that are just charming. One that stands out is the shot of Maria cleaning the house with her siblings as it has an interesting camera angle. Another shot of note is of Maria and her siblings sweeping the porch where the camera zooms out to show an interesting angle of Maria's house. The sets and locations are different parts of inside and outside of Maria's house. We see the bedrooms inside and the pigs and hens outside. I like how it captures the environment that Maria lives in quite well. The sound effects are typical of the environment from birds chirping to running bath water. The characters are Maria, her parents and her brothers. The key influencers of the film are Luz Maria Mack (author), Vanessa Balleza (illustrator), Victor Colon (animator) and Carter Mangan Jr. (musician). Of these, Vanessa Balleza and Victor Colon probably stand out the most because the imagery in the film is what drives it. The film focuses on how Maria and her family work and play hard together. It shows the value of hard work, family and interpersonal relationships. It exudes happiness in every way. My favorite part of the film is the ending, when "super helpers" are able to have a snack with their parents. After spending the day working, they are able to enjoy a moment with their family. I give Maria the Super Helper 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 5. I think it would be a valuable and interesting addition to a youth and family film festival, particular those with a Hispanic or multi-cultural focus. Reviewed by Raj S. KIDS FIRST! Youth Juror KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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HARVEST SHORT FILM Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 5-8 Topic - Family Description - Summer is bitter that it's Fall's turn to shine as she brings along her season. What drives him over the edge are her pesky leaves interrupting his daily activities. He tries to stop her but as we all know, change is inevitable and he learns that he's better off making a new friend. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The animation in Harvest is very cute, as are the character designs and colors. The storyline tells how Summer is upset that Fall is approaching and tries to stop her from working. I like the use of seasons as metaphors for change, and how this lead to a really cute friendship story. The cinematography is well executed 2D. It's not very unique, but it's completely acceptable. The character designs are very cute, with great representations of Summer and Fall respectively. The setting of this short is very appealing and quaint. I like how it gives off the vibes of a small town neighborhood. The sound effects really help emphasize the jokes, and I really like them. The background music is fun and uplifting. My favorite parts are the animation and the character designs. The overall style and aesthetic of this film is really cute and appealing. The message of the film is that we need to accept change and make the best out of it. I give Harvest 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. It is a very cute and wholesome short and would make a lovely addition to a KIDS FIRST! Film Festival. Reviewed by Calista B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic The storyline tells how Summer is upset that Fall is approaching and tries to stop her from working. I like the use of seasons as metaphors for change, and how this lead to a really cute friendship story. The cinematography is well executed 2D. It's not very unique, but it's completely acceptable. The character designs are very cute, with great representations of Summer and Fall respectively. The setting of this short is very appealing and quaint. I like how it gives off the vibes of a small town neighborhood. The sound effects really help emphasize the jokes, and I really like them. The background music is fun and uplifting. My favorite parts are the animation and the character designs. The overall style and aesthetic of this film is really cute and appealing. The message of the film is that we need to accept change and make the best out of it. I give Harvest 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. It is a very cute and wholesome short and would make a lovely addition to a KIDS FIRST! Film Festival. Reviewed by Calista B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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CATON BERRY Series: SCREENPLAY, AGES 5-10 Topic - Family Description - Jeffrey is a young boy on the autism spectrum who seeks comfort and understanding of the world through his new best friend, a terrier puppy named Ross. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - My Pal Ross as a script that addresses a young boy's isolation, heightened by his being on the Autism Spectrum. The background of the physical elements - an absent father, too busy a mother, coldness of fellow students - needs to be better developed so the audience is aware of the autistic child's world. The script shows intelligence and creativity in the writer's awareness that a sense of magic and art can help ease the extreme hurt of a child and allow her to understand that it is Okay to feel that, but that she has it within herself to rise above. This script could, with more attention, be a very useful tool. Also, animating it might heighten the storyline. I recommend this for ages 5-10 and give it 4 out of 5 stars. Reviewed by Juror #11 KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - My Pal Ross as a script that addresses a young boy's isolation, heightened by his being on the Autism Spectrum. The background of the physical elements - an absent father, too busy a mother, coldness of fellow students - needs to be better developed so the audience is aware of the autistic child's world. The script shows intelligence and creativity in the writer's awareness that a sense of magic and art can help ease the extreme hurt of a child and allow her to understand that it is Okay to feel that, but that she has it within herself to rise above. This script could, with more attention, be a very useful tool. Also, animating it might heighten the storyline. I recommend this for ages 5-10 and give it 4 out of 5 stars. Reviewed by Juror #11 KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-10 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: Screenplay |
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JEREMY ARTHUR Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 2-8 Topic - Family Description - Do your kids find learning grammar to be a boring, anxiety-inducing nightmare? Well, perhaps a comedic sci-fi fantasy fever dream is just what the teacher ordered. Join S, an ill-mannered, self-centered snake, cast down from his realm of ever-growing plurality by a well-meaning, not-so-all-knowing Sun, and sent on a mission to help lonely, young Brad find a friend. Together they uncover some important lessons about subject-verb agreement, but will it be enough to solve poor Brad's growing existential crisis? Spoiler alert: it won't. But the truths they uncover while exploring the Grammar Realm will help people of all ages to establish a firm foundation in English grammar understanding, while allowing their sense of wonder to thrive. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The Grammar Realm is fun and goofy with a glorious combination of bright colors and delightfully quirky characters, plus an out of this world set. The film brings life to learning about numbers, words and grammar. It creates a world of characters representing letters, numbers and words to make learning more fun. I like how this film brings everything together smoothly to help teach these things without preaching. It's a great hook that makes it easier for kids to retain information after viewing. The animation is quite fun and the images are very childlike. The costumes are funny and exaggerated that just add to the silliness of the whole experience. I like the locations being outside with a blue sky and green grass and seeing the tree in the background drinking coffee. It adds to the quirkiness. The outer space location offers a great change of scenery that goes with when they are teaching a different lesson. The background music adds to the quirkiness. The music is really fun and exciting, especially when they are dealing with changing singular status to plural. All the characters are really funny and different. The sun stands out even though the face seemed initially too simple, it grows on you. All the faces are what really make this great. The bright colors and unique quirky style will really attract the attention of young viewers. My favorite part is where Brad is in a state of confusion and spinning. The message of this film is that learning can be fun and it demonstrates how grammar and numbers are used in our everyday lives. I give The Grammar Realm 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. It has an excellent unique style, which makes it a great educational tool. Reviewed by Melissa M., KIDS FIRST! Juror. The film brings life to learning about numbers, words and grammar. It creates a world of characters representing letters, numbers and words to make learning more fun. I like how this film brings everything together smoothly to help teach these things without preaching. It's a great hook that makes it easier for kids to retain information after viewing. The animation is quite fun and the images are very childlike. The costumes are funny and exaggerated that just add to the silliness of the whole experience. I like the locations being outside with a blue sky and green grass and seeing the tree in the background drinking coffee. It adds to the quirkiness. The outer space location offers a great change of scenery that goes with when they are teaching a different lesson. The background music adds to the quirkiness. The music is really fun and exciting, especially when they are dealing with changing singular status to plural. All the characters are really funny and different. The sun stands out even though the face seemed initially too simple, it grows on you. All the faces are what really make this great. The bright colors and unique quirky style will really attract the attention of young viewers. My favorite part is where Brad is in a state of confusion and spinning. The message of this film is that learning can be fun and it demonstrates how grammar and numbers are used in our everyday lives. I give The Grammar Realm 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. It has an excellent unique style, which makes it a great educational tool. Reviewed by Melissa M., KIDS FIRST! Juror. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 1-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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ASAF YECHESKEL Series: FOREIGN SHORT, AGES 8-18 Topic - Family Description - The Series tells the story of two sisters - teenager Michal (Mia Bakowski) and her little sister Ronnie (Bar Minialy), who skipped two classes and now attends high school with her. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - My Sister Skipped a Grade is so cute. The kids are pretty relatable in a very dramatic way. The competition between sisters is pretty common and the added flair of drama makes it really fun to watch. The supporting characters' silly antics also add to the fun. This award-winning Israeli film shows the life of two high school sisters, who are always in competition with each other and constantly struggle to identify with their individual identify and still appreciate each other. I really like the expressiveness and charm of these characters. Each has its own quirks that stand out, such as the leading character Michal's insecurity, which is so obvious on her face and in so many other ways. The background music is used in dramatic moments in a very cheeky, fun way. What stands out is the use of music at times when a problem is attempting to be resolved. It also stands out for the transitional and high moments. The main characters, the sisters, are very good at the dramatic personalities required for this show and it adds to the cute and silly high school drama that ensues. The message of this film is to not let your personal insecurities get in the way of your relationships with your loved ones. I give My Sister Skipped a Grade 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to18. The dialogue is in Hebrew with English includes subtitles. Reviewed by Melissa M. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors This award-winning Israeli film shows the life of two high school sisters, who are always in competition with each other and constantly struggle to identify with their individual identify and still appreciate each other. I really like the expressiveness and charm of these characters. Each has its own quirks that stand out, such as the leading character Michal's insecurity, which is so obvious on her face and in so many other ways. The background music is used in dramatic moments in a very cheeky, fun way. What stands out is the use of music at times when a problem is attempting to be resolved. It also stands out for the transitional and high moments. The main characters, the sisters, are very good at the dramatic personalities required for this show and it adds to the cute and silly high school drama that ensues. The message of this film is to not let your personal insecurities get in the way of your relationships with your loved ones. I give My Sister Skipped a Grade 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to18. The dialogue is in Hebrew with English includes subtitles. Reviewed by Melissa M. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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PIERRE B Series: FOREIGN SHORT, AGES 6-18 Topic - Family Description - A young girl in her age of innocence discovers Rehak, a magical drawing hidden behind her bedroom wall. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Director Pierre B. has an amazing way of bringing animated characters to life in his short film Rehak. In giving life to these characters, each displays a variety of emotions which makes them loveable to adults and children alike. Rehak allows viewers to appreciate childlike minds and imagination, and shows us how childhood memories can become important teachable moments. Rehak and Boo Boo are the very best of friends, with an inseparable relationship, until their "Dream Team" becomes broken. Rehak remains a magical drawing stuck in time hidden behind her bedroom wall while life moves on for her beloved friend Boo Boo. Years pass until Rehak resurfaces and is found by a child named Lilli. The two seem to appreciate each other's company and each appears desperate for a new friend. Rehak shares with Lilli stories of the magical friendship she once shared with Boo Boo. Her stories are incredibly meaningful and filled with such entertainment. I sincerely enjoyed how a magical drawing could inspire us to appreciate such small things in life. Our childlike imaginations have value and are not just for kids. They are worthy of being shared from generation to generation. The cinematography in Rehak is out of this world! The scenes transition so well between animation and live action which brings great life to the drawings. The film takes place within Lilli's bedroom which is dark and lonely. Once Rehak surfaces and tells stories of her past, the room seems to liven up with excitement. The music in Rehak is quite uplifting. In fact, it's the first thing I came to love about this short film. The songs are emotional, dramatic and entertaining, which adds so much to this film. How a magical drawing comes to life and brings such meaning to a film is what I felt to be the most remarkable effect in Rehak. Imagination is not just for kids and deserves to be shared and passed down through generations. Lilli certainly adds so much to this short film, but the character that inspires us the most is Rehak. Rehak delivers such an important message. You can feel the emotions in Rehak's stories and she makes you want to jump right into your mom's lap and ask her to share her own stories of imaginative characters that she once held near and dear to her heart. After watching this short film, I wanted to know if my parents had any imaginary friends when they were younger. I sat down with them immediately and asked for details. My favorite part of the film is the reuniting of the "Dream Team." This scene brings about some drama and suspense and is soon replaced by joy and happiness. The producer and director of this film, Pierre B. has the most star power in Rehak. I would love to see more of his work. The message in Rehak is that imagination is not just for kids. Imagination can inspire people of all ages. I give Rehak 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6-18 plus adults. This is a beautiful film for the family and offers such great teachings about imaginary friends, childhood, spirituality and education. Reviewed by Dominic D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Rehak and Boo Boo are the very best of friends, with an inseparable relationship, until their "Dream Team" becomes broken. Rehak remains a magical drawing stuck in time hidden behind her bedroom wall while life moves on for her beloved friend Boo Boo. Years pass until Rehak resurfaces and is found by a child named Lilli. The two seem to appreciate each other's company and each appears desperate for a new friend. Rehak shares with Lilli stories of the magical friendship she once shared with Boo Boo. Her stories are incredibly meaningful and filled with such entertainment. I sincerely enjoyed how a magical drawing could inspire us to appreciate such small things in life. Our childlike imaginations have value and are not just for kids. They are worthy of being shared from generation to generation. The cinematography in Rehak is out of this world! The scenes transition so well between animation and live action which brings great life to the drawings. The film takes place within Lilli's bedroom which is dark and lonely. Once Rehak surfaces and tells stories of her past, the room seems to liven up with excitement. The music in Rehak is quite uplifting. In fact, it's the first thing I came to love about this short film. The songs are emotional, dramatic and entertaining, which adds so much to this film. How a magical drawing comes to life and brings such meaning to a film is what I felt to be the most remarkable effect in Rehak. Imagination is not just for kids and deserves to be shared and passed down through generations. Lilli certainly adds so much to this short film, but the character that inspires us the most is Rehak. Rehak delivers such an important message. You can feel the emotions in Rehak's stories and she makes you want to jump right into your mom's lap and ask her to share her own stories of imaginative characters that she once held near and dear to her heart. After watching this short film, I wanted to know if my parents had any imaginary friends when they were younger. I sat down with them immediately and asked for details. My favorite part of the film is the reuniting of the "Dream Team." This scene brings about some drama and suspense and is soon replaced by joy and happiness. The producer and director of this film, Pierre B. has the most star power in Rehak. I would love to see more of his work. The message in Rehak is that imagination is not just for kids. Imagination can inspire people of all ages. I give Rehak 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6-18 plus adults. This is a beautiful film for the family and offers such great teachings about imaginary friends, childhood, spirituality and education. Reviewed by Dominic D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 6-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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MIKAEL KYSTER Series: FOREIGN SHORT, AGES 8 -12 Topic - Family Description - Two brothers go on an adventure to save their dying little sister. Danish dialogue with English subtitles. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - I love how The Forgotten World shows the value of the relationships of the siblings! It is appealing because it is constant action and movement. The kids' imaginations and their youth make it really fun to watch. I really enjoyed the storyline. The story follows two brothers who go on an adventure trying to save their dying little sister. The kids get in a disagreement and Bastian get his feelings really hurt. His sister and his mom try to cheer him up and they start to play a different game. Bastian's character evolves into being brave in the process of this high stakes game. I like the story and how the kids use their imagination and how the mom contributes to make the brothers work together in the game to save their sister. The camerawork is quite good, using low angle shots showing Bastian laying on the ground and Selma behind him to help define how defeated and low he is feeling. The same shot is used when they give the sister the antidote. The shaky camera also adds to the fast action confusion effectively. What I like about the sets and locations, which are mostly outside, allow the kids to run about. The background music pinpoints strong and slower moments effectively. The special effects are used quite well, starting at the beginning with fake gun shows and later to show land mines. They are not very believable, but work for the storyline. The characters are played well. Bastian Kyster plays himself and show great expression, especially his highs and lows. Elias Kyster also plays himself and shows sincerity. Selma Kyster, also playing herself, is a good fit because she relates well to the two boys. The production designer stands out because of the carefully designed surroundings. The director also stands out because of the shaky camera use that shows the motion so well. My favorite part is when the little girl gives her hair pin to Bastian for good luck because she wants him to be happy and also the ending, which comes to a satisfactory conclusion. The message of the film is to persevere; push yourself to be better and never give up. You should know that there is a lot of gun play in this film - pretend guns, but still guns. I give The Forgotten World 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. Reviewed by Melissa M., KIDS FIRST! Juror The story follows two brothers who go on an adventure trying to save their dying little sister. The kids get in a disagreement and Bastian get his feelings really hurt. His sister and his mom try to cheer him up and they start to play a different game. Bastian's character evolves into being brave in the process of this high stakes game. I like the story and how the kids use their imagination and how the mom contributes to make the brothers work together in the game to save their sister. The camerawork is quite good, using low angle shots showing Bastian laying on the ground and Selma behind him to help define how defeated and low he is feeling. The same shot is used when they give the sister the antidote. The shaky camera also adds to the fast action confusion effectively. What I like about the sets and locations, which are mostly outside, allow the kids to run about. The background music pinpoints strong and slower moments effectively. The special effects are used quite well, starting at the beginning with fake gun shows and later to show land mines. They are not very believable, but work for the storyline. The characters are played well. Bastian Kyster plays himself and show great expression, especially his highs and lows. Elias Kyster also plays himself and shows sincerity. Selma Kyster, also playing herself, is a good fit because she relates well to the two boys. The production designer stands out because of the carefully designed surroundings. The director also stands out because of the shaky camera use that shows the motion so well. My favorite part is when the little girl gives her hair pin to Bastian for good luck because she wants him to be happy and also the ending, which comes to a satisfactory conclusion. The message of the film is to persevere; push yourself to be better and never give up. You should know that there is a lot of gun play in this film - pretend guns, but still guns. I give The Forgotten World 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. Reviewed by Melissa M., KIDS FIRST! Juror KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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KIM KYUNG JU Series: FOREIGN SHORT, AGES 7-12 Topic - Family Description - Han Young Soon, an old woman, loses her false teeth, Her grandson has taken them. She is going to take profile pictures at a picture studio. Her grandson runs to return her teeth to her before she arrives at the photo studio. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - False Teeth is a very sweet story that focuses on the love of an older Korean woman and her grandson. The story is about a young boy who finds playing with his grandmother's false teeth is fun, to the point of distraction. However, when he loses them, just before his grandmother is scheduled to take a portrait at a photography studio, it's a problem. This short film gives us a lot of insight into Korean culture as we follow the boy and his family going about their daily activities and watching the grandmother take care of her false teeth. The camera work is very well done, with clear shots of their home and community. Watching the grandmother walk through the town shows us the village where this story takes place in rural Korea, a small town amongst vast fields and forests. I enjoyed seeing a part of the world not often represented in media. The little boy and his grandmother have a charming relationship that is sweet, believable and, at times, silly. The grandma's easy-going disposition and her love are the underlying theme of this story. She makes me smile, especially how she handles her situation with the missing teeth when shooting her portrait. Her grandson's mischievousness and light-heartedness abound and you can't help but giggle at him also. The message of the film is that the best smile is a smile of love. I give False Teeth 4 out of 5 stars and recommend this for ages 7 to 12, plus adults. The dialogue is in Korean with English subtitles. Reviewed by Cassidy S. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors. This short film gives us a lot of insight into Korean culture as we follow the boy and his family going about their daily activities and watching the grandmother take care of her false teeth. The camera work is very well done, with clear shots of their home and community. Watching the grandmother walk through the town shows us the village where this story takes place in rural Korea, a small town amongst vast fields and forests. I enjoyed seeing a part of the world not often represented in media. The little boy and his grandmother have a charming relationship that is sweet, believable and, at times, silly. The grandma's easy-going disposition and her love are the underlying theme of this story. She makes me smile, especially how she handles her situation with the missing teeth when shooting her portrait. Her grandson's mischievousness and light-heartedness abound and you can't help but giggle at him also. The message of the film is that the best smile is a smile of love. I give False Teeth 4 out of 5 stars and recommend this for ages 7 to 12, plus adults. The dialogue is in Korean with English subtitles. Reviewed by Cassidy S. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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DENIS THOMOPOULOS Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 3-8 Topic - Family Description - Simon the Hippo and friends go on a song-filled adventure while learning about the world's changing climate, the role that carbon dioxide and methane play, and the good green habits we can all develop to help cool the climate. Along their way the animals find out about topics such as the Greenhouse Effect, the Food Chain, the "Three Rs" (Reducing, Reusing, Recycling), Composting, and Carbon Offsetting. Willing to face the climate crisis, the animal friends then take the steps to help cool the climate - and urge us humans to do the same! KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Cool the Climate can be a very helpful film to kids on climate change. The animation and characters are bright and colorful, the voice overs are very clear. It definitely suits a younger audience and teaches them things that they may not already know that are relevant to climate change. This film is an explanatory film about climate change and how it works, different symptoms, and how to prevent it. It includes lots of songs that illustrate some of the common causes of climate change. I love the bright colored animation and the characters. I like how it explains the causes of climate change, and gives examples. I like all the voiceover actors' voices except one, which is slightly grating. The animation and use of real features of the countries they talk about are excellent. The music is fun and well produced. The voice-over actors include Traylor Howard, Peter Giles, James Makawa, Brian Van Holt, Courtney Watkins, Angela Ledgerwood, Kate Hickey, Tiffany Lerman, The Ferrare family and the Thomopoulos family. The message of this film is that it is really important to keep our planet clean, that climate change causes a lot of destruction to our world and a lot of things contribute to climate change. The call to action is that we need to step it up and save our planet. I give Cool the Climate 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 3 to 8. Reviewed by Julie S. and Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors. This film is an explanatory film about climate change and how it works, different symptoms, and how to prevent it. It includes lots of songs that illustrate some of the common causes of climate change. I love the bright colored animation and the characters. I like how it explains the causes of climate change, and gives examples. I like all the voiceover actors' voices except one, which is slightly grating. The animation and use of real features of the countries they talk about are excellent. The music is fun and well produced. The voice-over actors include Traylor Howard, Peter Giles, James Makawa, Brian Van Holt, Courtney Watkins, Angela Ledgerwood, Kate Hickey, Tiffany Lerman, The Ferrare family and the Thomopoulos family. The message of this film is that it is really important to keep our planet clean, that climate change causes a lot of destruction to our world and a lot of things contribute to climate change. The call to action is that we need to step it up and save our planet. I give Cool the Climate 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 3 to 8. Reviewed by Julie S. and Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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SABA HAMZAVIAN Series: FOREIGN SHORT, AGES 10-15 Topic - Family Description - The story is about a teenage boy that his father promised him an Atari... KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Atari is a simple yet beautifully tailored film that kids will love. Though the color correction makes the film murky and grey, Atari's plot and moral make up for this. Atari follows a boy in an Iranian town who really wants an Atari. His father promises that he will buy him an Atari on his pilgrimage to Mecca, where the video game is far cheaper. But several challenges ensue, and the boy realizes the value of being grateful for what he has, rather than pining for what he wants. The storyline might be simplistic, or what some would consider a template-plot, but the lead actor (unnamed) executes each part of the story convincingly. This short film has a resounding lesson that is clearly delivered. The variety of shots in Atari is awesome; the one thing that I noticed that is a bit odd is the color correction. It seems to be toned to grayscale in all but one or two scenes, and that undermine the beautiful storyline, settings and emotions being felt. Even in happy moments, the grey screen takes away some of the joy the viewer feels for the main character. That being said, I especially like the shots where the main character looks down into the game room where other kids are playing on their Atari or SEGA consoles. All of the clothes the characters in this film wear (t-shirts, jeans, chadors and hijabs) fit the time period and storyline of Atari. The setting for this film is super unique and adds so much to the movie. Farhad Fadakar's portrayal of Iran is very different from the traditional Western image. All of the settings in this film are beautiful! Mosques, mud-brick buildings, the Iranian countryside, roadside shops and even signs congratulating politicians for being elected to the Qanat Council (the group of people who oversee the management of the UNESCO-certified Persian qanat irrigation system). Wow! The music perfectly underscores the actions of the main characters - slower, elevator-style music for scenic panoramas and suspenseful, deeper tracks for eventful sequences enhance the viewing experience. Farhad Fadakar is the director, writer and producer of Atari. The actors are not named. However, every member of the crew and cast truly perform outstandingly in their individual roles. The main character, despite not showing too many overt emotions as is consistent with Western theatre, skillfully acts his part. Fadakar shines in the production department; his cinematography and the way all of the shots blend together show his prowess. One thing that I noticed: one of the characters says that men don't cry, a saying which is slightly emotionally insensitive and stereotypical. But I think that's the only major red flag I noticed. I love the scenes in the Iranian village! The mud-brick buildings, dark passageways and ethos of Persian culture all contribute to making Atari a wonderful short. The message is "being grateful for the things you have is better than pining for the things you don't." I give Atari 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18. Atari has a great plot, above average cinematography, and is overall a superb film for younger kids to watch! It would be particularly suitable for a venue wanting to show films that address Iranian or Arabic culture. Reviewed by Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic The music perfectly underscores the actions of the main characters - slower, elevator-style music for scenic panoramas and suspenseful, deeper tracks for eventful sequences enhance the viewing experience. Farhad Fadakar is the director, writer and producer of Atari. The actors are not named. However, every member of the crew and cast truly perform outstandingly in their individual roles. The main character, despite not showing too many overt emotions as is consistent with Western theatre, skillfully acts his part. Fadakar shines in the production department; his cinematography and the way all of the shots blend together show his prowess. One thing that I noticed: one of the characters says that men don't cry, a saying which is slightly emotionally insensitive and stereotypical. But I think that's the only major red flag I noticed. I love the scenes in the Iranian village! The mud-brick buildings, dark passageways and ethos of Persian culture all contribute to making Atari a wonderful short. The message is "being grateful for the things you have is better than pining for the things you don't." I give Atari 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18. Atari has a great plot, above average cinematography, and is overall a superb film for younger kids to watch! It would be particularly suitable for a venue wanting to show films that address Iranian or Arabic culture. Reviewed by Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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SHAELYN JOHNSTON Series: FOREIGN SHORT, AGES 10-15 Topic - Family Description - Rosie is preparing to dance in her first pow wow, but after Nookomis tells her the origin story of jingle dancing, she worries that she's not as ready as she thought she was. The drums are calling, but will Rosie answer them? KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - I like the short animated film, The Healing Dance, because it is full of culture and brings out many messages relating to important and spiritual topics. The little girl is drawn to the music of the dance and learns about its healing origins in this film. Her grandma encourages her to get out and dance with her heart, to not think about it too much. The girl overcomes her fear and helps heal her community not just from physical sickness, but mental also. A young girl of Native American descent, Rosie, learns the story behind a dance she is most fond of. Her grandmother tells her that a long time ago a girl was very sick and the father of that girl dreamed about women dancing in special dresses. The man then made the dresses and had the women of the tribe do the dance, which healed the girl. The little girl then participates in the dance and helps her people. I like that this film includes some history and not only focuses on the one little girl the whole time. The animation is quite detailed, reflecting the culture. The costumes when the traditional festivities happen are traditional tribal clothing, which are very interesting. The background music is primarily drumming. The music and the dancing are what drives the girl to participate in the activities. Rosie is played by Kailani Austin; Nookomis by Monica M. Benso; the mother by Nicole Cardinal; the father by Douglas Treloar. The voice acting by all is quite good. This short film taught me about the healing dance and what its purpose is. My favorite part is when Rosie pushes away her fears and starts dancing from her heart. Its only short-coming is that it is not full-range animation. I know that will be a draw back for some viewers. I wish the filmmaker had engaged an animator for this so it would have full motion. It tells such a beautiful story, but the lack of full animation holds it back. This film tells a story of lessons, beliefs, and culture. The message is about learning the importance of culture and realizing that nothing should hold you back from pursuing something dear to you and your family. I give The Healing Dance 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 11. I like that it talks a lot about Native Americans and a little bit of the government's affects on them culturally. Reviewed by W., KIDS FIRST! Juror. A young girl of Native American descent, Rosie, learns the story behind a dance she is most fond of. Her grandmother tells her that a long time ago a girl was very sick and the father of that girl dreamed about women dancing in special dresses. The man then made the dresses and had the women of the tribe do the dance, which healed the girl. The little girl then participates in the dance and helps her people. I like that this film includes some history and not only focuses on the one little girl the whole time. The animation is quite detailed, reflecting the culture. The costumes when the traditional festivities happen are traditional tribal clothing, which are very interesting. The background music is primarily drumming. The music and the dancing are what drives the girl to participate in the activities. Rosie is played by Kailani Austin; Nookomis by Monica M. Benso; the mother by Nicole Cardinal; the father by Douglas Treloar. The voice acting by all is quite good. This short film taught me about the healing dance and what its purpose is. My favorite part is when Rosie pushes away her fears and starts dancing from her heart. Its only short-coming is that it is not full-range animation. I know that will be a draw back for some viewers. I wish the filmmaker had engaged an animator for this so it would have full motion. It tells such a beautiful story, but the lack of full animation holds it back. This film tells a story of lessons, beliefs, and culture. The message is about learning the importance of culture and realizing that nothing should hold you back from pursuing something dear to you and your family. I give The Healing Dance 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 11. I like that it talks a lot about Native Americans and a little bit of the government's affects on them culturally. Reviewed by W., KIDS FIRST! Juror. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-11 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS Series: FEATURE, AGES 6-14 Topic - Family Description - Marco, 12, is obsessed with his iPad and hardly leaves the house. But when his grandmother dies and his grandfather moves in, Marco's life is turned upside-down and he's forced...to go play outside. "Nonno" (Grandpa) introduces him to bocce ball and to the neighborhood crew of old Italian men who play daily at the local court. With sport, laughter and love, Marco finds connection to other people and rounds up a team of neighborhood kids to take on Marco's grandfather and his pals. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - see youth comments KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Team Marco is a wonderful, heartwarming and sweet movie. This family-friendly fun comedy will have you laughing, bring you joy and inspire you to seize each day. This movie is about a boy named Marco (Owen Vaccaro) who is insanely addicted to video games. When his grandmother dies and his house nearly burns down, his grandpa, Nonno (Anthony Patellis), moves in. Nonno is extremely bothered with his grandson's obsession with video games. Nonno will not stand for this and takes measures into his own hands. He decides to take away all of Marco's electronics and forces him to play outside. Nonno teaches Marco his favorite sport - bocce ball. Can Marco and his team of friends beat Nonno and his gang of neighborhood Italian bocce ballers in a bocce ball tournament? This movie was written, directed and produced by Julio Vincent Gambuto, and it is his first feature film. This story is inspired by a real-life experience. About four years ago, when Julio was visiting his nieces and nephews, he noticed that his nephew, Marco, didn't even greet him when he arrived at their house because his head was buried in his electronics. This sparked the idea for his movie. The film takes place in Julio's beloved hometown, Staten Island, NY. It was filmed on location, which was very important to Julio. He loves his hometown community and was passionate about it being filmed on Staten Island. My favorite characters are Nonno and Marco. I really like the performances of Anthony Patellis because of his dry sense of humor and his love of family, which shines through. He is very entertaining while playing the cranky grandpa battling technology. Owen Vaccaro convincingly plays the "pre-teen techie" Marco. I can relate to his love of electronics and his struggles trying to balance Nonno's desire for conversation, friendship and connecting through Nonno's favorite sport, bocce ball. My favorite part of the movie is when Nonno is trying to figure out the Google Assistant. The main message of the movie is to be present when around your family. This film shows technology is not always bad, and in fact connects us. It also reminds everyone that, while technology will be around forever, your family will not be. Cherish the time you have with your family. I give Team Marco 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 to 14, plus adults. Team Marco will be released on most streaming platforms November 20, 2020. Look for it. Reviewed by Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12 KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 6-14 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm |
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NETFLIX Series: FEATURE, AGE 5-18 Topic - Family Description - It's been two years since siblings Kate (Darby Camp) and Teddy Pierce (Judah Lewis) saved Christmas, and a lot has changed. Kate, now a cynical teenager, is reluctantly spending Christmas in Cancun with her mom's new boyfriend (Tyrese Gibson) and his son Jack (Jahzir Bruno). Unwilling to accept this new version of her family, Kate decides to run away. But when a mysterious, magical troublemaker named Belsnickel threatens to destroy the North Pole and end Christmas for good, Kate and Jack are unexpectedly pulled into a new adventure with Santa Claus (Kurt Russell). Written and directed by Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Harry Potter) and co-starring Goldie Hawn, THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES: PART TWO is an action-packed adventure for the whole family that's full of heart, humor, and holiday spirit. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - see youth comments KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - I like The Christmas Chronicles 2 because it is a heartwarming film, full of magic and adventures which makes it so fun to watch. Santa Claus is not the typical Santa we are used to seeing in other movies. This Santa is a type of daredevil Santa. If you watched The Christmas Chronicles in 2018, you must know that Kate (Darby Camp) and her brother Teddy (Judah Lewis) are friends with Santa Claus, played by the one and only Kurt Russell. Kate's mom and her boyfriend Bob (Tyrese Gibson) take Kate, Teddy and Jack (Jahzir Bruno), Bob's son, to celebrate Christmas in Cancun, Mexico. Kate doesn't want to be there as she misses her dad who passed away two years ago. An evil kid named Belsnickel (Julian Dennison) wants to destroy Santa and uses Kate to get to the North Pole to do his dirty deed. Jack follows her so they both end up at the North Pole and that's when ALL the adventure begins! My favorite part is when Jack picks two of Mrs. Claus' special homemade cookies - confidence and bomb. When he needs confidence he forgets which one of the cookies is confidence and almost eats the cookie bomb. The graphics and digital effects are amazing. The reindeers and the cougar look real. The music is very appealing in every scene. The costumes are very seasonal. Mrs. Claus (Goldie Hawn) gives this movie a special touch, which makes this film different from the first movie. Mrs. Claus creates Santa's Village and takes good care of it. The movie mentions how it should be called Mrs. Claus Village, which gives this character the importance she deserves because, in reality, she is the person behind Santa, supporting him, taking care of him and his business. The moral of this movie is to move on, be happy and let others be happy. Throughout the film we learn that Kate doesn't like her mom's new boyfriend and doesn't want Bob substituting for her dad. Santa shows her that family is everything and that they matter the most, so why not cherish that her mom is happy because she found love again in Bob? Kate needs to accept that her mom loves Bob and that doesn't mean she stops loving her dad. She needs to understand her mom deserves to be happy. Life continues; people need to move on. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. The Christmas Chronicles 2 comes out on Netflix on November 25, 2020, so get your hot chocolate and cookies or popcorn ready to enjoy this magical film! Reviewed by Ethan P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12 KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm |
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HULU, LLC Series: TV SERIES, AGES 8 TO 18 Topic - Family Description - They're back! The Warner brothers, Yakko and Wakko, and the Warner sister Dot, have a great time wreaking havoc and mayhem in the lives of everyone they meet. After returning to their beloved home, the Warner Bros. water tower, the siblings waste no time in causing chaos and comic confusion as they run loose through the studio, turning the world into their personal playground. Joining Yakko, Wakko and Dot, fan-favorite characters Pinky and the Brain also return to continue their quest for world domination. Animaniacs is an American animated television series developed by Steven Spielberg for steaming service Hulu. It is a revival of the original 1993 television series of the same name. The new series sees the return of the Warner Brothers, Yakko and Wakko and their sister Dot (voiceovers by Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell and Tress MacNeille), and of Pinky and the Brain (voiceover by Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche). The first season is set to premiere on Hulu November 20, 2020. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - see youth comments KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Animaniacs is back giving us tons of entertainment! Don't expect to see reruns with this rebooted animated series. Showrunner Wellesley Wild nails the creation of fresh and relevant content, while keeping the same hilarious craziness of the original series. The series is about the Warner siblings Wakko, Yakko and Dot who are crazy and wild characters found on the Warner Bros. Studio. The episodes follow them as they get into trouble running around the Warner Bros. Studio lot and while meeting other characters. The new season picks up 22 years later, after they were locked away. Now we get to see their new adventures as they learn more about the current world around them and all the changes that have happened. Director Steven Spielberg brings back the same characters and many of the original voice actors. The main characters are the Warner brothers and sister - Wakko (Jess Harnell), Yakko (Rob Paulsen) and Dot (Tress MacNeille). The setting for the series is the classic Warner Bros. Studio lot and the lot's water tower. It's hilarious to see the characters run around the lot learning about things that didn't exist two decades ago like tablets, climate change, Ubers, cat-fishing, YouTubers and Amazon drones. Ralph the security guard (Frank Welker) even has new tricks he can use to catch the Warner siblings, such as a net connected to a drone. The show was updated to a wide-screen format and to make it more gender balanced and diverse. In the premiere episode, Dot points out that Warner Bros. now has a Black female CEO. Shorts like The Warner Kids and Pinky and The Brain also return with new content. It's a clever way to see how the other characters are doing after meeting the Warner siblings. The Warner siblings and the rest of the cast always find a way to have fun in each episode. The message of this series is to find a way to stay fun, positive and happy despite the craziness in the world. I will note that there are some scenes or jokes that viewers may not get unless they followed the original series, but you will still laugh. Animaniacs is a great mix of kid-friendly education and slapstick comedy, deserving 5 out of 5 stars and a recommendation for ages 5 to 18. Adults are sure to love it too especially if they are fans of the original series. The new season of Animaniacs debuts on Hulu on November 20. By Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10 KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: TV |
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WHISTLEFRITZ LLC Series: AUDIO CD FOR AGES 3-9 Topic - Family Description - Irresistible salsa, merengue, flamenco, and Andean rhythms introduce kids to the vibrant music, language, and culture of the Spanish-speaking world, as they learn Spanish along the way. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The CD Buenos Dias! Spanish Learning Songs from Whistlefritz gives a terrific sample of traditional musical styles representing Spanish culture. The music ranges from lively salsa rhythms to slower lullabies. Most songs are original, but the songs "Manzanita de Peru," "Arbolito de Peru" and "Duermete Mi Nino/Mi Nina" include traditional lyrics with new music and arrangements. The songs have catchy Spanish lyrics, repetitive sentence frames and English translations included in the liner notes. Word-by-word translation guides are contained on the Whistlefritz website. A couple of the songs describe the weather ("Buenos Dias, Amiguitos") and making introductions ("Como Se Llama La Llama?"). "El Tamal No Esta Mal" portrays a picky eater whom others entice with different foods. "Hagamos Musica" and "Sonidos del Flamenco" describe traditional Spanish instruments such as the guitar and castanets and their sounds. Listeners can sing about the fun eggshell tradition in "Cascarones." "Se Habla Espanol" lists countries where Spanish is spoken. "Mi Osito" would appeal to younger children as the speaker searches for a lost teddy bear. There are songs for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. The artists Jorge Anaya, Ileana Perez and Didier Prossaird perform the songs expertly with pleasant voices matching the mood and humor of the songs. All in all the 15 tracks offer the listener exposure to different Spanish musical styles, traditions and language. I give this CD 4 out of 5 stars and recommended it for ages 5 to 9. Reviewed by Christine R., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - I like Buenos D�as: Spanish Learning Songs CD because it is very pleasant and electrifying to listen to. It has kid-friendly songs that make it easy to learn Spanish at the same time you are dancing to the songs. This CD has 15 songs and is about 40 minutes of fun. The singers are award-winning soprano Ileana P�rez and Jorge Anaya, who is a songwriter too. Didier Prossaird is in charge of the fantastic music. The CD includes each song's lyrics and its translation in English as well as a tool to help the listeners learn Spanish. This CD helps the children to learn how to count, how to say words in Spanish, how to be nice to others and teaches about things like costumes or typical traditions related to Spanish language countries. My favorite songs are number two, "Como se Llama la Llama?" (What's the Lama's Name?), because it is so catchy and fun to listen to. I also like number four, "Sonidos del Flamenco" (Sounds of Flamenco) because it is so peaceful and soothing. I even picked up some words that I didn't know. This CD can be a very productive tool to teach Spanish in preschool or elementary classrooms. This CD's songs transports you to different countries, teaches you about different cultures and offers different types of musical rhythms to dance to. If you have Hispanic roots, it makes you feel proud of where your parents or ancestors come from and helps you to appreciate your background. I give Buenos Dias Spanish Learning Songs 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 12. This CD is out now and it can be a very useful Christmas gift. So go get it pronto! Reviewed by Ethan P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12 Buenos Dias! Spanish Learning Songs is the perfect album to teach young kids the Spanish language! Each song is fun and has a great beat to keep kids entertained while learning. The songs are also extremely catchy. This CD is aimed for preschool and early elementary children to learn how to speak Spanish. Whistlefritz, the CD's producer is known for their work in teaching languages through music. It's comforting to know you will be taught how to speak the language the correct and proper way. The artists and singers, Jorge Anaya, Ileana Perez and Didier Prossaird sing the various songs on the CD. Each song is short, around one to two minutes long. The lyrics are fairly easy to learn and the basic Spanish words can be picked up quickly. There are translations in English as well. My favorite song is "Como Se Llama La Llama?" (What's the Llama's Name?). The beat is of merengue music, making you want to dance along. Some of the other songs focus on holidays, like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. It's the perfect album to listen to year round. There are also great lullabies like "Duermete Mi Nino" and "Duermete Mi Ni�a" for bedtime listening. This CD's purpose is to teach young children how to speak Spanish. Some of the songs tell stories and others are lullabies. The first track is named "Buenos Dias, Amiguitos" (Good Morning, Little Friends), which serves as the welcome introduction to the soundtrack. I give Buenos Dias! Spanish Learning Songs 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 9. It is available to order at www.Whistlefritz.com now. Look for it. By Heather S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14 !Buenos D�as! Spanish Learning Songs is an eclectic and happy collection of children's music that lifts the spirits from the moment you play the first song. It is great, not only for multicultural families, but also for those that love to explore different cultures, discover traditions from other countries and learn a second language. I love how diverse this compilation of children songs is. You can enjoy different rhythms from different countries including Mexico, Peru and Colombia from South America and also flamenco from Spain. You can sing and dance along with the songs to the beats and sounds of salsa, merengue and Caribbean tunes from traditional children's songs from Spanish speaking countries. Families can enjoy !Buenos D�as! Spanish Learning Songs musically and as a learning experience as well. The CD comes with a booklet with lyrics in Spanish and their English translations, so parents and kids can learn while they sing. The lyrics contain a great amount of basic vocabulary about animals, nature, food, music and human relationships. The selections of songs, recording, arrangements and production is of the highest quality. The voice of Cuban-American Soprano singer Ileana Perez is beautiful and her Spanish enunciation is very clear. The musical production is impeccable and it is also an enriching experience while learning music. The 15 tracks in !Buenos D�as! Spanish Learning Songs are all enjoyable. I recommend !Buenos D�as! Spanish Learning Songs for kids ages 2 to 10, as well as the whole family. I give it 5 out of 5 stars for its exceptional music quality and the fascinating learning experience. It's available now, so look for it. Reviewed by Zoe C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12 KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-9 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.99 Media: AUDIO Buy Here (from WHISTLEFRITZ LLC) |
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1922 FILMS Series: DOCUMENTARY, AGES 8-18 Topic - Family Description - An authentic, intimate depiction of the contemporary cowboy, COWBOYS: A DOCUMENTARY PORTRAIT straps audiences in the saddle alongside working men and women on some of today's largest and most remote cattle ranches in the American West. Told genuinely and reverently through first-hand accounts from cowboys in the deepest, most isolated parts of America, the timeless documentary illustrates not only the rewards of a cowboy's lifestyle but also the unvarnished hardships of a celebrated but misunderstood way of life. Utilizing their extensive collective backgrounds, co-directors John Langmore (published ranch photographer and former working cowboy) and Bud Force (rodeo cowboy turned award-winning director/DP) provide an aesthetically mesmerizing, sure-handed look at how Western traditions have found a way to coexist with society's modern achievements. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - I like Cowboys: A Documentary Portrait because it held my interest and I learned a lot about cowboys that I didn't know before. I like learning about their lifestyle, their customs, traditions and habitat. This movie documents how cowboys and their families live in some of the most isolated ranches in America and it teaches the audience about the cowboy lifestyle and duties. Being a cowboy is like any other profession, with the difference that it is not an easy job. A cowboy's job is mostly physical. They raise cows and bulls to make a living. They make lots of sacrifices like not being with their family, because they spend a lot of hours working. Even though cowboys work all year, they only get paid once or twice a year. My favorite part is when a cowboy's young wife shares what it is like to be married to a cowboy. They live isolated and far away from town. It takes her nine hours to drive to town to go grocery shopping. She makes sure her two little children don't get injured, because even the hospital is far away. This movie was filmed at eight different ranches. The aerial shots showing the landscapes are amazing. This film documents the importance and value of being a cowboy, showing the audience how being a cowboy is a profession. It is not just the hat, the boots or riding a horse. It is more than that and it is not easy to be one. The background music is well selected. You should be aware that there are some gory scenes that are not suitable for smaller children. The theme of this film is to see the cowboys for what they do, not for who they are. People only see their outfits and their horses; they think that's all they are. People don't see they are hard-working professionals that make sacrifices living in isolation, working long hours in the fields. Cowboys are a very important part of this country. Not everybody is born to be a cowboy. I give Cowboys: A Documentary Portrait 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18 plus adults. This film will be released November 17, 2020. Mark your calendar so you don't miss it! Reviewed by Ethan P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12 KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm |
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APPLE TV Series: TV SERIES, AGES 2-9 Topic - Family Description - Hailing from DreamWorks Animation and based on Dan Yaccarino's "Doug Unplugged" book series, "Doug Unplugs" follows a young robot named Doug who senses there's more to life than just the facts. While other robots plug in for their daily download, curious Doug unplugs and journeys into the human world, and with his best friend Emma, experiences its wonders firsthand. "Doug Unplugs" is executive produced by Jim Nolan, Aliki Theofilopoulos and Dan Yaccarino, and stars the voice talents of Brandon James Cienfuegos, Kyrie McAlpin, Eric Bauza, Mae Whitman, Leslie David Baker and Becky Robinson. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - see youth comments KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - I like the animated series Doug Unplugs because it blends fun and education. I like how vibrant the characters are and how I learn something new from each episode. Every episode also has music incorporated into it, which adds another fun element to the show. Doug Unplugs is an AppleTV+ series about a six-year-old robot named Doug (Brandon James Cienfuegos) who unplugs to visit the human world to learn about things. He gets together with his best friend Emma (Kyrie Mcalpin), who teaches him about a bunch of stuff from her world--whether it's explaining what table tennis is or describing what people do at a beach. Doug is full of curiosity, while Emma is always excited about what she can show her friend next. They have a bunch of new experiences together and always seem to be having a good time. My favorite character is Emma because she is super outgoing and gets excited about everything. She reminds me of myself, since I'm outgoing too. I also like how there are songs in the episodes. They mostly are upbeat songs that help you remember something special about the episode. Sometimes they get stuck in your head because they are pretty catchy. The animation of this series is full of color and is really cute. Brandon (who voices Doug) and Kyrie (who voices Emma) have perfect voices for their characters. They both have good energy, which makes you want to watch the next episode to see what adventure they will go on. If you like learning about things, you'll enjoy watching this series. The message of the film is to always be curious about things and don't be afraid of trying something new. Just because you are unfamiliar with something doesn't mean you should be scared of it. You might learn something and have fun doing it. I know I was a little scared to try snow skiing, but once I tried it, I had so much fun--even thought I might have fallen a few times. I give Doug Unplugs 5 out of 5 stars and recommend the series for ages 2 to 9, although adults will probably enjoy watching this series with their kids because they might learn something, too. Doug Unplugs is available now, so check it out on Apple TV+. Reviewed by Cadence G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11 KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-9 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: TV |
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JO MEURIS Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 4-14 Topic - Family Description - Once upon a time, there was a little girl who fell in love with a beautiful horse named Aurora. Expressively animated in a naive drawing-style that evokes children's drawings and the texture of storybook illustrations, Aurora is a bittersweet story about love, friendship, and growing up. The storyline follows a young girl named Jojo who befriends a horse named Aurora. When Aurora is given away, Jojo's heart breaks. As time passes the young girl learns to cope with the ache of growing up and missing a friend. The premise of this story is one that anyone can able to relate to - a simple story about a young girl and her horse translates to anyone's personal story about their missed love one. Everything starts so vibrantly colored. However, in one scene everything is different. When consoled by her family, everything is gray except Jojo's hair bows and her heart. The one distinct portion of the costuming is the set of bows at the end of her hair. These accentuate Jojo's vibrancy and youth. The simple set compliments the story. The set comprises green grass and apple trees. The music heavily impacts the way we feel about the scenes. During a sad moment the octave is taken down and we experience that sadness along with Jojo. Bravo to Jo Meuris herself for an outstanding story and lovable narration. The crisp art style makes this animation perfect for the big screen. The message of this film is: growing up doesn't mean forgetting your childhood; you grow from your experiences. As an adult, Jojo closes her eyes and goes back to a place with old friends. It is there that we see Aurora once again. I give Aurora 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 14, plus adults. Reviewed by Stephanie O., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror The storyline follows a young girl named Jojo who befriends a horse named Aurora. When Aurora is given away, Jojo's heart breaks. As time passes the young girl learns to cope with the ache of growing up and missing a friend. The premise of this story is one that anyone can able to relate to - a simple story about a young girl and her horse translates to anyone's personal story about their missed love one. Everything starts so vibrantly colored. However, in one scene everything is different. When consoled by her family, everything is gray except Jojo's hair bows and her heart. The one distinct portion of the costuming is the set of bows at the end of her hair. These accentuate Jojo's vibrancy and youth. The simple set compliments the story. The set comprises green grass and apple trees. The music heavily impacts the way we feel about the scenes. During a sad moment the octave is taken down and we experience that sadness along with Jojo. Bravo to Jo Meuris herself for an outstanding story and lovable narration. The crisp art style makes this animation perfect for the big screen. The message of this film is: growing up doesn't mean forgetting your childhood; you grow from your experiences. As an adult, Jojo closes her eyes and goes back to a place with old friends. It is there that we see Aurora once again. I give Aurora 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 14, plus adults. Reviewed by Stephanie O., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 4-14 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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WC PRODUCTIONS Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 7-12 Topic - Family Description - Global warming doesn't just affect human families. Our tale tells the story of a mother/daughter "berg" who break off from their glacier. As they drift helplessly, slowly melting in globally warmed water, things really heat up. They must evade capture by greedy bottled water companies and find their way to cooler waters to save their lives. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - A Tale of Two Icebergs gives a kid-friendly and eye-opening insight about the dangers of global warming. In less than six minutes the film manages to inform and engage its audience. The stylized animation is distinctive and charming, which furthers the overall likeability of this animated short. We get nervous, relieved and hopeful for two icebergs. When I began to feel empathy for these inanimate protagonists, I knew the film was well executed. A Tale of Two Icebergs is a short animated film about global warming. When a mother and daughter iceberg break off from the rest of their glacier, they must evade water bottle companies and find cool water to survive. The story is very well organized. There is no time wasted. The film introduces its audience to the conflict as soon as it begins. As the film progresses we are introduced to the many complications that have resulted from global warming. In the beginning, there is one scene in particular that caught my attention. The camera slowly zooms in through tall glaciers, only to reveal the melting ice behind it. It is a very clever way to reveal the current damage. The film takes place in a place populated with glaciers. After global warming breaks them apart, the set becomes a large body of water. This location is expected and works well to deliver the story's message. The background music compliments the tone of the film. The moment we meet them, we begin rooting for Glacia and her daughter Crystal. We are given reasons to worry about both of the girls as soon as we realize the danger they are about to face. I was interested to learn that luxury water is sourced directly from icebergs. When a water bottling company selects Crystal as their next target, her mother thinks quickly and punctures the ship with her sharp-ended underside. The highest quality setting for this animated film is 480p. I have to say that I am a little nervous to see how this film will play on the big screen. The message of this film is that humans are causing danger to the environment and something needs to be done, soon! I give A Tale of Two Icebergs 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. The film delivers an important message in a way that would capture and hold the attention of young viewers. Reviewed by Stephanie O., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror. A Tale of Two Icebergs is a short animated film about global warming. When a mother and daughter iceberg break off from the rest of their glacier, they must evade water bottle companies and find cool water to survive. The story is very well organized. There is no time wasted. The film introduces its audience to the conflict as soon as it begins. As the film progresses we are introduced to the many complications that have resulted from global warming. In the beginning, there is one scene in particular that caught my attention. The camera slowly zooms in through tall glaciers, only to reveal the melting ice behind it. It is a very clever way to reveal the current damage. The film takes place in a place populated with glaciers. After global warming breaks them apart, the set becomes a large body of water. This location is expected and works well to deliver the story's message. The background music compliments the tone of the film. The moment we meet them, we begin rooting for Glacia and her daughter Crystal. We are given reasons to worry about both of the girls as soon as we realize the danger they are about to face. I was interested to learn that luxury water is sourced directly from icebergs. When a water bottling company selects Crystal as their next target, her mother thinks quickly and punctures the ship with her sharp-ended underside. The highest quality setting for this animated film is 480p. I have to say that I am a little nervous to see how this film will play on the big screen. The message of this film is that humans are causing danger to the environment and something needs to be done, soon! I give A Tale of Two Icebergs 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. The film delivers an important message in a way that would capture and hold the attention of young viewers. Reviewed by Stephanie O., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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WC PRODUCTIONS Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 7-12 Topic - Family Description - Mother and daughter icebergs, Glacia and Crystal, have been forced to break away from their glacier community in the Arctic Ocean, due to global warming and are now drifting for their lives. They have escaped certain death at the hands of the greedy " Iceberg Bottled Water Company" but now face an even greater enemy - warm ocean water that's melting them. A gang of walruses, however, might prove to be their saviors. Barry, the walrus leader, promises to steer them towards the Cold Stream, the purest, coldest, bluest water they've ever seen. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - people about the dangers of climate change. Through fun and clever characters, kids and adults alike can learn about one of the most dangerous threats to our livelihood. The storyline follows a mother iceberg who joins a walrus and a seagull to find a better escape for her and her daughter from the evil water bottle company warming their seas. I like the simplicity of the story and the way it could be easily followed by young people. The animation is 2D and fairly simple. At times the colors are a bit confusing, but for the most part the animation is well executed with interesting camera angles and shots that serve its purpose. The backgrounds are simple and allow you to focus on the characters. The voiceover talent is excellent with good definition between the different character's voices. They truly capture the essence of the animals and icebergs that they portray. I loved the dynamic between the mother and daughter icebergs. They are so cute and funny. This short film would work great in a classroom setting but is also suitable for 1:1 viewing. The theme of the film is about the importance of saving the environment before it is too late. I give A Tale of Two Icebergs 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 12, plus adults. This would play well in KIDS FIRST! Film Festivals, particularly any that are focusing on the environment or climate change. Reviewed by Erin M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic The storyline follows a mother iceberg who joins a walrus and a seagull to find a better escape for her and her daughter from the evil water bottle company warming their seas. I like the simplicity of the story and the way it could be easily followed by young people. The animation is 2D and fairly simple. At times the colors are a bit confusing, but for the most part the animation is well executed with interesting camera angles and shots that serve its purpose. The backgrounds are simple and allow you to focus on the characters. The voiceover talent is excellent with good definition between the different character's voices. They truly capture the essence of the animals and icebergs that they portray. I loved the dynamic between the mother and daughter icebergs. They are so cute and funny. This short film would work great in a classroom setting but is also suitable for 1:1 viewing. The theme of the film is about the importance of saving the environment before it is too late. I give A Tale of Two Icebergs 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 12, plus adults. This would play well in KIDS FIRST! Film Festivals, particularly any that are focusing on the environment or climate change. Reviewed by Erin M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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CHRISTIAN PERRY CASTRO Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 2-8 Topic - Family Description - Three Pigs. Three houses. One wolf with an enormous lung capacity. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Sockz Theatre's Three Little Pigs' set is whimsical. It's cool to see how different everyday materials are used. I also like how each characters has a certain instrument or music associated with it. It's a fun story, that is perfect for younger audiences. The storyline tells the classic tale of the three little pigs, where three pigs each build a different type of house and the wolf tries to blow each one down. But it's told with sock puppets and a set made of everyday found objects. I like how each pig has its own personality and shares a little about its house. The wolf has a couple of cute and funny lines, even though he's mean. The camera work pretty much stays the same the whole time and it's well executed. The costumes on the sock puppets are super cute, especially for the wolf. The wolf puppet has a bunch of cute details; I like that it is purple and yellow, like the Vikings. The set is adorable. It is fun to figure out what was used to make the background and props, because everything looks like it is made from stuff you might find around your house. There is background music attached to the characters and it sets a particular tone for what is going to happen next. The music used for the wolf, for example, has a bit of a scarier tone, so you know he's the villain. Eric Tsuchiyama and Christian Perry Castro are the dynamic duo of taking on multiple roles for this production - directing, writing and voice acting. My favorite parts are the set design and clever writing. I love the ending comment when the wolf delivers a funny line that plays on words. The message of the film is about making smart decisions. It's beneficial to plan ahead and be prepared if something bad happens. Although this storyline isn't anything new, what is new is how the film shows that you can make cool-looking things from stuff that you already have. I give Sockz Theatre's Three Little Pigs 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8, plus adults. It's a fun, short, appealing film that tells a classic tale in a cute way with a very appealing set. And I love that it uses puppets, which you rarely see in films. Reviewed by Cadence G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic The storyline tells the classic tale of the three little pigs, where three pigs each build a different type of house and the wolf tries to blow each one down. But it's told with sock puppets and a set made of everyday found objects. I like how each pig has its own personality and shares a little about its house. The wolf has a couple of cute and funny lines, even though he's mean. The camera work pretty much stays the same the whole time and it's well executed. The costumes on the sock puppets are super cute, especially for the wolf. The wolf puppet has a bunch of cute details; I like that it is purple and yellow, like the Vikings. The set is adorable. It is fun to figure out what was used to make the background and props, because everything looks like it is made from stuff you might find around your house. There is background music attached to the characters and it sets a particular tone for what is going to happen next. The music used for the wolf, for example, has a bit of a scarier tone, so you know he's the villain. Eric Tsuchiyama and Christian Perry Castro are the dynamic duo of taking on multiple roles for this production - directing, writing and voice acting. My favorite parts are the set design and clever writing. I love the ending comment when the wolf delivers a funny line that plays on words. The message of the film is about making smart decisions. It's beneficial to plan ahead and be prepared if something bad happens. Although this storyline isn't anything new, what is new is how the film shows that you can make cool-looking things from stuff that you already have. I give Sockz Theatre's Three Little Pigs 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8, plus adults. It's a fun, short, appealing film that tells a classic tale in a cute way with a very appealing set. And I love that it uses puppets, which you rarely see in films. Reviewed by Cadence G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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VICTORIA LAUREN Series: INDIE ENVIRONMENTA SHORT, AGES 4-8 Topic - Family Description - While Wizard the Blue Dart Frog tries to find his new home and searches for his friend Frazzie the monkey, Toucan Petey and Blinky the Tree Frog walk through the rainforest, now bare from deforestation and wildfires. Despite Frazzie's directions, Blinky is certain they are lost! He hops onto Toucan Petey's back and the two fly away, searching for Frazzie. In outer space, Frazzie visits NBA star Nikola Vucevic on the Eco Space Station, needing advice on how to save the rainforest. Nikola teaches Frazzie about conservation and awareness: it's the only way to save what's left of the rainforest and help it regrow. Before he leaves, Nikola encourages Frazzie to save and heal the rainforest. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The animated film Planet Blue - Journey to Eco is incredibly appealing. I couldn't look away. The story is fascinating and the message is extremely important. The voice over actors are excellent as is the storyline. The story is about a group of animals trying to save the rainforest. Even though the story is pretty basic, I enjoyed the film. I like the idea of animals trying to prevent what humans have done to the rainforest, and portraying that through a creature's eyes is very clever. This film is a combination of live action and animation. The animated characters are cute. I especially like the frog and the bird the best. My favorite parts of the film are the live images of the rainforest; they are really beautiful. The sets are very well designed. The first set is an animated rainforest and is very realistic. The next set is my favorite. It shows a rainforest burning. The director smartly uses actual pictures of a rainforest, which makes this set come alive. The last set is a spaceship, which is pretty basic. The background music is well selected and provides a good auditory platform for the film. The theme song is terrific. It's well performed and captivating. I found myself humming it afterwards. There are four animated characters - a frog, a monkey, a toucan and another frog. The voice over actors were well selected and have pretty amazing backgrounds, from Nikola Vucevic who is a NBA All Star with the Orlando Magic to Kerry Butler, a Broadway performer and Rickey Boyd, known for his work on Sesame Street and the Muppets. Rickey Boyd also directs the film and you can see his extensive background here as he delivers a fine film. The message of the film is about the importance of saving the rainforest. I give Planet Blue - Journey to Eco 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 8, even younger kids might enjoy this visually. It has an important and timely message about the environment. Reviewed by Sandrine A. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors. Even though the story is pretty basic, I enjoyed the film. I like the idea of animals trying to prevent what humans have done to the rainforest, and portraying that through a creature's eyes is very clever. This film is a combination of live action and animation. The animated characters are cute. I especially like the frog and the bird the best. My favorite parts of the film are the live images of the rainforest; they are really beautiful. The sets are very well designed. The first set is an animated rainforest and is very realistic. The next set is my favorite. It shows a rainforest burning. The director smartly uses actual pictures of a rainforest, which makes this set come alive. The last set is a spaceship, which is pretty basic. The background music is well selected and provides a good auditory platform for the film. The theme song is terrific. It's well performed and captivating. I found myself humming it afterwards. There are four animated characters - a frog, a monkey, a toucan and another frog. The voice over actors were well selected and have pretty amazing backgrounds, from Nikola Vucevic who is a NBA All Star with the Orlando Magic to Kerry Butler, a Broadway performer and Rickey Boyd, known for his work on Sesame Street and the Muppets. Rickey Boyd also directs the film and you can see his extensive background here as he delivers a fine film. The message of the film is about the importance of saving the rainforest. I give Planet Blue - Journey to Eco 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 8, even younger kids might enjoy this visually. It has an important and timely message about the environment. Reviewed by Sandrine A. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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SHOORVEER TYAGI Series: FOREIGN INDIE SHORT, AGES 7-18 Topic - Family Description - Tvisha and Bhakti study in a remote village school. Every day for some reason they end up being punished and are thrown out of their classrooms. While, Younger Tvisha is chirpy, brimming with energy; Older Bhakti is gloomy & shy. Despite their unlikeness they gradually discover friendship outside the classroom. Somewhere inside the forest, Bhakti has a secret little place. Soon, Tvisha too joins as both patiently wait for the magic to unfold. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The superb cinematography, interesting storyline and nuanced characters make Jaadoo (The Magic) an entertaining watch. It's clear that the team behind this film knows exactly what they're doing. The beautiful shots of the Indian village and jungle tell so many amazing stories, the plot is vibrant yet easy to follow and the characters' personalities have so many facets! Two girls named Tvisha and Bhakti become friends as they are made to stand outside of class (as punishment) together. Bhakti shows Tvisha her secret hiding spot in the forest, and many adventures (and some magic) ensue. I love the character of Tvisha as well as the cinematography in this film! The storyline is uniquely Indian, from strict teachers in a quaint village schoolhouse to floating boats on a magical lake. I love how coherent each scene is. The story flows from one shot to the next, with artistic flourishes in between. And I love how each major plot point of the story mounts up to the moral. The crystal clear resolution and amazing, creative shots in Jaadoo (The Magic) really do add to the story. I especially love the shot where two paper boats are floating on the water together, side by side. Perfectly abiding by the rules of thirds, this shot has so many possible interpretations (friendship, wishes traveling together, etc.) and the stark contrast of white paper boats and the blue-hued water is beautiful. The attire worn by the characters - school uniforms, saris, kurtas - all fit the time period and storyline of this film. The film is set in an Indian village and then, in a dense, lush jungle. I love the quaint setting and how the production team captured the surroundings so well. They complement the story well and give the entire film a sort of 'Panchtantra' (Indian fable) feel. The only music is in the last scene when the girls are throwing their paper airplanes into the air and off the cliff. This is perfect because the music serves to both wrap up and add an aura of hope to the movie. The rest of the movie is best without music because it allows for the ambient sound to shine. There's a massive team behind Jaadoo (The Magic), but there are some people who really stand out in their roles. Shoorveer Tyagi, director, writer and producer of the film, shows his prowess in all three fields. The script feels conversational and like something that two young girls would actually say. The direction and production quality are both amazing as well. Archali Killekar and Chandni Valvi play Bhakti and Tvisha respectively and both excel in their roles. Tvisha's innocence and chirpiness perfectly fits the aloof Bhakti. RS Vikal puts on a superb performance as the old basket-weaver in the forest. His is probably the most 'underrated' role. The cinematography by Krishnna S. Banjan, as has been established, is amazing and the sound designers Ved Nair and Tarun Sharma balance the ambient track with the voices of the characters. Kudos to the whole team! The message of this film is to dream sky-high, appreciate your talents and remember that friendship can come out of even the most mundane of circumstances. It does have some negative behavior such as when the schoolteacher hits and berates his students (including Tvisha and Bhakti) and the girls' parents are disrespectful and mean at points. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 18, plus adults. It has excellent cinematography, deep characters and a professional overall look. This could be considered special interest for an Indian or Asian festival. Reviewed by Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic The storyline is uniquely Indian, from strict teachers in a quaint village schoolhouse to floating boats on a magical lake. I love how coherent each scene is. The story flows from one shot to the next, with artistic flourishes in between. And I love how each major plot point of the story mounts up to the moral. The crystal clear resolution and amazing, creative shots in Jaadoo (The Magic) really do add to the story. I especially love the shot where two paper boats are floating on the water together, side by side. Perfectly abiding by the rules of thirds, this shot has so many possible interpretations (friendship, wishes traveling together, etc.) and the stark contrast of white paper boats and the blue-hued water is beautiful. The attire worn by the characters - school uniforms, saris, kurtas - all fit the time period and storyline of this film. The film is set in an Indian village and then, in a dense, lush jungle. I love the quaint setting and how the production team captured the surroundings so well. They complement the story well and give the entire film a sort of 'Panchtantra' (Indian fable) feel. The only music is in the last scene when the girls are throwing their paper airplanes into the air and off the cliff. This is perfect because the music serves to both wrap up and add an aura of hope to the movie. The rest of the movie is best without music because it allows for the ambient sound to shine. There's a massive team behind Jaadoo (The Magic), but there are some people who really stand out in their roles. Shoorveer Tyagi, director, writer and producer of the film, shows his prowess in all three fields. The script feels conversational and like something that two young girls would actually say. The direction and production quality are both amazing as well. Archali Killekar and Chandni Valvi play Bhakti and Tvisha respectively and both excel in their roles. Tvisha's innocence and chirpiness perfectly fits the aloof Bhakti. RS Vikal puts on a superb performance as the old basket-weaver in the forest. His is probably the most 'underrated' role. The cinematography by Krishnna S. Banjan, as has been established, is amazing and the sound designers Ved Nair and Tarun Sharma balance the ambient track with the voices of the characters. Kudos to the whole team! The message of this film is to dream sky-high, appreciate your talents and remember that friendship can come out of even the most mundane of circumstances. It does have some negative behavior such as when the schoolteacher hits and berates his students (including Tvisha and Bhakti) and the girls' parents are disrespectful and mean at points. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 18, plus adults. It has excellent cinematography, deep characters and a professional overall look. This could be considered special interest for an Indian or Asian festival. Reviewed by Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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LAST CONKER LTD Series: FOREIGN ENVIRONMENTAL SHORT, AGES 8-18 Topic - Family Description - he Promise is an urban fairy tale that plays out on the mean streets of a mean city. Here, a young thief tries to snatch an old woman's bag but she cannot have it without giving something in return: The Promise. It is the beginning of a journey that will change her life and a chance to change the world for good. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The indie animated film The Promise is one of the most beautiful and compelling movies I have ever seen. It is fascinating, with a conflict running throughout the entire film, and has beautiful animation. The characters are richly defined, and the voice acting is brilliant. The storyline is about a thief that is forced to make a promise. I like the hopefulness of the story, and found that compelling. At every moment, I wondered what was going to happen next. The entire story sizzles with conflict, making me wonder what would happen next. This film had impressive animation - simple, but beautiful with a hidden depth to the story. I especially like the shots at the beginning, which depicts a cold setting and later, the growing flowers, which are richly defined. The film looks beautiful, thanks to its beautiful animation. The editing is well done, especially in the montage when the character is stealing. What attire that the main character wears immediately shows the audience a lot about her and the environment she lives in. The background are brilliant. The first set is a city with dark gray tones which gives it a depressive mood. The next is a flowering city, bright and colorful, carrying a sense of hope that made me very happy. The final set is the same city as the opening one, but a lighter gray. The background music and sound have a great effect on the film. My favorite is the music used when the city starts flowering, bringing with it a hopeful tone. The music drives the action of the film by making the events seem more hopeful and exciting. The characters include a young girl, an old lady and a boy. The narrator's voice, which is my favorite, is very well acted. The other voice acting, which is minimal, is also well done. There are two messages in this film. The first is that people can always change for the better. The second message is that humanity must care for the environment. You should know that it does have some negative behavior - nothing violent. One borderline inappropriate moment is that the protagonist steals to survive. It also shows the main character being stolen from again. Plus, it shows kids doing risky things that kids might imitate. The film made me want to learn more about the environment and what exactly I can do to help the environment. My favorite part of the film is the moment where the city starts flowering and the music swells. The film has some star power in Katie Leung who plays the thief, Olivette Cole-Wilson and Shobhit Piasa. I give The Promise 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. The film is beautiful and has a compelling message that everyone needs to hear. Reviewed by Sandrine A., and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors. The storyline is about a thief that is forced to make a promise. I like the hopefulness of the story, and found that compelling. At every moment, I wondered what was going to happen next. The entire story sizzles with conflict, making me wonder what would happen next. This film had impressive animation - simple, but beautiful with a hidden depth to the story. I especially like the shots at the beginning, which depicts a cold setting and later, the growing flowers, which are richly defined. The film looks beautiful, thanks to its beautiful animation. The editing is well done, especially in the montage when the character is stealing. What attire that the main character wears immediately shows the audience a lot about her and the environment she lives in. The background are brilliant. The first set is a city with dark gray tones which gives it a depressive mood. The next is a flowering city, bright and colorful, carrying a sense of hope that made me very happy. The final set is the same city as the opening one, but a lighter gray. The background music and sound have a great effect on the film. My favorite is the music used when the city starts flowering, bringing with it a hopeful tone. The music drives the action of the film by making the events seem more hopeful and exciting. The characters include a young girl, an old lady and a boy. The narrator's voice, which is my favorite, is very well acted. The other voice acting, which is minimal, is also well done. There are two messages in this film. The first is that people can always change for the better. The second message is that humanity must care for the environment. You should know that it does have some negative behavior - nothing violent. One borderline inappropriate moment is that the protagonist steals to survive. It also shows the main character being stolen from again. Plus, it shows kids doing risky things that kids might imitate. The film made me want to learn more about the environment and what exactly I can do to help the environment. My favorite part of the film is the moment where the city starts flowering and the music swells. The film has some star power in Katie Leung who plays the thief, Olivette Cole-Wilson and Shobhit Piasa. I give The Promise 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. The film is beautiful and has a compelling message that everyone needs to hear. Reviewed by Sandrine A., and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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SOEUN PARK Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 8-13 Topic - Family Description - Three bored girls, home during the pandemic, play a game of copycats, leading to unintended consequences. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - CopyCats is a really good short film because it is perfect for the time we are living in now. It is the perfect short film for the current moment and could help a lot of kids understand the situation we are all in and try to connect better with friends and even people who they haven't really talked to that they want to get to know. CopyCats follows three girls who are struggling at keeping busy at home and decide to play a game together on a video call. Like many, Kristy, Sam and Rachel are all bored out of their minds because of the quarantine and they decide to have a group call. Each girl acts out the other and, at first, it seems harmless, but it ends up hurting some. Kristy ends up getting her feelings hurt the most because Sam goes too far with the copying. Each girl has a completely unique personality and I love that. I like that we get an idea about how people are feeling with family members who are nurses from Kristy. I like the diversity shown in the film and the awareness it shows of this extremely difficult time. The camera work is pretty good; most of it was screen recorded from the girls' computers. The locations are inside the girls' bedrooms mostly. I like seeing how each girl's room was decorated and how it resembled their characteristics. Kristy is played by Kyriana Kratter; Rachel is played by Raya Sunshine; Sam is played by Abigail Taylor. Kristy stands out to me the most because she shows a lot more emotion than the others. My favorite part of this film is when Sam apologizes for being mean and all the girls start laughing at their impressions of each other. It shows that even when things get a little bumpy you can always get back up and have a good time. The message of this film is to not make fun of someone no matter what the circumstances are, because you don't know what the other is going through. I give CopyCats 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 13. Reviewed by Winter F., KIDS FIRST! CopyCats follows three girls who are struggling at keeping busy at home and decide to play a game together on a video call. Like many, Kristy, Sam and Rachel are all bored out of their minds because of the quarantine and they decide to have a group call. Each girl acts out the other and, at first, it seems harmless, but it ends up hurting some. Kristy ends up getting her feelings hurt the most because Sam goes too far with the copying. Each girl has a completely unique personality and I love that. I like that we get an idea about how people are feeling with family members who are nurses from Kristy. I like the diversity shown in the film and the awareness it shows of this extremely difficult time. The camera work is pretty good; most of it was screen recorded from the girls' computers. The locations are inside the girls' bedrooms mostly. I like seeing how each girl's room was decorated and how it resembled their characteristics. Kristy is played by Kyriana Kratter; Rachel is played by Raya Sunshine; Sam is played by Abigail Taylor. Kristy stands out to me the most because she shows a lot more emotion than the others. My favorite part of this film is when Sam apologizes for being mean and all the girls start laughing at their impressions of each other. It shows that even when things get a little bumpy you can always get back up and have a good time. The message of this film is to not make fun of someone no matter what the circumstances are, because you don't know what the other is going through. I give CopyCats 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 13. Reviewed by Winter F., KIDS FIRST! KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-13 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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MATHIEU GAUVREAU Series: FOREIGN ANIMATED SHORT, AGES 5-15 Topic - Family Description - A man wakes up one morning and finds out something essential is missing. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The silly humor in The Feet without the Mouth makes it very appealing! The exaggerated loss of his mouth makes it hilarious. I love the nonsensical personification of the mouth. What adds to the hilarity is that seeing him in his pajamas, even when he chases it outside. The storyline follows a man starting his day, enjoying his coffee and reading his paper. He realizes that he is missing his mouth when his coffee spills as he tries to drink it. He then goes on an adventure trying to get his mouth back onto his face. The camera work is well done, especially the close-ups of the coffee and the newspaper, which gets your curiosity up. The medium shots that focus on his phone and his mouth add to the effect. It is non-narrative, but his facial expressions well express the story. I like when he chases his mouth, trying to catch it. The comedy of those scenes is well executed. His wearing pajamas is an important aspect of the story, because he has to chase his mouth while dressed in the pajamas and it adds another humorous touch. he set of the kitchen through the introduction to the problem made the problem easy to identify and also added to the element of normalcy he was trying to enjoy. The background classical music (from the Nutcracker Suite) supports the film. It's very energetic and engages the viewer in the preposterous of the whole thing. The effect of the mouth almost having a mind of its own is also very effective. It is certainly not believable, but it is effective. The biggest drawback is in the way that you can easily see the flesh-colored tape over the man's mouth. It is certainly a low tech way of implementing his lack of a mouth, but even a young child would see that it's just taped over. Hugo Coelho plays the man character and his performance is spot on. He tends to overact the role, which is perfect. It reminds me of Buster Keaton or some of the classic silent film stars. They certainly overacted their roles in order to get across the humor. Hugo's face is very expressive and his physical movements fit the character to a tee. My favorite part of the film is when the music climaxes and we see his face when he realizes his mouth is missing. The message of this short film is to appreciate what you have and don't spend all your time trying to change things. Enjoy the things that you still have. This film is of value to all people that may have obstacles in life or are trying to overcome disabilities or setbacks as a reminder to remember what good there is in their life. I give The Feet Without the Mouth 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 15, plus adults. Reviewed by Melissa M., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror The storyline follows a man starting his day, enjoying his coffee and reading his paper. He realizes that he is missing his mouth when his coffee spills as he tries to drink it. He then goes on an adventure trying to get his mouth back onto his face. The camera work is well done, especially the close-ups of the coffee and the newspaper, which gets your curiosity up. The medium shots that focus on his phone and his mouth add to the effect. It is non-narrative, but his facial expressions well express the story. I like when he chases his mouth, trying to catch it. The comedy of those scenes is well executed. His wearing pajamas is an important aspect of the story, because he has to chase his mouth while dressed in the pajamas and it adds another humorous touch. he set of the kitchen through the introduction to the problem made the problem easy to identify and also added to the element of normalcy he was trying to enjoy. The background classical music (from the Nutcracker Suite) supports the film. It's very energetic and engages the viewer in the preposterous of the whole thing. The effect of the mouth almost having a mind of its own is also very effective. It is certainly not believable, but it is effective. The biggest drawback is in the way that you can easily see the flesh-colored tape over the man's mouth. It is certainly a low tech way of implementing his lack of a mouth, but even a young child would see that it's just taped over. Hugo Coelho plays the man character and his performance is spot on. He tends to overact the role, which is perfect. It reminds me of Buster Keaton or some of the classic silent film stars. They certainly overacted their roles in order to get across the humor. Hugo's face is very expressive and his physical movements fit the character to a tee. My favorite part of the film is when the music climaxes and we see his face when he realizes his mouth is missing. The message of this short film is to appreciate what you have and don't spend all your time trying to change things. Enjoy the things that you still have. This film is of value to all people that may have obstacles in life or are trying to overcome disabilities or setbacks as a reminder to remember what good there is in their life. I give The Feet Without the Mouth 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 15, plus adults. Reviewed by Melissa M., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-15 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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RICHARD SERGEANT Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 8 TO 18 Topic - Family Description - Six-year-old Trish loves her daddy so much that she waits for him at the door every day to give him a cuddle as he returns from work. From Australia KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - In a short four minutes, Daddy establishes such a deeply loving relationship between a young girl and her father. It is so sweet how the little girl watches the clock every day and anticipates the time he will arrive home from his work day. The relationship she has with her father is what every child deserves. The actors' warmth and smiles truly show their deep love for each other. The story begins showing the little girl excitedly anticipating her daddy's arrival home from work every day at 5:30. She likes to prepare him a snack or draw him a picture. She is there by the door waiting his return and runs into his arms for a tight embrace until one day he doesn't appear. I really like how the film shows the strong relationship between the father and his daughter. The camera work is outstanding. The close-ups of the girl's face and the expressions on her face tell the story without the need for words. When she is in focus and everything else is out of focus, her reaction to what was happening is so clear. The set is quite simple, yet effective. The background music is pretty subtle throughout and changes at end to show how everything changes in a split second. What is confusing to me is what happened to the father. Obviously he dies and everyone's lives change. But we don't know what happened or why. The end words "COME HOME SAFE! YOUR FAMILY IS WAITING!" sort of made me think there is blame on the dad for not staying safe. Having lost a family member to a murder, when he was "in the wrong place at the wrong time" it makes me wonder what happened and why. I am not keen on those ending words. The characters all give excellent performances. The little girl's behavior goes from all out exuberance to complete sadness, which we see in her facial expressions and body movement. The changes in her demeanor make the most significant impact from the film. The editing also stands because they effectively show the change of emotion as the film develops. A lot is said in just a few short minutes. My favorite scene is the powerful scene where the young girl stands in the hallway while her mom opens the door and talks to someone, then collapses in tears. It is incredibly sad but so moving seeing all those emotions and seeing the girl taking everything in. The take away I get from this is: Life is too short. Cherish what you have because you never know when you will not have it anymore. Don't take things for granted. I give Daddy 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. I think it is way too sad for kids under age 8 to watch, plus there is the question of "what happened." Reviewed by Melissa M. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors The story begins showing the little girl excitedly anticipating her daddy's arrival home from work every day at 5:30. She likes to prepare him a snack or draw him a picture. She is there by the door waiting his return and runs into his arms for a tight embrace until one day he doesn't appear. I really like how the film shows the strong relationship between the father and his daughter. The camera work is outstanding. The close-ups of the girl's face and the expressions on her face tell the story without the need for words. When she is in focus and everything else is out of focus, her reaction to what was happening is so clear. The set is quite simple, yet effective. The background music is pretty subtle throughout and changes at end to show how everything changes in a split second. What is confusing to me is what happened to the father. Obviously he dies and everyone's lives change. But we don't know what happened or why. The end words "COME HOME SAFE! YOUR FAMILY IS WAITING!" sort of made me think there is blame on the dad for not staying safe. Having lost a family member to a murder, when he was "in the wrong place at the wrong time" it makes me wonder what happened and why. I am not keen on those ending words. The characters all give excellent performances. The little girl's behavior goes from all out exuberance to complete sadness, which we see in her facial expressions and body movement. The changes in her demeanor make the most significant impact from the film. The editing also stands because they effectively show the change of emotion as the film develops. A lot is said in just a few short minutes. My favorite scene is the powerful scene where the young girl stands in the hallway while her mom opens the door and talks to someone, then collapses in tears. It is incredibly sad but so moving seeing all those emotions and seeing the girl taking everything in. The take away I get from this is: Life is too short. Cherish what you have because you never know when you will not have it anymore. Don't take things for granted. I give Daddy 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. I think it is way too sad for kids under age 8 to watch, plus there is the question of "what happened." Reviewed by Melissa M. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Jurors KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
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FENOMEN TV, FILM & SCENE AS Series: FOREIGN DOCUMENTARY, AGES 10 - 18 Topic - Family Description - Charlie is 10 years old and diagnosed with Asperger's. He is proud of his diagnosis but sometimes he wishes he could be more like the other boys in his class. Feeling different makes him feel left out at times. Because of his Asperger's Charlie struggles with team sports. But he has found two things he loves to do, surfing and dancing. We follow Charlie through ups and downs at this years surf camp. Freom Norway, in English, filmed in Ireland. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - I really liked the documentary Charlie Surfer because it shows that you can accomplish anything, no matter the conditions, when you put your mind to it. Charlie was diagnosed with autism, but leads a very normal life. He has a goal to be able to floss while surfing before his summer camp ends. He tries over and over again and never gives up, despite his many failures. Charlie is a ten-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome. He attends a summer camp for surfing and has an objective to floss while on the surf board. Charlie practices many times and fails many times, but he pushes through. Charlie looks on the bright side of things and tries to forget about the bad. I like seeing the encouragement his family provides to Charlie and how his little sisters are right by his side. The scenes when Charlie is surfing are very impressive. I also loves how the camera sinks into the ocean when Charlie falls because it is like the viewer sinks with him. I love the beach location; it is super beautiful and the whole short film wraps around Charlie learning to surf in the ocean. The background music in this short film helps put a smile on your face as you watch Charlie grow at surfing. The director, Pia Str�mme, really captures Charlie and his family well. She not only targets Charlie at surf camp, but also reveals some of his life at home with his family. My favorite part of this film is when one of Charlie's surfer instructors tells him to focus on the fun of surfing and not the pain of when you get hurt. The message of the film is to never give up, no matter how many times you fall. I give Charlie Surfer 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 8 to 15, plus adults. This short film gives a really important message and is inspiring. Reviewed by Winter F., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Charlie is a ten-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome. He attends a summer camp for surfing and has an objective to floss while on the surf board. Charlie practices many times and fails many times, but he pushes through. Charlie looks on the bright side of things and tries to forget about the bad. I like seeing the encouragement his family provides to Charlie and how his little sisters are right by his side. The scenes when Charlie is surfing are very impressive. I also loves how the camera sinks into the ocean when Charlie falls because it is like the viewer sinks with him. I love the beach location; it is super beautiful and the whole short film wraps around Charlie learning to surf in the ocean. The background music in this short film helps put a smile on your face as you watch Charlie grow at surfing. The director, Pia Str�mme, really captures Charlie and his family well. She not only targets Charlie at surf camp, but also reveals some of his life at home with his family. My favorite part of this film is when one of Charlie's surfer instructors tells him to focus on the fun of surfing and not the pain of when you get hurt. The message of the film is to never give up, no matter how many times you fall. I give Charlie Surfer 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 8 to 15, plus adults. This short film gives a really important message and is inspiring. Reviewed by Winter F., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-15 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: Screenplay |
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AIKO HILKINGER Series: SCREENPLAY, AGES 5-12 Topic - Family Description - Two young girls solve problems created by magical creatures only they can see KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Kate and Ava is an adventure/fantasy. It is a journey into learning how to cope, learn from one another and listen. It is well written. Author introduces reader to strong characters and their development lends to future episode. Author has a strong visual sense of locations, sets, color and language. She uses a solid mix of humor with wisdom; age old wisdom of good battling evil. The final comment by the younger Kate that 'the coolest part...we actually found a way to help people. And Creatures too' indicates more episode of lessons and adventure as these two clever girls and their pink bunny are called back into the other worldly forest to solve problems which exist no matter the realm. Reviewed by Juror #11. KIDS FIRST! KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kate and Ava is an adventure/fantasy. It is a journey into learning how to cope, learn from one another and listen. It is well written. Author introduces reader to strong characters and their development lends to future episode. Author has a strong visual sense of locations, sets, color and language. She uses a solid mix of humor with wisdom; age old wisdom of good battling evil. The final comment by the younger Kate that 'the coolest part...we actually found a way to help people. And Creatures too' indicates more episode of lessons and adventure as these two clever girls and their pink bunny are called back into the other worldly forest to solve problems which exist no matter the realm. Reviewed by Juror #11. KIDS FIRST! KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-112 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: Screenplay |
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MARLENE HOCHMAN Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 4-10 Topic - Family Description - Queen Marlene's Toy Museum and Friends," is produced by The Toy Museum of NY. With over 21 years of experience working with children, families, teachers and students, the Museum has created a series of educational and entertaining films to enable anyone from anywhere to enjoy a visit to the Toy Museum. Hosted by Queen Marlene, who is also the Founder of The Toy Museum of NY, the castle serves as the Museum's home and provides the perfect setting for giving tours and teaching young audiences about toys in a fun way. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Queen Marlene's Toy Museum and Friends: Traffic Safety Toys makes use of a formula that is proven across the board to work for young children, mimicking higher-budget shows you might see on Disney Junior or a similar platform. The story follows Queen Marlene who has a busy day ahead as she prepares to open the Toy Museum for the day and exhibit traffic safety toys to the guests. The viewer learns, alongside her friends, what it means to obey traffic safety rules and stay safe. The film presents an important message to children in a fun and enticing way, using loveable characters and silly scenes. Children will be drawn to the colorful characters and all Queen Marlene's friends. For the most part, the production is quite well made. I appreciate the drawn backgrounds that stand in place of an actual set. At times the cinematography falls a bit short. For example, the green screen work is not as transparent as one would hope. On the other hand, I was greatly impressed by the professional use of puppets and the acting. The costumes are whimsical and fun! They reflect exactly what children might picture when thinking of a castle, a queen, guards, cooks, butlers and similar. They are exaggerated, but in a charming manner. Some of them are just outrageously fun. There seem to be one or two sets, while optimizing a green screen to create others. Converting the castle and its rooms into blocky, colorful pieces that look like a child's drawing is a smart way to work within a smaller budget. The music and sound effects are clear and concise, and definitely enhance the story. The sound in this film carries the story development without overshadowing it. One can appreciate how the creators stayed within their budget by creating purposefully childlike special effects, mirroring children's colors and drawings. While they are not real, they are particularly effective, especially to young viewers. I was pleasantly surprised by the acting. Each actor has excellent delivery, impressive facial expressions, and helps make clear the safety issues of the film. The guards in particular stand out as a delightful comedic duo. With a few technical investments, this certainly could work on television. The message of the film is that traffic rules are created to make us safe. When we follow them, we help ourselves and the people around us. I give Queen Marlene's Toy Museum and Friends: Traffic Safety Toys 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 8. It would easily fit into any film festival focused on teaching preschoolers life lessons. Reviewed by Cassidy S., KIDS FIRST! Juror. The story follows Queen Marlene who has a busy day ahead as she prepares to open the Toy Museum for the day and exhibit traffic safety toys to the guests. The viewer learns, alongside her friends, what it means to obey traffic safety rules and stay safe. The film presents an important message to children in a fun and enticing way, using loveable characters and silly scenes. Children will be drawn to the colorful characters and all Queen Marlene's friends. For the most part, the production is quite well made. I appreciate the drawn backgrounds that stand in place of an actual set. At times the cinematography falls a bit short. For example, the green screen work is not as transparent as one would hope. On the other hand, I was greatly impressed by the professional use of puppets and the acting. The costumes are whimsical and fun! They reflect exactly what children might picture when thinking of a castle, a queen, guards, cooks, butlers and similar. They are exaggerated, but in a charming manner. Some of them are just outrageously fun. There seem to be one or two sets, while optimizing a green screen to create others. Converting the castle and its rooms into blocky, colorful pieces that look like a child's drawing is a smart way to work within a smaller budget. The music and sound effects are clear and concise, and definitely enhance the story. The sound in this film carries the story development without overshadowing it. One can appreciate how the creators stayed within their budget by creating purposefully childlike special effects, mirroring children's colors and drawings. While they are not real, they are particularly effective, especially to young viewers. I was pleasantly surprised by the acting. Each actor has excellent delivery, impressive facial expressions, and helps make clear the safety issues of the film. The guards in particular stand out as a delightful comedic duo. With a few technical investments, this certainly could work on television. The message of the film is that traffic rules are created to make us safe. When we follow them, we help ourselves and the people around us. I give Queen Marlene's Toy Museum and Friends: Traffic Safety Toys 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 8. It would easily fit into any film festival focused on teaching preschoolers life lessons. Reviewed by Cassidy S., KIDS FIRST! Juror. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 4-10 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: VIDEO |
