Longing and Belonging: Best of 2017 Children’s Film Festival Seattle

We are delighted to present, for the first time ever, The Best Live Action Short Film Reel from the 2017 Children’s Film Festival of Seattle! This collection of live action shorts show how kids all over the world long for the same things: to love, to laugh, to share time with their families, and to find their passions. Get globally aware as you meet sweet children who dream of their homeland, boys and girls passionately drawn to the arts, best friends who must overcome bullying, a boy who learns a big lesson about his parents, and an Alaskan Yup’ik teen who competes not for himself, but for his whole community.

Displacement
Yemeni children share their experiences of being refugees, as they recount what they have seen and what they miss.
Malaysia, 2016 / Arabic w/English subtitles / Shatha Alghabri / 5 min / Live Action

Valentino
Valentino hears less, and feels more. He will grow up to be a musician.
Brazil, 2014 / Brazilian sign language w/English subtitles / Cassiana Maranha / 3 min / Live Action

The Debt
Ten-year-old Daithi is afflicted with a serious crush, but will his feelings get in the way of his loyalty to his best friend?
Ireland, 2016 / English / Helen Flanagan / 12 min / Live Action

Shirin’s Dream
After a young girl is turned down for a part in the school play, her teacher learns a lesson about persistence and ingenuity.
Iran, 2016 / Farsi w/English subtitles / Maryam Abdoli / 15 min / Live Action

Mr. and Mrs. Kim
A Korean-American boy makes up a glamorous story about his parents, but then discovers that their real story is something he can be much more proud of.
USA, 2016 / English and some Korean w/English subtitles / Jaehuen Chung / 15 min / Live Action

I am Yup’ik
Yup’ik teenager travels across hundreds of miles of frozen tundra to compete in a basketball tournament and bring pride to his village.
USA, 2016 / in English and Yup’ik w/English subtitles / Daniele Anastasion, Nathan Golon / 17 min / Live Action