Providence Children’s Film Festival Represents Young Rhode Island Talent as Part of 10th Annual International Event

Films by kids and teens from RI to Russia featured in Youth Filmmaker Showcase

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence Children’s Film Festival (PCFF) announces the works of young Rhode Island filmmakers from Barrington to Woonsocket at this year’s 10th annual “A Decade of Wonder” Film Festival. The Providence Children’s Film Festival’s Youth Filmmaker Showcase takes place February 22 and 24 as part of the Festival’s full entourage of films, activities, workshops and community collaborations from February 15 to 28.

Works by young Rhode Island filmmakers will be represented along with films from young people around the world at this year’s Youth Filmmakers Showcase.

“The Youth Filmmaker Showcase has become such a popular show that PCFF has two volumes in the Festival this year to present amazing films created by young minds from Rhode Island and around the world,” said Eric Bilodeau, Program Director for PCFF. “Volume One is created for a slightly older crowd with themes that teens can appreciate and subject matter that may be inappropriate for younger audiences.”

The juried collection of youth (ages 5-17) producing animation, live action, experimental and documentary films in this year’s Youth Filmmakers Showcase was produced by youth ages 7 to 17 and celebrates their creative vision and stories from around the world. Films were juried by Bilodeau and a community of jury members.

Youth Filmmaker Showcase, Volume One
Youth Filmmakers Showcase Volume One screens Friday, February. 22 at the RISD Museum’s Metcalf Auditorium. Live music from local youth musicians starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. screening and a filmmaker Q & A.

Films invited to the Volume One show are from filmmakers across the globe, from Los Angeles (GREY HEART) to Taiwan (DRAGONS OF MARITTEN) and features films from young filmmakers from Woonsocket (CHOICES), Barrington (CLUELESS, DESPERATE, ANYTHING HELPS!, BROAD DAYLIGHT) and Providence (DASHED).

Nearly all the films in this reel are live action shorts with one animation. The narrative themes vary as much as the personalities of the filmmakers themselves: trying to catch the eye of a boy at school, being the best high school runner at all costs, planning a heist during an eclipse, and showing how intense bullying can lead to lethal consequences. There’s comedy, tragedy, suspense and music. Several filmmaking organizations are back this year: RAW Art Works (Lynn, MA), Public Television Service of Taiwan (Taipei, Taiwan), and Beacon Charter High School (Woonsocket, RI). We also welcome our newest filmmaking group, the Rhode Island School for the Deaf.

Volume One films include: Broad Daylight (Barrington, RI); Choices (Woonsocket, RI); Clueless (Barrington, RI); Dashed (Providence, RI); Desperate, Anything Helps! (Barrington, RI); Dragons of Maritten; Grey Heart; Infinity; My Black Is and Wanderer. All films are in English or with English subtitles. Running time is approximately 92 minutes. Recommended for ages 13+ (Parental guidance: Intense bullying, profanity, alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, suicide, inference of rape).

Youth Filmmaker Showcase, Volume Two
Youth Filmmaker Showcase Volume Two is for all ages. Films invited to this show come from young filmmakers across the globe, including Croatia (JUMP IS MY WEAPON), Russia (THE DOG’S STORY) and Canada (LILY GOES FISHING). The United States is also represented with films from Charlottesville VA (MARGO) to Jacksonville FL (ASTRONAUT STARBRIGHT) and Chicago IL (MR. ORANGE AND BABY SNOT). Also included are films from young New Englanders from Lincoln and Lynn MA (IGNORE THEM, MY BLACK IS…); Woonsocket (BRILLIANT MOTION, HOME AWAY FROM HOME); Barrington (DESPERATE, ANYTHING HELPS!) and Providence (ABOUT ME).

“The film styles in Volume Two are eclectic, representing multiple forms of animation, short narrative fictions, documentaries and an experimental film,” said Bilodeau. “Beware that after watching this reel, you might find beekeeping appealing or want to become an astronaut or perhaps fall in love with the cello.”

Volume Two films include: Astronaut Starbright; Brilliant Motion (Woonsocket, RI); Desperate, Anything Helps! (Barrington RI); Home Away From Home (Woonsocket, RI); Ignore Them; Jump is my Weapon; Lily Goes Fishing; Margo; Memory; Mr. Orange and Baby Snot; My Black Is; Parker Bubblegum; Sweet Childhood; The Dog Story and The Squirrel. All films are in English or with English subtitles. Running time is approximately 85 min. Recommended for all ages.

Live music from local youth musicians starts at 3:00 p.m. on February. 24 at the RISD Museum, followed by a filmmaker Q & A.