The Summer Reading Program, sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS), is a cooperative effort among libraries in Rhode Island to motivate children and teens to read for pleasure and to help them maintain their reading skills during the summer months. The Providence Children’s Film Festival joins an amazing roster or storytellers, performers and organizations participating in  the 2017 Rhode Island summer reading program.

Teen Film Workshops: Build A Better World
More than watching movies. Film can be a source of inspiration and a creative tool to educate and effect change. Teen participants will learn about the language of film and work together to make a film project that shares their voices about how they might “build a better world”.

Participating Libraries + Schedule of Appearances:
Contact local library to sign up for workshops.

7/12/2017 – Wednesday, 02:30 PM William Hall Library
7/13/2017 – Thursday, 03:00 PM South Kingstown Public Library
7/17/2017 – Monday, 03:00 PM Harmony Library
7/18/2017 – Tuesday, 02:30 PM Cranston Public Library
7/18/2017 – Tuesday, 06:30 PM East Smithfield Public Library
7/20/2017 – Thursday, 06:00 PM Jamestown Philomenian Library
8/01/2017 – Tuesday, 06:00 PM Barrington Public Library
8/02/2017 – Wednesday, 06:00 PM Cumberland Public Library
8/08/2017 – Tuesday, 06:30 PM Rogers Free Library
8/10/2017 – Thursday, 06:00 PM Marian J. Mohr Library

What better place to watch a story than in a world full of stories?  Free Festival library programming is presented in partnership with and support from Media Smart Libraries, Providence Community Library, Warwick Public Library and Providence Athenaeum.

To amplify and broaden the reach of our programming, PCFF collaborates with organizations in Rhode Island that share our mission and vision that ALL youth deserve access to great visual stories that delight and challenge our audiences along with the skills to be their own creative media makers. For more information about the Festival including film schedule, film descriptions, trailers and a full list of community partners, click here.

Film Screening: Gotta Be Me (PCFF Curated Shorts Collection)
@ Providence Athenaeum – 251 Benefit Street, Providence
Tuesday, February 21, 10:30 AM – 11:40 AM
As Henry David Thoreau stated in Walden: “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” GOTTA BE ME! has stories of people and animals trying to figure out just who their drummers are. Often, the search is as much fun as the beat.
Ages: All ages / Multi-national 2015-2016 / In English or no dialogue / 68 min
Limited space. Pre-registration strongly recommended. Visit www.pcffri.org for details.

Mini Doc Film Screening: Ashley Bryan’s World
@ Providence Athenaeum – 251 Benefit Street, Providence
Tuesday, February 21, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM – may be followed by Reel Connection program
The mind of this 93-year-old artist from Maine skips and jumps like a child’s. Yet he is a spiritually deep and erudite creative wonder and poet/illustrator of 50 children’s books, who makes magical puppets and beautiful sea glass windows from found objects inspired by his African heritage.
Ages 8+ / USA 2016 / Dir. Richard Kane / 34 min

Filmmaking Workshop: Animate the Library!
@ Washington Park Library (Providence Community Library) – 1316 Broad Street, Providence
Tuesday, February 21, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Share your library love and learn the craft of animated storytelling as you create a collaborative short film!
Ages: 8+ / 120 min. Drop-in. Limited space. Tickets not available online. Please register by visiting the Washington Park Library, calling (401) 781-3136 or emailing Leah Lubman (llubman@provcomlib.org).

All the Wiser (PCFF Curated Shorts Collection)
@ Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane, Warwick
Wednesday, February 22, 10:30 AM – Noon – followed by Reel Connection programFilm Screening:
Some of the most effective lessons we learn in life are through unplanned experiences. A hedgehog’s fascination with snow, an aspiring kitten witch and an absent-minded father are just some of the characters who grow wiser by the time the credits roll.
Ages: 8+ / Multi-national 2015-2016 / In English or w/English subtitles / 67 min
Limited space. Please register at the Warwick Public Library or WPL website: www.warwicklibrary.org/childrens/events/5428/providence-childrens-film-festival. 

Film Screening: Finding Your Voice (PCFF Curated Shorts Collection) – followed by Reel Connection program
@ Knight Memorial Library -275 Elmwood Avenue, Providence
Wednesday, February 22, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
For most people it takes some time to feel confident in who they are or what they do well. This eclectic compilation of stories from around the world follows characters endeavoring to discover what they identify with—with varying results.
Ages: 8+ / Multi-national 2015-2016 / In English or w/English subtitles / 64 min
Limited space. Tickets not available online. Please register by visiting the Knight Memorial Library, calling 401-467-2625, or emailing Melissa Rivera (mrivera@provcomlib.org).

Film Screening: Magic Carpet Ride 2017 (PCFF Curated Shorts Collection)
@ Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane, Warwick – may be followed by Reel Connection program
Thursday, February 23, 10:30 AM – Noon
Jump on the PCFF magic carpet and get ready to ride! You will witness balancing submarines, sugar-fueled tricycle chases and a piccolo just wanting to be heard. This year’s reel transports you to lands as close as NYC and as far away as Germany, Russia, Japan and Australia.
All ages / Multi-national 2015-2016 / In English or no dialogue / 68 min
Limited space. Please register at the Warwick Public Library or WPL website: www.warwicklibrary.org/childrens/events/5429/providence-childrens-film-festival.

Filmmaking Workshop: Stop-Motion Animation
@ Wanskuck Library (Providence Community Library) – 233 Veazie Street, Providence
Friday, February 24, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Stories come to life at the library! Our library animation workshop includes a screening of animated shorts to inspire, and hands-on time to create your own stories while learning about film animation. Drop in, stay as long as you like. Due to limited space, pre-registration is recommended.
All ages / 120 min
Limited space. Tickets not available online. Please register by visiting the Wanskuck Library, calling (401) 274-4145, or emailing Molly Osborne (mosborne@provcomlib.org).

Special Screening + Discussion: The Power of the Documentary
@ Providence Athenaeum, 251 Benefit Street, Providence
Saturday, February 25, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Reel Connection program
Special screening and discussion geared for professional filmmakers, educators, students and documentary fans.
Ages 10+ / 90 min

FREE! PCFF Cinema Passports Travel the world with Providence Children’s Film Festival! We invite youth to explore new places, discover fresh ideas and make real world connections while watching movies. HOW TO USE PASSPORT: Track your film travels and record your ratings and opinions about the stories you watch. Get a stamp for every feature film or shorts program you watch.

PLUS SPECIAL SCREENING: My Life as a Zucchini (Ma vie de Courgette)
Saturday, February 25, 4:15 PM – RISD Auditorium, 17 Canal Walk (across from RISD Museum), Providence.
TICKETS REQUIRED ($8 Youth / $10 Adults). Details: www.pcffri.org
Presented in partnership with Media Smart Libraries in partnership. MSL supports public programming events emphasizing the use of film and media texts to promote expanded literacy in the 21st century. This Festival screening of MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI, hopes to bring awareness that libraries are key agents of change in advancing the digital media literacy of children, teens, and families in their communities. (Download Film Guide)

ABOUT THE FILM: Arguably, this French-language claymation cuts closer to the reality of the foster home experience than live-action melodramas like ANNIE or MATILDA ever did. Director Claude Barras tells a simple story simply, drawing power from Zucchini’s point of view as the troubled 9-year-old recounts his stint in a group home following the death of his alcoholic mother. The kids living in this home all have pasts shaded with tragic circumstances including suicide, abuse and drugs. The story could have been devastatingly dark, but it addresses issues with subtlety and delicacy that neither condescends to nor scars younger audiences. The clean and simple animation style works in wonderful contrast to the difficult subject matter, and the characters’ expressive faces give us hope for the innocence and resilience of children. MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI is authentic, empathetic, and ultimately uplifting. Golden Globe nominee for Best Animation 2016, Switzerland’s Official 2016 Academy Awards Entry for Best Foreign Language Film.Ages: 13+ (coarse language, discussion of sex, mention of abuse and suicide) / Switzerland, France 2016 / French (w/English subtitles) / Dir. Claude Barras / 66 min

• 2017 Academy Award Nomine for Best Animated Feature
• Golden Globe nominee for Best Animation 2016
• Switzerland’s Official Academy Awards Entry for Best Foreign Language Film 2016

A Call to Action! Film, Activism, and Creativity at the Killingly Public Library!

Mark your calendar. Rap, hip hop, film, and spoken word poetry come to the Foster Public Library!

PCFF has been working over the last year to help broaden the reach of films from past festivals by partnering with libraries to educate and inform them about the world of independent and international cinema. We have recommended film titles to help build library film collections and offered suggestions on how to present movies with post-film conversations or presentations.

PCFF is pleased to share this fabulous upcoming event at the Foster Public Library. FPL, host of the weekly TGIF – Young Adult Free Friday Film Night, will present a special program inspired by the PCFF past programming: “Louder than A Bomb“, first screened at the 2011 Festival.

Following the screening, AS220’s Zukrewe will discuss the film and perform rap, hip hop, and spoken word poetry.

The Details:
When: Friday, Nov. 13th, 6-10pm
Where: 184 Howard Hill Road, Foster, RI
Age: Intended for a teen / young adult audience
Cost: Free

Agenda
6-8pm Flm screening
8-9pm Film discussion and Q & A with ZuKrewe
9pm AS220 ZuKrewe performs rap, hip hop, and spoken word poetry

Family films and activities happening during February School Vacation: February 17 – 20.

All Ages. Free. (Please call or visit the library to sign up for the RIMOSA workshops. Space is limited.)

The Providence Public Library and Providence Community Library will present films inspired by the programming of past Providence Children’s Film Festivals. To complement the library film screening, Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art (RIMOSA) will join us to present a film activity that will encourage young people to learn about and practice some basic film making concepts. A film talk will also follow each screening.

LIBRARY VENUES AND DATES:

Tuesday, February 17: Providence Public Library – 150 Empire Street, Providence, RI 02903. 401-455-8025

1:00 RIMOSA Film Activity: The Incredible Perception of Sound
2:00 – 4:00 Film Screening & Film Talk: Modern Times

Wednesday, February 18: Knight Memorial Library – 275 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907. 401-467-2625

2:00 Film Screening & Film Talk: Eleanor’s Secret
4:00 RIMOSA Film Activity: Object Animation

Thursday, February 19: Fox Point Library – 90 Ives Street, Providence, RI 02906. 401-331-0390

1:00 RIMOSA Film Activity: Pixilation Animation
2:00 – 4:00 Film Screening & Film Talk: 2014 PCFF Shorts Collection: All Ages

Friday, February 20: Washington Park Library – 1316 Broad Street, Providence, RI 02905. 401-781-3136

1:00 RIMOSA Film Activity: Cut Paper Animation
2:00 – 4:00 Film Screening & Film Talk: Tales of the Night

RIMOSA programs:

The Incredible Perception of Sound: Learn that things are not always as they sound, while exploring the intricacies of human perception. In small groups, experiment with a variety of materials, such as cornstarch, dried peas, and tissue paper to make as many sounds as you can. Using movie clips, create your own soundtrack and sound effects using the sound techniques you discovered!

Object Animation: Learn about “persistence of vision,” the name often given to the way the human brain blends sudden changes into smooth motion. This interpretation by our brains is what makes movies possible. Make a mini-animation (a thaumatrope) to take home, and work in small groups to make your own stop-motion film using found objects.

Pixilation Animation: Focus on the technique called “pixilation”, which uses live people as puppets for stop-motion animation. Facilitators will discuss the importance of storyboards in filmmaking, and after viewing some professional “pixilation” short films, facilitators will demonstrate how they might have looked as storyboards. Work in small groups to create storyboards, then, following your storyboards, make your own stop-motion pixilation film.

Cut Paper Animation: Focus on 2 dimensional or “cut-out” animation. After viewing some professional “cut-out” short films, make your own 2-D puppets and backgrounds. Work in small groups to make your own stop-motion film using your newly created materials.

ABOUT RIMOSA:
The Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art (RIMOSA), a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is a group of imaginative people committed to a single goal: using Rhode Islands’ rich resources in the arts and sciences to create a distinctive, highly interactive, informal learning center. RIMOSA’s mission is to awaken curiosity and increase independent learning, creativity, and innovation in kids 8 and up – and adults, too!  We want to help kids become creative problem solvers that can examine and understand the world around them.  This mission is accomplished by encouraging the exploration of science through art, and art through science, with interactive exhibits, educational programming, performances and participation in music, dance and theater, informal discussions, and other museum events.