Irish Film Institute -IFI FAMILY FESTIVAL 2021: AUGUST 27-29TH

IFI FAMILY FESTIVAL 2021: AUGUST 27-29TH

MAGIC, MEMORY, MUSIC AND RESILIENCE AT THE 2021 IFI FAMILY FESTIVAL

July 30th 2021: The Irish Film Institute is delighted to announce the 2021 IFI Family Film Festival, which this year runs from Friday, August 27th to Sunday, August 29th. This year’s festival includes an exciting programme of new feature films, short film programmes, and engaging workshops, celebrating the return to storytelling and cinema. With the help of RTÉ Home School Hub’s Emer and Ray, a variety of virtual and live activities are on offer across the festival.

The festival opens on Friday 27th with a spectacular Amazing Amazon art workshop, conducted by artist Mags Harnett, who will guide families through chalky rainforest adventures. This opening event is followed by the engaging, tropical Ainbo, screening at 18.30 for audiences aged 5+. Ainbo follows the titular character and her spirit guides, on a quest to save their beloved rainforest.

The shorts programme Short Tales 1, suitable for those aged 4+, includes Blue, Irish director Megan Devaney’s heart-warming tale of Katie, whose mum is ‘feeling blue’, and Kiki La Plume, the animated story of a canary who only knows his cage and, when faced with the outdoors, finds that it’s a lot more intimidating than he had anticipated. Also included in this programme is Spyflugan Astrid, the Swedish animation. Screening on Saturday 28th at 13.00 is a programme for those aged 8+, Short Tales 2, showcasing live action and animation for slightly older viewers. This programme features healing stones from Hawaii, and a polar bear following the northern lights, from all ends of the Earth.

Also taking place on the 28th is a screening of the French animation Mum is Pouring Rain, in which protagonist Jane learns to open up to others, inspiring her own mother; plus a workshop (limited places available) on developing resilience and new skills to deal with surprising situations or challenges. The Saturday evening screening of Los Lobos (The Wolves), for audiences aged 11+, presents themes of family, responsibility, memory and dreams. This feature film follows Lucia and her sons settling into their new life and apartment in New Mexico.

A double bill of Zog and Zog and the Flying Doctors screens on Sunday morning at 11.00; audiences are encouraged to download printable wings to make at home and wear at the socially distant dragon parade. Also showing on Sunday at the IFI is Mezquite’s Heart, a moving portrait of a harp-playing young girl set in North Mexico, suitable for those aged 8+. In association with the Embassy of Mexico in Dublin, there will be a performance of Mexican traditional dance before the screening.

The closing event at 16.00 on Sunday 29th is the Japanese animated fantasy film Poupelle of Chimney Town, suitable for those ages 10+. Attendees are encouraged to make their own junk creation at home in advance of the screening. The beautiful Poupelle of Chimney Town is based on a picture book by Japanese author and comedian Akhiro Nishino, who also wrote the film’s screenplay.

Across the festival, a selection of short films made on smartphones will be shown on screen – in association with Dublin Smartphone Film Festival, audiences are invited to make their own films about how their families are doing their bit for the environment.

Films for under 9s in the programme that contain subtitles will have those read aloud by an experienced reader.

Tickets for the 2021 IFI Family Festival are now on sale. Individual tickets for all films cost €6.50. A family ticket per film (valid for both feature films and shorts programmes) costs €19.99 for 2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children. 

Tickets are available from the IFI Box Office on 01-6793744 and from www.ifi.ie/familyfest/. 

IFI is principally funded by the Arts Council. 

ENDS

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27TH
17.30 – OPENING EVENT: AMAZING AMAZON
18.30 – OPENING FILM: AINBO – RECOMMENDED AGE: 5+

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28TH
11.00 – SHORT TALES 1 – RECOMMENDED AGE: 4+
13.00 – SHORT TALES 2 – RECOMMENDED AGE: 8+
15.00 – MUM IS POURING RAIN + WORKSHOP – RECOMMENDED AGE: 10+
18.30 – LOS LOBOS (THE WOLVES) – RECOMMENDED AGE: 11+

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29TH
11.00 – ZOG + ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS – IFCO CERT: G
13.00 – MEZQUITE’S HEART (CORAZÓN DE MEZQUITE) – RECOMMENDED AGE: 8+
16.00 – POUPELLE OF CHIMNEY TOWN (EIGA ENTOTSUMACHI NO PUPERU) – RECOMMENDED AGE: 10+

IFI CINEMAS TODAY


The IFI is supported
by The Arts Council

Arts Council of Ireland