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Enjoy Irish premieres of The Inventor, a film about Leonardo da Vinci’s brilliant inventions, Puffin Rock & The New Friends as Gaeilge, and other great films from around the world in this special programme for all the family. www.ifi.ie/familyfest
The IFI is delighted to announce details of this year’s Family Festival jam-packed with fun for all members of the family to enjoy. Take part in fun science and art activities in the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci ahead of the opening film, The Inventor, a film exploring the life of one of the greatest geniuses of all time. The charming programme of Short Tales 1 specially curated for young viewers features animals, sandcastles, dealing with bullies and playing in the rain – a perfect intro to film for a little one’s first visit to the cinema. Short Tales 2 includes music-making, lost socks, sisterhood and grieving as themes in this varied selection for older viewers.
Make puffin art ahead of the premiere screening as Gaeilge of Puffin Rock agus Cairde Nua (Puffin Rock & The New Friends), the new animated collaboration between Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon and the Derry studio Dog Ears. Anime fans will be well catered for with Deep Sea (Shen Hai), a visually stunning film set under the sea showing in 3D. Other films on show as part of the festival include Exodus, a gripping tale of a people smuggler who reluctantly agrees to help a 12-year-old fleeing Syria find her family; Taika Waititi exec-produced Red, White & Brass, the story of a Tongan rugby fan attempting to sneak into the World Cup by performing in a marching band; and Adventures in the Land of Asha (Jules Au Pays D’Asha) following Jules who meets an indigenous girl, Asha, and learns of the traditions of her tribe in Northern Quebec.
You can also put your exploring hat on and discover the history of the IFI building and delve into its archives with a self-guided trail as part of the IFI Family Trail & Heritage Week while you are in for a screening.
Speaking about this year’s festival, IFI Head of Education Alicia McGivern said, ‘We are delighted to be opening our IFI Family Festival 2023 with a preview of the latest film from Jim Capobianco, director of Ratatoille. In a co-production with Dublin’s Curiosity Studio, and with Cartoon Saloon’s Tomm Moore in supervisory role, The Inventor is a highly creative and fun animation on the life and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. The weekend follows with our selected shorts programmes, some Ireland premieres in live action and animation, and finishing off with the New Zealand hit film, Red White and Brass, about the greatest Tongan rugby fans ever.’
Images can be downloaded HERE
The schedule of screenings:
Opening night event – Friday August 18th
The Inventor – Friday August 18th
Short Tales 1 – Saturday August 19th
Short Tales 2 – Saturday August 19th
Adventures in the Land of Asha (Jules Au Pays D’Asha) -Saturday August 19th
Deep Sea (Shen Hai) – Saturday August 19th
Creag na bPufiíní agus na Cairde Nua (Puffin Rock & The New Friends) – Sunday August 20th
Exodus – Sunday August 20th
Red, White & Brass – Sunday August 20th
The IFI Family Festival programme in more detail:
Before our opening film about Leonardo da Vinci, join RTÉ Kids presenters and artists in the IFI Foyer. Bring out your inner genius with some of our fun science and art activities.
The insatiably curious and headstrong inventor Leonardo da Vinci leaves Italy to join the French court, where he can experiment freely, inventing flying contraptions and incredible machines, and studying the human body. Embark on a journey with the greatest genius of all time, inspired by the life and times of Leonardo da Vinci.
First cinema outing? Try this mostly dialogue-free selection of international short films, specially chosen for our Festival. Animals, sandcastles, dealing with bullies, playing in the rain – all this and more in a charming programme for younger viewers.
Music-making, lost socks, sisterhood and grieving are just some of the themes in this varied selection for older viewers. Including live action drama and animation from Senegal, China, Ireland and more, this varied programme is fun, engaging and stimulating.
For full details on all short films see www.ifi.ie/familyfest/
Northern Quebec, 1940. 9-year-old Jules moves with his family to the country. Forbidden from school as he has a rare skin disease, Jules spends his days exploring, when he meets a mysterious indigenous girl, Asha, who introduces him to the wonders of the land and the traditions of her tribe, both under threat from the settlers. French with English subtitles.
A mesmerising anime in which young Shenxiu is washed overboard and finds herself in a wondrous undersea world of creatures and colour, recalling the finest Miyazaki creations. Meeting cunning restaurant owner Nanhe, they embark on a search for her estranged mother with the help of talisman Hyjinx. A wildly imaginative, stunningly visualised plot of adventure, family and loss, showing in 3D.
Agus Creag na bPuifíní faoi bhagairt, tá dúshlán ag Oona agus a cairde ubh phuifín a shábháil sula dtiocfaidh stoirm mhór ar an oileán.
When Puffin Rock is under threat, Oona and friends face a difficult quest to save a missing puffin egg before a storm engulfs the island. Irish with English subtitles.
Make your own puffin art before the show and explore our foyer seascape.
Follow the disappearance of the final Little Egg of the season in strange circumstances, leading Oona and her friends to embark on a race against time to try to save it before a big storm hits Puffin Rock and puts the island in danger.
A timely, gripping story in which people smuggler Sam reluctantly saves 12-year-old Amal, whose family have gone missing in their flight from the war in Syria. Believing them to be in Sweden, Amal persuades Sam to accompany her, and an unlikely friendship emerges as the pair make their way north in this moving migration tale. Arabic with English subtitles.
Get some Rugby World Cup fever at our closing film, from the producers of Hunt for the Wilderpeople. When Tongan rugby fan Maka fails to get tickets to the 2011 World Cup to see his home team, he comes up with a hare-brained scheme to get in by performing as a marching band. No instruments or skill, but tons of passion and humour in this ‘based on real events’ underdog tale.
Saturday August 19th – Sunday August 20th (12.00 – 15.30)
Follow our Family Trail and find out about the IFI. Uncover the building’s hidden history and delve into the inner workings of our unique cinema and archive. Self-guided free trail available from 12pm – 3.30pm.
IFI Family Festival Film Tickets
All films €6.50 (includes opening night event)
Family Ticket (film events): €20.00 (2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult, 3 children)
IFI Box Office: 01 679 3477/www.ifi.ie/familyfest
ALL YOU NEED IS DEATH 13:50, 20:50
IFI EVENING COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING
KIDNAPPED 12:55, 18:00
PERFECT DAYS 15:30, 18:15
THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN 13:00, 15:40, 18:10, 20:30
THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE 16:00, 20:45
The IFI is supported by The Arts Council
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