Facets’ annual
Chicago International
Children’s Film Festival
continues long
tradition of
programming excellence
Four of the five films nominated for the Best Animated Short category at the 91st Academy Awards screened in the Official Selection at Facets’ 35th Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival in 2018.
The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival is the first Academy-Award qualifying children’s film festival in the world. Since the Festival launched in 1983, 31 Festival films have gone on to receive Oscar nominations and eight have won, including Kristóf Deák’s Sing in 2017 and Jochen Alexander Freydank’s Toyland in 2009.
The Academy’s announcement of nominations for the 91st Academy Awards adds four new Festival films to the list: Andrew Chesworth and Bobby Pontillas’s One Small Step (2018), which qualified through the Festival and won the Professional Jury Prize for Best Animated Short; Louise Bagnall’s Late Afternoon (2017), which won the Children’s Jury Prize for Best Animated Short; Alison Snowden and David Fine’s Animal Behavior (2018); and Trevor Jimenez’s Weekend (2017).
ONE SMALL STEP | ANDREW CHESWORTH AND BOBBY PONTILLAS
ALSO READ: ‘Favourite’ and ‘Roma’ lead 91st Oscar noms
The Academy’s recognition of these films is crucial to the Festival’s ongoing mission to seek out films that are made for kids and teens, not simply about them.
Festival Director, Ann Vikstrom, puts it this way: “We showcase films that empower children and young people to understand the role of empathy as a driving force in building communities, connecting with others, gaining self-confidence, and creatively solving problems.”
By nominating four Festival films that approach difficult, but relatable themes with nuance, cleverness, and beauty, The Academy has elevated them to a new and exciting position in popular culture and film history. The Festival is proud to be the first to bring these films to Chicago and to be part of their journey to the Oscars.
The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival presents the best, most innovative film and educational experiences for kids, families, students, and industry professionals. The 36th annual Festival will run November 1 – 10, 2019 and is currently accepting submissions. Learn more: facets.org/cicff.
About Facets
Facets is a nonprofit that connects over 30,000 people annually to independent ideas through transformative film experiences. Learn more: facets.org.
Send your film updates to Reel Chicago Editor Dan Patton, dan@reelchicago.com.
