Biidaaban (The Dawn Comes)
Accompanied by a 10,000-year-old shapeshifter, Biidaaban is on a mission to reclaim the power of earth from an overdeveloped suburb in Ontario.
Age Range: 12
Dreams into Drawing
This empathetic reflection on sentient beings is inspired by Ueda Akinari’s short story “A Carp That Appeared in My Dream,” and Japanese painter Kuwagata Keisai’s Ways to Sketch.
Gon, the Little Fox
In this stunningly detailed stop-motion version of a classic Japanese fable, sly fox Gon tries to make amends for his mischief. But the flow of give and take is tricky to navigate for human and creature alike.
And yet we are not super-heroes
Pocked-sized philosophers share their thoughts as the map the path to growing up in this gorgeously animated reflection.
Shy & Ketchup
Hunger or craving, a shy girl has to push beyond her comfort zone to fulfill her need in this hilarious film.
I Want
From a whisper to a laugh to a scream, you can say what you want however and whenever it moves you.
Accents
An ode to her mother’s Puerto Rican accent and a reclaiming of her voice, by poet Denice Frohman.
The Coin
On Chinese New Year, finding the coin hidden in a dumpling brings good luck. One girl discovers new identities and long-standing connections tucked inside as well.
Grab My Hand: A Letter to My Dad
This animated love letter from son to father to friend reminds us that there’s no good reason to let affection go unspoken.
I Have a Little Cactus (The Musifants)
Even though Grandpa Günter is 200, he’s not too old to swing, especially to the infectious Cabaret-era jazz of this wacky little ditty.
Maestro
Deep into a forest, a gathering of wild animals perform a nocturnal opera, led by a rather squirrely conductor.
My Life in Versailles
Life in a castle sounds like a piece of cake, but not for Violette, who must move into one with her uncle, the caretaker of the Palace of Versailles.
Trude’s Flatmate
Trude’s Flatmate is a monster. Literally. And chaos is in store when she tries to keep its sugar fix in check.
Nuit Cherie
Follow the stories of an insomniac bear and monkey on a mission (did we mention the mini Yeti?) in this vividly animated and wonderfully wacky tale.
The School Trip
A school trip sparks an exploration of identity and belonging when Megalie is faced with visa troubles because of her family’s Senegalese origins.
Too Far Away
Eleven-year-old Ben loves his hometown, especially his soccer club, where he practices for hours each day. When he and his neighbors are forced to move, he struggles to fit in at a new school. Another newcomer, Tariq, an ace soccer player from Syria, adds to Ben’s challenges, but the two competitors might discover there’s more to be gained together in this thoughtful reflection on friendship, teamwork, and belonging.
Om Nom Nom…
After a hungry dinosaur discovers a wiggly egg in the forest and devours it, strange rumblings in his tummy quickly follow!
Short Films Three
You’ve outgrown the kiddie pool, so take a dive into these often offbeat, at times hilarious, always thought-provoking shorts. Follow the stories of an insomniac bear and monkey on a mission (did we mention the mini Yeti?) in Nuit Cherie, and the Italian-born Senegalese teen questioning her identity in The School Trip.
Girls’ POV
The voices of these protagonists are strong and loud—as they should be! Don’t underestimate the soft-spoken girl in the hilarious Shy & Ketchup, and take a cue from I Want, where even the colors are loud. Listen to a daughter reclaim her mother’s voice in Accents, and follow a girl as she forges her own path in The Coin.
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Celebrate Aardman! A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Go all-out for Aardman’s big screen excitement with a NYICFF exclusive theatrical presentation of Shaun the Sheep’s latest feature adventure (premiering on Netflix February 14th), alongside new and classic Aardman shorts! In Farmageddon, an alien named LU-LA crash-lands near Mossy Bottom Farm. Her magical powers, irrepressible mischief and galactic sized burps soon have Shaun the Sheep and his flock enchanted. But when Shaun takes his new extraterrestrial friend on the road to find her lost spaceship, little does he know that a sinister alien-hunting agency is on their trail. Now Shaun and the flock must avert Farmageddon before it’s too late.
Heebie Jeebies
Freaky, fun, and far, far out, the always mind-bending Heebie Jeebies returns with more slightly spooky tales. Badgers have had enough fear-mongering and plot their dark-of-night escape in Quarantine, and bedtime routines turn truly bizarre in Sheep, Wolf and a Cup of Tea… Not strange enough? Watch a kid team up with Sasquatch to reclaim the wild in Biidaaban (The Dawn Comes).
Disneynature’s Dolphin Reef
Narrated by Natalie Portman, Disneynature’s Dolphin Reef features Echo, a young Pacific bottlenose dolphin who’s more interested in exploring his coral reef home, and its intriguing inhabitants, than learning to survive in it. But lessons from family—and close encounters with some of the ocean’s greatest predators—may encourage Echo to master his vital role in the marine community after all. Catch the majesty of this ocean story exclusively on the big screen before its highly anticipated debut on Disney+.
Hilda
She’s clever, kind, witty—and rocks a pair of red boots like nobody’s business. Hilda is back, rescuing elves, dodging trolls, and exploring Trolberg’s strange history and stranger personalities. The BAFTA award-winning Netflix Original series inspired by Luke Pearson’s hugely popular graphic novels returns to NYICFF with the world premiere of Season Two. Join us for sneak peeks of “Troll Circle” and “The Witch,” two truly enchanting adventures!
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Rocca Changes the World
A modern-day, punk rock Pippi Longstocking, Rocca comes from a family of astronauts—but she’s no space cadet. Smart, intrepid, and ready to save the world—from protecting the littlest squirrel to challenging the biggest bully—there’s virtually nothing she can’t handle. Well, except maybe missing her dad while he’s on a space mission. Somehow, we think she’ll even ace earthly matters.
Friends & Neighbors: Japan
Say konichiwa (hello!) to our 2020 Friends & Neighbors. Celebrate Japan’s rich film and cultural history in a breathtaking range of styles: the hand-drawn artistry of master animator and NYICFF alum Koji Yamamura’s world premiere, Dreams into Drawing, the stop-motion nod to traditional Japanese puppetry in Gon, the Little Fox, and the manga-style zaps, zings, and pows of Onomatopoeia Rap, and more.
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Magic Boy
Anime? Check. Disney-inspired cute critters? Check. Beautiful colors? Do you even have to ask?! Our Festival Flashback is a groundbreaker: the first-ever anime film released in the US (from renowned Toei Studios), and quite possibly the inspiration for the lovably goofy ninjas-in-training of Naruto. Step back in time and follow Sasuke’s adventures from the very beginning!
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Bento Harassment
Can food speak louder than words? With Futaba’s mother tired of her teen’s icy attitude, she’ll try an unusual tactic to get her to talk—by way of her bento lunch box. For an entire school term, Futaba opens box after box, each designed with its own cringe-worthy message. An offbeat story of growing up, Bento Harassment will leave audiences laughing…and hungry.
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Forward: Tomorrow Belongs to Us
Meet seven incredible young activists from around the world with unwavering courage to transform our future in this new documentary. While vying for an international prize for his innovative recycling program, José guides us from his native Peru to introduce pioneering kids from France, Bangladesh, Africa, the US, and beyond, demonstrating that you don’t need all the answers to fix a problem—just a brave first step.
*References to challenging real-life circumstances
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Fahim, the Little Chess Prince
In this true-to-life story, Fahim journeys from Bangladesh to France with his father and seeks to train with a chess grandmaster. When coach Sylvain (Gerard Depardieu) accepts Fahim into a challenging chess class, he transforms his fate in more ways than one in a heartwarming testimony to a father’s determination, the kindness of strangers, and one boy’s courageous will to succeed.
*Some mature language; scenes of political persecution and refugee hardship, including some violence
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The Club of Ugly Children
This action-packed thriller unfolds in a world led by a new president whose motto, “Keep it Clean,” means rounding up kids who don’t meet his view of ideal citizens. Paul, his big sister, and their band of friends aren’t going to simply stand by. They mobilize with energy and ingenuity in this pulse-racing tale that will have you cheering from the edge of your seat!
*Some mature language
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