2021 Festival Programs
There's a lot to see and sort through (even by our standards!), but fear not: if you have any questions, find our comprehensive guide here.
Beans
Canada
Live Action, Tracey Deer; 2020, 92 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 14+
In English
In the summer of 1990, Beans, a sweet and studious twelve-year-old Mohawk girl, is suddenly forced to grow up fast and become her own kind of warrior when a land occupation battle creates a fierce stand-off between her indigenous community and the government. Torn between innocent childhood and reckless adolescence, she struggles to build her own identity amidst the chaos … Read More
The Bears’ Famous Invasion
France, Italy
Animation, Lorenzo Mattotti; 2019, 82 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 10+
In French, with English subtitles
In this beautifully animated version of the classic tale, the great Bear King Léonce searches for his long lost son Tonino, leading his clan down from the mountains and into the world of men.
Buladó
Curaçao, Netherlands | International Premiere
Live Action, Eché Janga; 2020, 86 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 12+
in Papiamento and Dutch, with English subtitles
In the Curaçao countryside, rational father Ouira, spiritual grandfather Weljo, and eleven-year-old Kenza search for connection and freedom in this evocatively cinematic, magical-realist saga.
Calamity
Denmark, France
Animation, Rémi Chayé; 2020, 85 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 8+
In French, with English subtitles
Twelve-year-old Martha Jane and her family are headed west in a covered wagon when her father’s injury means she’s suddenly forced to take the reins. She embraces the role, becoming the bold, mythic Calamity Jane.
Opening Night: City of Ghosts Q&A
United States | Premiere Event
Animation, Elizabeth Ito; 2021, 17 min
Special Program
Recommended ages: 5+
In English
Watch party + Live Q&A
Watch the first episode of City of Ghosts on Netflix then join us for an exclusive, making-of conversation with showrunner and creator (and NYICFF 2017 award-winner) Elizabeth Ito, and members of the creative team. Go behind the scenes of this innovative new series and ask your questions directly!
Curtain Up!
United States
Documentary, Hui Tong & Kelly Ng; 2019, 69 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 8+
in English and Mandarin, with English subtitles
Nervous excitement and flubbed lines jostle against Asian-American stereotypes and family expectations as the 5th graders of PS 124 get ready for their big debut of Frozen Kids in this inspiring doc.
The Fantastic Journey of Margot & Marguerite
France | US Premiere
Live Action, Pierre Coré; 2020, 89 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 10+
In French, with English subtitles
Marguerite and Margot are both 12, each with her own family, friends, problems…and era! One lives in 1942 and the other in 2020, until a mysterious trunk flips the script.
Jackie & Oopjen
Netherlands | New York Premiere
Live Action, Annemarie van de Mond; 2020, 90 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 8+
In Dutch, with English subtitles
Twelve-year-old Jackie knows the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam like the back of her hand, but when Oopjen, a famous Rembrandt portrait, comes to life, Jackie suddenly has her hands more than full in this wacky, warm, and art-filled tale.
The Legend of Hei
China | World Premiere English Language Version
Animation, MTJJ Mutou; 2019, 101 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 9+
In English
It’s up to cat spirit Hei and a band of motley warriors to save the forest from relentless developers in this caper filled with heart, soul, fantasy, and extraordinary adventure.
Magic Light Celebration
51 min.
Shorts
Recommended ages: 3+
In English
The winner of audience awards at NYICFF year after year, Magic Light Pictures gets a full spotlight this year as we feature their newest film, Zog and the Flying Doctors, and offer a much-requested encore of the 2021 Oscar-shortlisted animationThe Snail and The Whale.
Moominvalley: The Hobgoblin Trilogy
Finland, UK | US Premiere
Animation, Steve Box; 2019, 66 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 5+
In English
Moominmania is back at NYICFF with another exclusive installment of Tove Jansson’s beloved characters in The Moomin Hobgoblin Trilogy, as Moomintroll, Moominmamma, Thingumy, and Bob wrestle with a magic hat and all kinds of hijinks!
My Dad is a Heel Wrestler
Japan
Live Action, Kyohei Fujimura; 2018, 110 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 9+
In Japanese, with English subtitles
When 9-year-old Shota discovers an unexpected truth beneath his father’s mask, he’s forced to rethink his ideas about his wrestler dad in this heart-warming, body-slamming, smile-inducing tale that lights up the ring.
Opening Spotlight: Nahuel and the Magic Book
Brazil, Chile | North American Premiere
Animation, Germán Acuña; 2019, 99 min
Special Program
Recommended ages: 8+
In Spanish, with English subtitles
Live Director Q&A on March 6th at 7pm ET Watch the North America premiere before tuning in for a live, interactive Q&A with director Germán Acuña. Life in Nahuel’s seaside town revolves around the ocean, which makes his fear of water a challenge. What’s worse, he can’t help his fisherman father on his boat. One day, Nahuel finds a magical … Read More
Closing Spotlight: Raya and the Last Dragon
United States | Premiere Event
Animation, Don Hall & Carlos López Estrada; 2021, 107 min
Special Program
Recommended ages: Rated PG
In English
Live Film Screening + Special Event on March 12 at 8pm ET Learn about the research and artistry that went into bringing Disney’s latest animated feature to life! Catch a live screening of Raya and the Last Dragon followed by an exclusive behind-the-scenes look with the directors and stars. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon travels to … Read More
Sisters: The Summer we Found our Superpowers
Norway | New York Premiere
Live Action, Silje Salomonsen & Arild Østin Ommundsen; 2020, 77 min
Feature
Recommended ages: 7+
In Norwegian, with English subtitles
Vega and Billie must find their way out of the woods to save their injured father. If they succeed, they just might discover the magic of nature and the power of sisterhood along the way.
Shorts For Tots
60 min.
Shorts
Recommended ages: 3+
Share your love of cinema with your little ones with Shorts for Tots curated to charm and delight our youngest viewers, ages 3+, in their very first screen experiences. Little Emi in The Yogi Walrus craves ice cream and always wants more, but learning to savor is the cherry on top. Meanwhile, in Kenya’s Symphony, a stubborn 5-year-old reluctantly heads … Read More
Short Films One
75 min.
Shorts
Recommended ages: 5+
For ages 5 and up, Short Films One features films filled with wonder, whimsy, and awe to deepen kids’ growing appreciation for cinema through an inventive range of storytelling approaches. A tiny story with a big tale of acceptance at its heart, Tulip captures a wondrous world in miniature through its meticulously crafted stop-motion animation. You’ll be equally dazzled when … Read More
Short Films Two
80 min.
Shorts
Recommended ages: 8+
With shorts for ages 8+, Short Films Two features deeper themes and multilingual films with English subtitles. Stop motion equals nonstop action in Wild Lea, as a feral Colombian cat goes from lonely to loved, but can she learn to settle down with her new makeshift family? And when Parisian Vanille is forced to spend the summer with her auntie … Read More
Girls’ POV
80 min.
Shorts
Recommended ages: 10+
The intrepid and insightful girls of this 2021 slate aren’t afraid of exploration, be it through the sometimes rough waters of friendship, the challenges of climate, or through artistic experimentation. The girls in Under the Skin hold their breath training for a synchronized swimming meet while navigating the twists and turns of competitive friendships. In Sol, a resilient mother races … Read More
Heebie Jeebies
75 min.
Shorts
Recommended ages: 10+
Slightly spooky shorts! Heebie Jeebies has been a Festival favorite at NYICFF for many a (full!) moon, but this year we’re thrilled to have inspired a short film named after us, or at least we’ll take the spooky credit for it! Find what all the frightful fun is about it when five girls realize the ghost stories they trade around … Read More
Becoming Ourselves: Breaking the Binary
60 min.
Shorts
Recommended ages: 10+
These films explore identity beyond gender binaries, as queer kids shape their own ideas of who they are, finding possibilities of joy and community along the way. Discover powerful connections to the past when long-hidden histories are revealed in the Oscar-shortlisted Kapaemahu. Or break through distance and discomfort in The Name of the Son to find unexpected closeness to family. … Read More
Celebrating Black Stories
75 min.
Shorts
Recommended ages: 10+
Black stories rightfully take the spotlight at NYICFF, as we highlight films that share the joy, determination, resilience and complexity of Black youth in a range of genres and styles. The films in this program are featured throughout our shorts programs and here in this curated program, underscoring the vibrancy of Black storytelling and allowing audiences to consider these works … Read More