Minimest. Animation is coming out to play

Children screenings have taken up an important spot in Anim’est International Animation Film Festival’s programme from the very first edition of the festival, in 2006. At its fifth edition, the most important festival for animated film in Romania is turning these traditional screenings for children in a particular section: Minimest, talking mostly to the Anim’est audience members between 4 and 14 of age. Short and feature length films, a stand with children’s book and magazine at special prices, shows and interactive, surprising activities, a drawing exhibition and an animation workshop for children – all of these are part of the offer made by the newest section in the Anim’est programme.

Every morning, between the 9th and the 17th of October 2010, starting 10:30 a.m. (weekend), and 11:30 a.m. (weekdays), Patria Cinema will host the enchanted Minimest world. Dedicated particularly to children from 4 to 14 years old, but enjoyable to the entire family, the short and feature length films in the Minimest section are some of the dearest to tens of millions of other viewers around the world and have been awarded at the most important international film festivals. The topics they take on are related to society, family and modern times. Some of the most important such themes concentrate on family, relationships between adults and children, the growing up process, all put on the big screen as ingenious films with all sort of heroes, from humans, to mice, apples, squirrels, reindeers, aliens, dragons or bears.

While the two feature films in the Alvin and the Chipmunks series: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Zero (dir. Tim Hill, USA, 2007), and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (dir. Betty Thomas, USA, 2009) discuss team work and the advantages of wit over of raw force, How to Train Your Dragon (dir. Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois, USA, 2010) animates the big screen with a surprising story about the power of friendship and communication; Oscar nominated Kung Fu Panda (dir. Mark Osborne, John Stevenson, USA, 2008) proves, to both big and small, that nothing is impossible if you do it with confidence and courage, Monsters vs. Aliens (dir. Rob Letterman, Conrad Vernon, USA, 2009) is the extremely funny story of a young girl with serious growing problems; Niko & The Way to the Stars (dir. Michael Hegner, Kari Juusonen, Finland-Denmark-Germany-Ireland, 2008) shows how a clumsy reindeer with a lion’s heart heads off flying for the North Pole in order to save Santa Claus and his flying reindeers; The Apple and The Worm (dir. Anders Mergenthaler, Denmark-Sweden, 2009) states the limits of ambition and vanity; In The Tale of Despereaux (dir. Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen, Great Britain-USA, 2008), the love of a mouse for reading is being tested as he has to go  through all sorts of difficult  tasks to reach the heart of beautiful princes Pea, and Up (dir. Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, USA, 2009), one of the most successful animated films of the decade with a record of two Oscar Awards, two Golden Globes, a Grammy and an award at the hi profile Venice Film Festival, brings forward the amazing story of two adventurers – one nearing the end of his life, the other- just starting it, who join in their strengths and go on a fantastical trip.

Except for the nine feature films, the kids will also have the chance to view some four other exceptional short film programmes, one each festival day during the weekend: in three of them there are awarded, popular films from all corners of the world, and in one of them – rarely screened Romanian films, selected by film critic Dana Duma from the National Film Archives’ patrimony.

Anim’est’s youngest attendants will be welcomed by The Minnie Mouse mascot in the Patria Cinema lobby to join a special programme of activities planned out by BlueParty to suit all Minimest age groups: interactive presentations about the screened films, face-painting, balloon animals. Furthermore, there will be stand with children’s books at promotional prices, the coolest magazines for kids and a drawing exhibition by those participating in the animation workshop for children, all of them being the surprises Minimest prepared for the children and their parents.

The little ones will benefit of a 50% discount off the ticket price for the Anim’est screenings – so, for a regular 10 lei ticket, two children under the age of 14 will be able to get in, and the access for children from social shelters or the ones coming disadvantaged families is free.