Children’s Film Festival Comes to Sag Harbor

Sag Harbor Cinema will host the New York International Children Film Festival (NYICFF) with a specially curated program for East End audiences from March 17 through 19. The festival will include both animation and live action films, as well as a shorts program appropriate for ages 3 to 6.

The weekend will follow the final Kids and Families Matinee of the winter season. Leading up to it, the signature year-round Saturday and Sunday series has already featured three NYICFF shorts programs.

With titles hailing from France, Japan, Norway, Mexico, Colombia and more, the NYICFF weekend selection offers diverse stories told from a multitude of places and perspectives as well as a broad range of options from live action to the many compelling styles of animation from CGI to hand-drawn.

This year’s feature selection spotlights a number of genre-bending animation titles that inventively push the boundaries of documentary and true-to-life storytelling. “Titina,” an extraordinary new animated feature by Kasja Ness, tells the true story of Roald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile’s 1926 journey to the North Pole from the point of view of the little dog that went along for the ride. “Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be” brings the beloved French character Le Petit Nicolas to the screen by interspersing the famed fiction with scenes drawn from the real lives of the stories’ creators, Jean-Jacques Sempé and René Goscinny. “Dounia & the Princess of Aleppo” interweaves the story of a 6-year-old girl with traditional Syrian lore, following her journey across Syria, the dangerous sea, and the daunting borders of Europe.

All features are paired with a short and each program is designed to celebrate the beauty and power of film, spark the inherent capacity of children and young adults to connect with exciting, nuanced art, and encourage their engagement with cinema. NYICFF is a place for the next generation of moviegoers — and even movie makers. The selection of the 2023 NYICFF festival’s lineup was especially curated for the Sag Harbor Cinema by Maria-Christina Villaseñor, NYICFF’s programming director, in collaboration with the cinema’s founding artistic director, Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan.

“We are very happy to host a portion of the festival, especially on their 25th anniversary,” said D’Agnolo Vallan. “This seemed a natural evolution of our efforts to engage younger audiences and their families in the power and beauty of film. And to make sure that adults do not forget the magic and depth of childhood and children’s imagery. NYICFF’s programs have always been smart, innovative and far reaching. I am thrilled we can share something of what they have been doing so well for many years with our audience,”

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Sag Harbor Cinema, and complementing their outstanding programming with an exciting new slate of international animated and live-action films,” said Villaseñor. “Sag Harbor Cinema’s beautifully restored theaters, unparalleled projection, and warm community feel are the perfect place for families to experience how special viewing films in theaters together can be.”

Tickets are available at sagharborcinema.org. Sag Harbor Cinema is at 90 Main Street, Sag Harbor.

“Belle et Sébastien: Nouvelle Generation”
France — U.S. premiere, live action, Pierre Coré, 2022, 96 min. French with English subtitles.

City kid Sebastian, 10, is less than thrilled to spend school break with his grandmother and aunt in the countryside instead of filling his days with parkour around Paris with his friends. Though the family farm is in the stunning French Pyrenees mountains, Seb finds herding sheep utterly boring. That is, until he meets Belle, a beautifully humongous canine with a heart as gold as her voluminous locks. When Seb learns that Belle is being mistreated by her owner, he’s ready to draw on his city pluck and do what it takes to protect his new friend. In the process, he just might find a way to save the family farm from greedy developers and looming climate change. Filled with gorgeous mountain scenery and modern themes, this contemporary version of Belle and Sebastian delivers on its next gen title. If, like us, you’re already a member of the fervent Belle and Sebastian fanbase, you know that the real screen starlet is Belle. If not, prepare for some puppy love at first sight.

Screens with: “I Scream, You Scream,” live action documentary, U.S., Ashley Brandon, 2021, 9 min., English.

“Dounia & La Princesse D’Alep”
Canada, France — U.S. premiere, animation, Marya Zarif and André Kadi, 2022, 72 min. French with English subtitles.

Bold of spirit and wild of hair, 6-year-old Dounia lives joyfully with her family in Aleppo, where she spends her time traversing the bustling souks, or marketplaces, teeming with delicious ingredients just right for her grandmother’s amazing dishes. Life is filled with kind neighbors, shared stories and music until a gradually intensifying conflict brings a growing troop of soldiers to town. When the family is forced to pack up and join the global ranks searching for a safer place to call home, Dounia’s grandmother stuffs rosewater sweets and other fresh-baked, homestyle delights into her bulging suitcase. But all Dounia takes with her is a handful of nigella seeds, known in Syrian lore to have magical properties. Her handful of hope just might bear rewards in the form of the legendary princess of Aleppo and her guidance as the group journeys across Syria, the dangerous sea, the daunting borders of Europe, and more. Though navigating serious themes, this charming, funny, and visually dazzling tale offers an all-ages point of entry to explore timely issues and the timeless value of respect for all citizens of the world.

Screens with: “The Luggage Room,” animation, Spain (New York premiere) Daniela Cuenca, 2021, 7 min. Spanish with English subtitles.

“Ernest et Célestine, le Voyage en Charabie”
France, Luxembourg —— International premiere, animation, Julien Chheng and Jean-Christophe Roger, 2022, 80 min. French with English subtitles.

At long last, they’re back! Ernest and Celestine, the wacky and warm, beloved if mismatched pair of travelers who made their U.S. debut at NYICFF 2013 return for another instant classic, again for the first time in the United States. This time around, the once-forbidden friends are on the trail to Ernest’s home, Gibberitia. Grumpy Ernest is not too pleased to be headed back, but it’s the only place where he can get his prized violin repaired after it’s broken (in a major oops!) by Celestine. The silver lining? Gibberitia is home to some of the world’s greatest musicians who fill their time together playing the joyful sounds that fill the streets. But disappointment looms when our ursine/rodent duo arrive to silent streets and the master luthier nowhere to be found. They soon learn that this unthinkable existence is a result of a citywide ban on all music. Together with their friends and a mysterious masked outlaw, they will use strategy, hijinks, and even some hard concessions to learn that being true to yourself might just be the sweetest music of all. Another duo returning to NYICFF? Co-directors Julien Chheng and Jean-Christophe Roger, who have worked on Fest favorites Mune (NYICFF 2015) and The Storytelling Show (NYICFF 2011), respectively.

Screens with: “Phonos,” animation, Mexico, Gabriela Badillo, 2021, 9 min. No dialogue.

“Le petit Nicolas: Qu’est-ce qu’on Attend pour être Heureux?”
France — Animation, Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre, 2022, 85 min. French with English subtitles.

Simultaneously mixing the story of a mischievous cartoon boy and his friends with the true tale of his creators, Little Nicholas is a visual delight with wit to match. When illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempé first drew little imp Nicholas, he knew he had to get his good friend René Goscinny (of Asterix fame) to write the story. As the two artists bring the boy to life, Nicholas himself escapes the page to ask them about their own childhoods. Through these conversations, the friends share stories of early artistic ambition, immigrating to the United States, and family lost to World War II. More solemn moments are balanced expertly with Nicholas’s own adventures with his best friend Alceste (who simply loves toast!) in splashy watercolor, to deliver moments of utter joy. The first feature-length Little Nicholas film to maintain the essence of the text’s original artwork, this story of the creators and their created will delight fans of the books (who might know him better as Le Petit Nicolas) and send newcomers to their local libraries to discover what they’ve been missing.

Screens with: “The Sistine Colombia,” New York premiere, animation, Juan Camilo Fonnegra, 2022, 8 min. No dialogue.

“Moominvalley”
Finland, United Kingdom — U.S. Premiere, animation, Sara Barbas, 2022, 22 min. English.

Moominfriends! Tove Jansson’s delightful universe is back, premiering exclusively at NYICFF with all the Moominventures you could ever wish for in three all new episodes. First, when Moomintroll and Sniff volunteer to walk Toffle home through the woods, Toffle tells tall tales to prolong their journey, which gets them into trouble when Groke arrives in Toffle’s Tall Tales. Mrs. Fillyjonk gets the feeling she’s “not long for this world,” so Moominpappa decides to throw her a party she will never forget in “Mrs. Fillyjonk’s Last Hurrah.” Finally, a mystery in Snufkin and the Fairground: When Snufkin advises silence-loving Hemulen to leave his noisy job at the fairground, he’s left to run the rides on his own.

Screens with: “La Calesita” U.S. and Canada, New York premiere, animation, Augusto Schillaci, 2022, 10 min. No dialogue.

“Panda! Go Panda!”
Japan — Animation, Isao Takahata, 1972, 72 min. English

This is a flashback to a festival classic. From the legendary team that formed Studio Ghibli (with original concepts and character designs by Hayao Miyazaki) comes two deliriously delightful animated featurettes in one program! Seven-year-old Mimiko has somehow persuaded her grandmother to take off by train and leave her home alone. She’s quite capable of handling all duties of home and hearth, but gets more than she bargains for when Papa Panda and baby Panny turn up at her door. Their round bodies, wide grins, and off-kilter clowning offer the first glints of another charming neighbor to come. Infused equally with the amazing and the absurd, this seriously fun Totoro precursor is sure to win over new audiences and seasoned Ghibli fans alike. “Panda, Go Panda,” indeed!

Screens with: “Konigiri-Kun Parasol,” Japan, New York premiere, animation, Mari Miyazawa, 2021, 5 min. No dialogue.

“Titina”
Norway, Belgium — Animation, East Coast Premiere, Kajsa Næss, 2022, 90 min. Norwegian with English subtitles.

“More or less based on true events.” So begins the mostly true-to-life story of Titina, an intrepid fox terrier, and her companions on their aerial expedition to the North Pole. When Italian engineer Umberto Nobile is invited to build an airship for Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, he knows he’s embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. And who better to accompany him on his dirigible to the top of the world than the trusty street pup he rescued in Rome? Just as their airship, the Norge, is poised to reach a milestone as the first to make the Polar flyover, a petty power struggle turns the journey sour. With colorful animation mixed with live action documentary footage, “Titina” captures all of the real, high-altitude antics that made history — all from the vantage point of one lucky dog.

Screens with: “Swing to the Moon,” France, New York premiere, animation, Marie Bordessoule, Adriana Bouissie, Nadine De Boer, Elisa Drique, Chloé Lauzu, Vincent Levrero and Solenne Moreau, 2022, 7 min. No dialogue.

“Shorts for Tots”
60 min.

Created for the youngest and first-ever moviegoers, but beloved by grown-ups, “Shorts for Tots” is sure to delight all audiences. Recommended for ages 3 and up.