Saturday, May 12 @ 2:00PM | Dansante Building, 59 S. 100 W. – Logan

Directed by Catherine Gund
76 min | USA | 2009
RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 10+

WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE? is a witty and provocative documentary produced and directed by award-winning Catherine Gund about kids and food politics.

Filmed over the course of one year, the film follows two eleven-year-old multi-racial city kids as they explore their place in the food chain. Sadie and Safiyah take a close look at food systems in New York City and its surrounding areas. With the camera as their companion, the girl guides talk to each other, food activists, farmers, new friends, storekeepers, their families, and the viewer, in their quest to understand what’s on all of our plates.

The girls address questions regarding the origin of the food they eat, how it’s cultivated, how many miles it travels from the harvest to their plate, how it’s prepared, who prepares it, and what is done afterwards with the packaging and leftovers. They visit the usual supermarkets, fast food chains, and school lunchrooms. But they also check into innovative sustainable food system practices by going to farms, greenmarkets, and community supported agriculture programs. They discover that these programs both help struggling farmers to survive on the one hand and provide affordable, locally-grown food to communities on the consumer end, especially to lower-income urban families. In WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE?, the two friends formulate sophisticated and compassionate opinions on the state of their society, and by doing so inspire hope and active engagement in others.

Tumbleweeds year-round screenings are sponsored by:

Saturday, May 5th @ 11:00 AM | The City Library – Salt Lake City

Carlitos y el Campo de los Sueños
Directed by: Jesús del Cerro

2008 | 107 min | Spanish with English subtitles (see below for details)

Recommended for ages 8+

Eleven-year-old orphan Carlitos is passionate about soccer and has two dreams: to become a great soccer player and to be adopted by a loving family. When he finds out that Spain’s national junior soccer team is holding open tryouts, Cariltos, a talented player, sees this as an opportunity to fulfil one of his dreams.

However, there’s a problem. Hipólito, the nasty director of the orphanage, despises sports and will do anything in his power to prevent Carltios from trying out, including forbidding him from leaving the orphanage grounds. With the help of his friends, can Carltos figure out a way to sneak out? And if he makes the team, will he ever be able to keep the training a secret?

Filled with zany comedy, dazzling displays of athleticism and moments of touching drama, and exploring lessons of friendship and perseverance in pursuit of a goal, Carlitos and The Chance of a Lifetime is an energetic and entertaining film that will leave you cheering!

Subtitles
To enhance our young viewers’ appreciation of foreign-language movies, we have readers read subtitles aloud. We play the readings through individual headsets, to allow those who do not require the service to experience the film without hearing the reader. We have a limited number of headsets, and offer them on a first-come, first-served basis to young people only.
 

Saturday, April 21 @ 1:00 PM | Dasante Building – Logan

Directed by Dominique Monfrey
76 MIN | FRANCE | 2009
Recommended for ages 6+

In this beautiful and imaginative animated film that opened the 2011 Tumbleweeds Film Festival, seven-year-old Nat embarks a magical adventure that celebrates the joy of reading through its creative use of cherished and iconic literary characters and inventive story.

Directed by Academy Award®-nominated director Dominique Monféry, Eleanor’s Secret charms and delights audiences of all ages.

Tumbling Tumbleweeds – Orem
SNOWMEN
Directed by Robert Kirbyson
2:00 PM – Saturday, April 7
Orem Public LIbrary
Free!

A humorous and heartfelt coming-of-age story about three unlikely heroes and the winter that changed their lives forever. After a surprising discovery in the snow catapults three small-town boys into the spotlight, the best friends hatch a plan to be remembered forever by setting a Guinness World Records® title. Along the way, the trio battles schoolyard bullies, unites their community and discovers that – while fame may be fleeting – true friendship lasts forever. The film stars Bobby Coleman (Last Song), Ray Liotta (Wild Hogs), Bobb’e J. Thompson (Role Models), Josh Flitter (Ace Ventura Jr.) and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future).

Saturday, April 7th @ 11:00 AM | The City Library – Salt Lake City

Tumbleweeds Film Festival – Best of Fest
A CAT IN PARIS
Directed by: Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol

2010 | 70 min | French with English subtitles (see below for details)

A Cat in Paris is a beautiful and thrilling animated film set on the moonlit rooftops of Paris.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Film, A Cat in Paris combines stunning hand-drawn and richly colored animation, a jazzy soundtrack, and action-packed adventure to create a wonderfully charming film for children and adults alike.

Dino the cat leads a double life. By day he lives with Zoe, a mute girl whose mother, Jeanne, is a detective in the Parisian police force. At night Dino teams up with Nico, an agile “cat” burglar who evades capture by fluidly leaping from rooftop to rooftop across the Paris skyline. Curious about where her beloved cat goes after the sun sets, Zoe decides to follows Dino on one of his nightly escapades. A surprising series of events leads to Zoe being captured by the gangster who killed her father. Can Nico and Dino find a way to use their feline skills to save her?

2012 Academy Award Nominee Best Animated Feature Film
Official Selection – 2011 San Francisco Film Festival
Official Selection – 2011 Seattle International Film Festival
Official Selection – 2011 BFI London Film Festival
Official Selection – 2011 Berlin Film Festival

Subtitles
To enhance our young viewers’ appreciation of foreign-language movies, we have readers read subtitles aloud. We play the readings through individual headsets, to allow those who do not require the service to experience the film without hearing the reader. We have a limited number of headsets, and offer them on a first-come, first-served basis to young people only.
 

Tumbling Tumbleweeds – Ogden
SNOWMEN
Directed by Robert Kirbyson
3:00 PM – Saturday, March 31
Pleasant Valley Library
Free!

A humorous and heartfelt coming-of-age story about three unlikely heroes and the winter that changed their lives forever. After a surprising discovery in the snow catapults three small-town boys into the spotlight, the best friends hatch a plan to be remembered forever by setting a Guinness World Records® title. Along the way, the trio battles schoolyard bullies, unites their community and discovers that – while fame may be fleeting – true friendship lasts forever. The film stars Bobby Coleman (Last Song), Ray Liotta (Wild Hogs), Bobb’e J. Thompson (Role Models), Josh Flitter (Ace Ventura Jr.) and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future).

Ages 7 – 9
Saturday, March 24, 1-3 pm at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center

Work with a makeup artist to turn your fellow classmates into zombies, avatars and monsters and then get a professional photo made of yourself in costume.

Presented in partnership with Spy Hop Productions.
Tumbleweeds workshops are $30 ($25 plus service & preservation fees) and limited to 15 participants per workshop. Register at www.arttix.org beginning on March 5.

Start with a clip of a classic cartoon and record your own sound effects to make your own hilarious short film.

Ages 10 – 12
Saturday, March 24, 10 am-12 pm at Spy Hop Productions

Using Unity 3D Software, build planets, asteroids and alien space ships to cruise around your new universe. You’ll take home your game to share online or with your friends.

Presented in partnership with Spy Hop Productions.
Tumbleweeds workshops are $30 ($25 plus service & preservation fees) and limited to 15 participants per workshop. Register at www.arttix.org beginning on March 5.

Ages 7 – 9
Saturday, March 24, 10 am–12 pm at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center

Bring your LEGOs to life in this introduction to animation class. Write, produce and direct a short film involving LEGO minifigs and set designs.

Presented in partnership with Spy Hop Productions.
Tumbleweeds workshops are $30 ($25 plus service & preservation fees) and limited to 15 participants per workshop. Register at www.arttix.org beginning on March 5.

Closing Night Film DAVID Explores Themes Of Tolerance And Bullying

Tickets On Sale Today At Arttix.Org

Salt Lake City, UT –The 2012 Tumbleweeds Film Festival opens on March 23 with a special screening of CHIMPANZEE, the new film from Disneynature and the award-winning filmmakers of Earth. In additions, the 2nd annual festival closes with a screening of film festival favorite DAVID, a charming film that examines the complexities of life through the eyes of an 11-year old Muslim boy growing up in Brooklyn. The 2012 Tumbleweeds Film Festival runs March 23-25 and presents films from around the world for children and youth ages 4-14. All screening are held at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center and The City Library. Tickets go on sale today at all Arttix box offices, at www.arttix.org or by phone at 801-355-ARTS (2787). Tickets for all screenings are $6.00 including service fees. More information about Tumbleweeds is available at www.utahfilmcenter.org and www.kidsfilm.org.

OPENING NIGHT FILM

CHIMPANZEE
Directors: Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield // (USA, 2012 – 90 min)
Recommended for all ages.
Sumptuously shot in the rain forests of Africa, the new film from Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, the award-winning directors of Earth, CHIMPANZEE tells the true-life story of an adorable young chimp named Oscar. Oscar’s playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom.

Special Thanks to Disneynature and Love Communications for supporting Tumbleweeds and making this screening possible.

CLOSING NIGHT FILM

DAVID
Director: Joel Fendelman // (USA, 2011 – 80 min)
Recommended for children 10 and up
This charming film examines the complexities of life through the eyes of an 11-year old Muslim boy growing up in Brooklyn. With a cast largely made up of non-professionals, DAVID is an understated yet powerful film that shows how friendships can transcend the boundaries of religion and culture.

Winner, Ecumenical Prize – 2011 Montreal Film Festival; Winner, Audience Award – Brooklyn Film Festival; Official Selection – 2011 Rome International Film Festival, 2011 Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2011 Napa Valley Film Festival

Visit www.kidsfilm.org for more info. Follow us on Twitter @kidsfilm and “like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TumbleweedsFilmFestival.

Tumbleweeds is generously sponsored by: the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, Salt Lake County’s Zoo, Arts and Parks Program, Adobe Foundation, Art Works for Kids!, eBay, the Natural History Museum of Utah and Spyhop Productions.

Media Sponsors for the 2012 Tumbleweeds Film Festival are: City Weekly, KUED, NOW, and Munchkin Radio.

Utah Film Center programs are made possible by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Rio Tinto, Salt Lake County’s Zoo, Arts and Parks Program, Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Swartz Foundation, and Zions Bank.

The Tumbleweeds Film Festival is an annual film festival for children and youth, ages 4-14, presented by the Utah Film Center. Launched in 2011, Tumbleweeds provides opportunities for film lovers of all ages to engage their creative spirit, and bridge cultures by experiencing films whose stories transcend geographic, cultural and political boundaries. Many of the films at Tumbleweeds are screened in their original language. Foreign language screenings are presented with English subtitles that will be read aloud by a “subtitle reader.” In addition to film screenings, the Utah Film Center is partnering with Spy Hop Productions to present workshops designed to introduce participants to different aspects of filmmaking.

Amazing Animations!
 

Directed by: Various
Recommended Ages: 6 and up (All films in English or without dialogue)
Saturday, March 24 – 1:00 pm – Salt Lake City Public Library
Sunday, March 25 – 11:30 am – Black Box at Rose Wagner

Don’t miss this international collection of colorful, clever and creative animated short films. From four sisters trying to pass the time on a long trip, to a pigeon that sabotages a secret mission, to a dog that finds a new best friend – its own tail! – this wonderful set of films features a variety of stories in a range of animations styles. Fun and inventive, these animations are sure to entertain and delight audiences of all ages!

Aurelie Laflamme’s Diary
Le journal d’Aurélie Laflamme

Directed by: Christian Laurence
Recommended Ages: 12 and up (French with English Subtitles)
Saturday. March 24 – 4:15 PM @ Rose Wagner (no subtitle reader)

Feeling out of place the world, Aurelie Laflamme wonders if she might be an alien in this funny and touching look at a girl navigating the path to adolescence.

11 Features and 14 Short Films for children ages 4 and up to screen March 23-25

Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the Utah Film Center announced the films and workshops for the 2012 Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Children. The 2nd annual event presents feature-length and short films from around the world for children ages 4-14. This year’s line up includes 11 feature films and 14 short films films from 7 countries, in 5 languages. Many films will be screened in their original languages, with a reader narrating the subtitles for younger audience members. In addition to the 18 film presentations, the festival includes four film related workshops presented by Spy Hop Productions. Screenings and workshops will be held March 23-25 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Spy Hop Productions and The City Library. Tickets for all screenings are $6.00 and workshops are $30.00 including service charges. Tickets for all events are available beginning March 5 at www.arttix.org. More information about the Tumbleweeds Film Festival is available at www.utahfilmcenter.org.

“The response after last year’s inaugural festival was overwhelming,” said Patrick Hubley, Artistic Director of the Utah Film Center and Director of Tumbleweeds, “The positive feedback we had from our almost 3,000 attendees really inspired us as we planned to present another event. This year’s line-up features more foreign language films than last year and just as many great stories. We hope our festival audiences enjoy watching these films as much as we did when selecting our program.”

Earlier in the week, from March 21-23, the Utah Film Center is working with local elementary school, middle school, junior high, and high school teachers to bring 1,200 students to 6 school outreach screenings. All of the screenings are free to the students, thanks to the support of our sponsors, and include study guides to assist teachers in using the film as a teaching tool.

Click here to see the films and check out the workshops here!

Opening and Closing Night films will be announced within the coming weeks.

Tumbleweeds is generously sponsored by: the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, Salt Lake County’s Zoo, Arts and Parks Program, Adobe Foundation, Art Works for Kids!, eBay, the Natural History Museum of Utah and Spyhop Productions.

Media Sponsors for the 2012 Tumbleweeds Film Festival are: City Weekly, KUED, NOW, and Munchkin Radio.

Utah Film Center programs are made possible by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Rio Tinto, Salt Lake County’s Zoo, Arts and Parks Program, Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Swartz Foundation, and Zions Bank.

The Tumbleweeds Film Festival is an annual film festival for children and youth, ages 4-14, presented by the Utah Film Center. Launched in 2011, Tumbleweeds provides opportunities for film lovers of all ages to engage their creative spirit, and bridge cultures by experiencing films whose stories transcend geographic, cultural and political boundaries. Many of the films at Tumbleweeds are screened in their original language. Foreign language screenings are presented with English subtitles that will be read aloud by a “subtitle reader.” In addition to film screenings, the Utah Film Center is partnering with Spy Hop Productions to present workshops designed to introduce participants to different aspects of filmmaking.

Click here to see the films!
Check out the workshops here!

Bacalar
 

Directed by: Patricia Arriaga-Jordán
Recommended Ages: 9 and up (Spanish with English Subtitles)
Saturday, March 24 – 12:15 PM @ Rose Wagner (no subtitle reader)
Sunday, March 25 – 1:00 PM @ Rose Wagner (w/ subtitle reader)

With a little help from some mystical animal spirits, best friends Santiago and Mariana attempt to rescue endangered wolf cubs from ruthless animal smugglers in this exciting Mexican action-adventure.

A Cat in Paris
 

Directed by: Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol
Recommended Ages: 8 and up (French with English Subtitles)
Saturday, March 24 – 10:30 AM @ Rose Wagner (w/ subtitle reader)
Sunday, March 25 – 3:00 PM @ Rose Wagner (no subtitle reader)

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Film, A Cat in Paris combines stunning hand-drawn and richly colored animation, a jazzy soundtrack, and action-packed adventure to create a wonderfully charming film for children and adults alike.

Chimpanzee
 

Directed by: Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield
Recommended Ages: All ages
Friday, March 23 – 7:30 PM @ Rose Wagner
OPENING NIGHT FILM
*vouchers are not redeemable for this special engagement

Tumbleweeds is excited to present a special advance screening of CHIMPANZEE as the Opening Night film for this year’s festival. Sumptuously shot in the rain forests of Africa, the new film from Disneynature and the award-winning directors of Earth, tells the true-life story of an adorable young chimp named Oscar. Oscar’s playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom.

Circus Dreams
 

Directed by: Signe Taylor
Recommended Ages: 8 and up
Saturday, March 24 – 5:00 PM @ Salt Lake City Public Library

Join charismatic young jugglers, acrobats and clowns as they spend the summer performing with Circus Smirkus, the only travelling youth circus in the United States.
 

David
 

Directed by: Joel Fendelman
Recommended Ages: 10 and up
Sunday, March 25 – 5:00 PM @ Rose Wagner
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
*Q&A following the film with lead-actor Muatasem Mishal and Executive Producer

This charming film examines the complexities of life through the eyes of an 11-year-old Muslim boy growing up in Brooklyn.