Second Annual ICFilmFest at the Albany Park Community Center features 21 films from 17 countries

The ICFilmFest, the first touring festival of world class children's film programs, launches its festival season at the Albany Park Community Center. Two screenings on Thursday, June 26 at 4:30 and 6pm will showcase 21 films from 17 countries for children ages 4-12.

Two lively ICFilmFest shorts programs feature stories as diverse as a delightful romp through a Busby Berkely style set in Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks and a chuckling carnival full of clever monsters in Molly Monster: Circus. When a shy Australian girl gets some help eating her huge lunch, she achieves an unexpected goal in Play Lunch, and in Luminaris a disenchanted worker escapes his dull job at a light bulb factory with a high flight of fancy.

Children have the opportunity to vote for their favorite films immediately following each program. Their participation determines the winner of the "Best of the ICFilmFest" to be awarded to the film that receives the greatest number of votes.

ICMC Executive Director Nicole Dreiske comments, "The festival experience gives children the chance to start watching movies with critical thinking filters in place. It's fun and challenging to watch 21 films, knowing that you'll get to pick the festival winners."

The International Children's Film Festival is curated by Nicole Dreiske and presented by Albany Park Community Center in collaboration with the International Children's Media Center.

APCC Childcare and Youth Director Ahsan Akbar says, "The ICFilmFest is a great way to introduce children to global culture and the voting validates their preferences and observations. We're excited to make this program available to our families at the Albany Park Community Center."

Tickets (per screening) are free for Albany Park Community Center families and $5 for non-members. For more information call APCC at 773-539-5907.

Play Lunch, Australia                                                                                                                         Luminaris, Argentina

Albany Park Community Center ICFilmFest 2014 Schedule:

Thursday, June 26 at 4:30 pm

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

Ages 2-5 (60 mins)

Whether it's reaching for the stars or a cup of hot cocoa, friends are there to give the extra boost that makes everything worthwhile. Watch as a kind moon sees a little boy safely home, giggle at Molly Monster's special circus, and take a seat with Spot and Splodge as they learn the dentist isn't so scary after all. Circle of Friendsfeatures 12 films from 10 countries: Ballet of Unhatched Chicks (US), Knitting Girl: The Bridge (Taiwan), Snow (US), Pim & Pom: Around the World (Netherlands), Obetomo School: Magnet (Japan), Violoncello (Russia), Molly Monster: Circus (Germany/Switzerland/Sweden), Shoelace (Australia), Rainy Day Friends (Taiwan), Kind Moon (Iran), The Red Hen (US), and Spot and Splodge: "At the Dentist" (Sweden).

Thursday, June 26 at 6pm

Maybe It's Magic 

Ages 8+ (78 mins)

The characters in this shorts program invite viewers to take a closer look and notice the magic in moments both simple and sublime. Explore dazzling ice caverns with Nokomi and hold your breath as a shy girl brings compassion to the playground, celebrate Claudio's creativity in Colored Pencils, and control the mysteries of time at the Tick Tock Emporium. Maybe It's Magic includes 9 films from 8 countries:pl.nk! (Norway/Poland), The Toboggan (Canada), Play Lunch (Australia), Luminaris (Argentina), In a Heartbeat (Iceland), Nokomi (France), Colored Pencils (Brazil), Eyes on the Stars (US), and Tick Tock Emporium (USA).