News Release
International Film Festival kicks off Feb. 25
February 12, 2009
Penn State Harrisburg’s ninth annual public International Film Festival which runs from February 25 to March 1 features an appearance by an Emmy award-winning filmmaker and a special matinee presentation for children and their parents.
The entire series is free and open to the public in the Olmsted Building Auditorium on campus with all films at 7 p.m. except the February 28 matinee at 2 p.m. For information, phone 717-948-6659.
Entitled “Children of the World” and sponsored by the college’s School of Humanities, “This year’s theme focuses on stories of the experience of children throughout the world, with selections from Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, America, and Russia,” says series organizer Assistant Professor of Humanities and Communications Catherine Rios.
The highlight to the series is the February 26 showing of Children of Chabannes and an appearance by its director, Lisa Gossels. The documentary tells the story of how the people of Chabannes, a tiny village in unoccupied France, chose action over indifference and saved the lives of 400 Jewish refugee children. “The showing of this film is co-sponsored with the college’s Center for Holocaust and Jewish Studies,” Rios points out.
The highly honored film is the recipient of a number of prestigious honors in addition to the 2001 Emmy. They include: Best Feature Film (Audience Award), The Nantucket Film Festival; Special Jury Prize, The Avignon Film Festival; Best Documentary Film, The Hollywood Film Festival; Best Documentary Film, The Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival; Best Feature Film, (Audience Award), The Hartford Jewish Film Festival; and the Human Rights Award, The River Run Film Festival.
February 28, 2 p.m. matinee showing of the PG Spirited Away, was added by Rios “to help introduce children in the area to foreign films. The film is in English,” she adds.
The annual series supports Penn State Harrisburg’s commitment to foster understanding
of other cultures – regionally, nationally, and globally. From its highly regarded, year-long diversity and Jewish lecture series, ambitious study abroad and student exchange opportunities, to guest speakers, presentations, and performances, the college has built a solid reputation as the home to community dialog on issues while providing a forum for the exchange of diverse perspectives.
“The value of the series is exposing people – young and old – to a broader array of storytelling and to stories from other cultures,” Rios says. “I like to feature character-driven stories that explore universal human themes that bridge a cultural gap for viewers. Not all of us can travel to a foreign land to personally experience the culture and the people, but through cinema, we can get a taste of an exotic locale, a foreign language, and feel for its peoples. These films expose us to other cultures and encourage us to identify with the people of that culture, give us insight, and broaden our perspective.”
The coordinator of the film festival for four years and a filmmaker herself, she adds, “The series is also designed to reinforce the international experience for students on campus, supporting the college impetus to internationalize its curriculum. It is also a marvelous outreach to the community, fitting nicely in the college’s focus to enhance understanding of other cultures in our increasingly global society. Through film, we can observe personal relationships, societal taboos, religion, and even politics in a foreign country. Understanding what motivates people requires that we see the world through their eyes and by sharing their daily experience.”
The International Film Festival lineup includes:
February 25, 7 p.m.
Central Station
A cynical, joyless woman (Fernanda Montenegro, in a bravura performance) crosses paths with a lonely young boy and regains a long-lost faith in life. A profoundly moving tale of the triumph of the human spirit. (1998, Brazil, director Walter Salles, R)
February 26, 7 p.m.
Children of Chabannes
A tale of courage, resilience and love set during WWII, The Children of Chabannes tells the story of how the people of Chabannes, a tiny village in unoccupied France, chose action over indifference and saved the lives of 400 Jewish refugee children. Through accounts by the
extraordinary teachers who taught and loved these children, this lyrical and moving film shows
the remarkable efforts made by the citizens of Chabannes, who risked their lives and livelihoods to protect these children, simply because they felt it was the right thing to do. Kosher reception following the presentation. (1999, U.S., directors Lisa Gossels and Dean Wetherell, NR)
February 27, 7 p.m.
Persepolis
Academy Award-nominated for Best Animated Feature, Persepolis brings to life the poignant story of a young girl in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Based on the stirring graphic novel memoirs of Marjane Satrapi, this witty yet deeply affecting film has captured the imaginations of audiences and critics worldwide. The issues of love, family and freedom that fill the adolescent life of a young girl are reflected in the revolutionary struggles that surround her in 1970s Iran. (2007, France, directors Marjanne Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, PG-13)
February 28, 2 p.m.
Spirited Away
In this Japanese anime adventure, 10 year old Chihiro and her parents wander into a town filled with gods, monsters and witches. When Chihrio’s parents are changed into animals she must fend for herself. This requires finding a job to make her way in this strange world until she can find her way back home. (2002, Japan, director Hayao Miyazaki, PG)
February 28, 7 p.m.
The Italian
Based on the true story of a small Russian boy, abandoned in a rundown orphanage, who is adopted by an Italian family and then goes in search of his birth mother. The director addresses with intelligence, humor, and poignancy the urgent issue of illegal adoption in Russia, which has become a well-documented international crisis. (2007, Russia, director Andrei Kravchuk, PG-13)
March 1, 7 p.m.
Son of Rambow
Two young English boys are inspired after seeing Rambo: First Blood to make a Rambo movie of their own. Will’s strict family life doesn’t even allow him to watch TV, but that is all changed when he and school bully Lee set out to make their own bizarre home version of the classic action film. (2008, United Kingdom, director Garth Jennings, PG-13)