Tales of friendship, 3D adventures, and moving stories

A host of heart-warming and unforgettable family films are set to wow young cinemagoers this December, as part of the popular Dubai International Film Festival's (DIFF's) ‘Cinema for Children' segment. Bursting with imagination, some of this year's selection of films will be showcased at DIFF's outdoor venue THE BEACH, opposite JBR for free and also the whole family can enjoy a red carpet gala experience at the Madinat Jumeirah Arena.
Taking a new perspective on the world around us, the BBC's 3D nature adventure ‘Enchanted Kingdom' whisks the audience away on a journey of discovery: from the forests to the underworld, to the sea and the mountains and beyond, culminating in a celebration of nature in all its glory. Directed by Patrick Morris and Neil Nightingale, the ground-breaking documentary is narrated by Idris Elba.
Starring Sam Worthington, ‘Paper Planes' is a touching family film about the trials and tribulations of growing up. The film, directed by Robert Connolly, follows the story of 11-year-old Dylan Webber who struggles to deal with his mother's death. Things start to look up after he meets Kimi, the Junior Japanese Paper Plane Champion, and he discovers that he too is an expert at flying paper planes. This rewarding film shows how teamwork is more important than winning or losing.
In ‘Le Père Noël (‘Santa Claus'), 6-year-old Antoine's dream to meet Santa Claus seem to come true when he crash-lands on the boy's balcony. What he doesn't realise is that Santa isn't who he seems to be, and is in fact a burglar intent on stealing from the rich families of Paris. Taking Antoine on as his apprentice, the fake Santa journeys across the rooftops of the French capital, learning the true meaning of Christmas along the way. ‘‘Le Père Noel' is directed by Alexandre Coffre.
In ‘The Crow's Egg' (‘Kaaka Muttai'), two Indian brothers long to taste their first pizza after seeing a tasty-looking slice on TV. The brothers live with their mother and grandmother in a tiny home in Chennai, with no money to put to their names. Their lives change dramatically after their mother sources a TV set, and they start to yearn for the amazing new world they see portrayed in adverts. Directed by M. Manikandan, this standout film for the 2014 DIFF paints a poignant tale of hope in the face of diversity, poverty and a society resistant to globalisation.
The colourful adventure ‘Fiddlesticks' (‘Quatsch') follows a group of children intent on changing their town's reputation for being completely boring and mundane. Directed and written by Veit Helmer, this film follows the rascally children as they tackle new world records and build incredible machines with the help of both their outlandish grandparents and furry friend Quatsch. Set in the placid town of Bollersdorf, ‘Fiddlesticks' is a spectacle the whole family will enjoy.
Myrna Maakaron, Programmer, DIFF's Cinema for Children, said: "I am delighted by the wonderful films comprising this year's ‘Cinema for Children' segment, which are simultaneously surprising, inspirational, funny and moving. We've selected these brilliant films from the world's best directors, who have shown the power of a fantastic story through their works. Whether you're 8 or 80, there's something for you: these films won't disappoint."
Source: WAM