DATE NIGHT SPECIAL - THIS FILM IS NOT FOR KIDS
2012 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE - BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba and legendary designer Javier Mariscal celebrate their passion for the music and culture of Cuba with an epic story of love and heartbreak spanning six deconds.

Q&A WITH DIRECTORS AT FEB 10-12 EVENING SHOWS
ANGELIKA FILM CENTER (HOUSTON & MERCER)

DATE NIGHT SPECIAL - THIS FILM IS NOT FOR KIDS
2012 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE - BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba and legendary designer Javier Mariscal celebrate their passion for the music and culture of Cuba with an epic story of love and heartbreak spanning six deconds.

Q&A WITH DIRECTORS AT FEB 10-12 EVENING SHOWS
ANGELIKA FILM CENTER (HOUSTON & MERCER)

(Note: Chico & Rita is one of the two GKIDS films nominated for an Oscar this year in the Best Animated Feature category. The other film is A Cat in Paris, which premiered at NYICFF 2011. Chico & Rita is being released under our adult-skewing Luma Films banner. It is a really good movie!)

Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a sultry singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and desire unite them as they chase their dreams and each other from Havana to New York to Paris, Hollywood and Las Vegas. With an original soundtrack by legendary Cuban pianist and five-time Grammy-winning composer Bebo Valdés, Chico & Rita captures a defining moment in the evolution of history and features the music of (and animated cameos by) Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Cole Porter, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Tito Puente, Chano Pozo, and others.

THIS FILM CONTAINS ANIMATED NUDITY AND MATURE SITUATIONS AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN (OR AT LEAST CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS DO NOT WANT THEM TO SEE ANIMATED NUDITY AND MATURE SITUATIONS).


SOME REVIEWS FROM THE UK RELEASE:

“FOUR STARS! BEAUTIFUL! A SWAYING, SEXY, DREAM OF A MOVIE! The year's best musical, and one of the year's finest animated films!" – The Observer

"FOUR STARS! A SEXY, SOULFUL ANIMATION FOR GROWN-UPS! All buzz, color, and sublime jazz, Chico & Rita is an instant classic!" - Total Film

“FOUR STARS! MAGNIFICENT! DELICIOUS! RAVISHING! Swaying, snake-hipped Latin music from Bebo Valdés, Tito Puente and others reinforces the languid, sensual mood!” – The Telegraph

“FOUR STARS! A LOVE-STORY FOR THE AGES! By turns wistful, passionate, indignant and melancholy, this is an exquisitely composed piece of storytelling.” – The Independent

"FOUR STARS! A PASSIONATE, GLOBE-HOPPING LOVE-STORY! AN ANIMATED GEM! The epic sweep of Trueba’s heart-tugging story is anchored in Mariscal’s gorgeous cityscapes: pre-Castro Havana is a cozy tangle of mottled wood and Tropicana rhythms, while the towering skyscrapers of New York and the sprawling soundstages of Hollywood emphasize just how far – artistically and emotionally – our lovers have come.” – Time Out London

“FOUR STARS! HISPANIC ART DECO MEETS THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE! The music is a splurge of euphony, featuring classics from Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.” – Financial Times

“FOUR STARS! SEXY, SUNNY AND SWEET-NATURED! A Wonderfully Passionate Film!” – The Guardian

“EXUBERANT! BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL! A visually hypnotic, musically electric film!” – The Hollywood Reporter

NYICFF FILMMAKING CAMP - NYICFF is offering one-week, full-day classes in animation, stop-motion, and more, over the Feb, April, and July school breaks. Different classes for ages 6-14. Limited spaces available.
***CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER***

NYICFF FILMMAKING CAMP - NYICFF is offering one-week, full-day classes in animation, stop-motion, and more, over the Feb, April, and July school breaks. Different classes for ages 6-14. Limited spaces available.
***CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER***

SEE IT ALL -- BE POSH -- CUT TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE!
The NYICFF VIP Pass provides priority access admission to all screenings and events during the March 2-25, 2012 Festival.
***CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A VIP PASS***

SEE IT ALL -- BE POSH -- CUT TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE!
The NYICFF VIP Pass provides priority access admission to all screenings and events during the March 2-25, 2012 Festival.
***CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A VIP PASS***

To assure seating, arrive 15 minutes prior to showtime. NYICFF VIP Passes are intended for one person and are non-transferable. Pass holders must provide NYICFF with photo credentials in order to receive their Pass. Passes will not be issued without photo credentials.

US PREMIERE - NYICFF 2012 opens with a classic misunderstood-monster tale, a warm-hearted musical about the power of song featuring Django Reinhardt-style gypsy guitar and honey-toned vocals courtesy of Sean Lennon. Paris, 1910. The streets of the city are flooded. A mist-enshrouded Eiffel Tower looms over a temporary lake and the alleyways sport makeshift bridges so Parisians can go about their daily routines. But spirits are high for the citizens of this romantic city, including those of Emile, a lovelorn film projectionist, and his inventor friend Raoul, whose enthusiasm for breaking rules places him and Emile at the center of some unintentional mischief after they sneak into a scientist’s laboratory greenhouse and unwittingly let loose a monster onto the soggy streets of Paris.

US PREMIERE - NYICFF 2012 opens with a classic misunderstood-monster tale, a warm-hearted musical about the power of song featuring Django Reinhardt-style gypsy guitar and honey-toned vocals courtesy of Sean Lennon. Paris, 1910. The streets of the city are flooded. A mist-enshrouded Eiffel Tower looms over a temporary lake and the alleyways sport makeshift bridges so Parisians can go about their daily routines. But spirits are high for the citizens of this romantic city, including those of Emile, a lovelorn film projectionist, and his inventor friend Raoul, whose enthusiasm for breaking rules places him and Emile at the center of some unintentional mischief after they sneak into a scientist’s laboratory greenhouse and unwittingly let loose a monster onto the soggy streets of Paris.

Yet this terrible monster turns out to have a sad and sensitive soul – as well as musical talent – and when cabaret singer Lucille discovers the beast hiding backstage at the music hall, he dons a cape and hat and joins her act, instantly wowing the crowd with his silky smooth voice and hot guitar licks. Yet despite his peaceful demeanor, the City of Lights is in a panic, as the rotten rogue of a mayor plunges his police force headlong into a chaotic monster hunt that uses both the sweeping backdrops of Paris and 3D effects to the fullest.



NOTE: This is a two-tiered event

• Ticket to Screening ONLY: $16
• Ticket to the Screening and Opening Night Party: $30

FREE NYICFF GIFT BAGS FOR ALL ATTENDEES!
Join filmmakers and special guests for the NYICFF 2012 Awards Ceremony, with kid-friendly awards presentation, encore screenings of the winning films, and NYICFF tote bags stuffed with goodies for everyone!

FREE NYICFF GIFT BAGS FOR ALL ATTENDEES!
Join filmmakers and special guests for the NYICFF 2011 Awards Ceremony, with kid-friendly awards presentation, encore screenings of the winning films, and NYICFF tote bags stuffed with goodies for everyone!

Come find out who this year's winners are - as chosen by the NYICFF Jury and audience ballots throughout the festival. After the movies it's party time with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, delectable treats for kids of all ages, and an open wine and beverage bar.

NOTE: This is a two-tiered event

• Ticket to Awards Show and Best of Fest Screening ONLY: $16
• Ticket to the NYICFF Awards Show & Best of Fest Screening, and fully catered Closing Night Party: $30
• ALL ATTENDEES will receive a NYICFF goodie tote bag stuffed with gifts and prizes.

NYICFF 2012 Jury:
John Canemaker
Adam Gopnik
Tomm Moore
Lynne McVeigh
Matthew Modine
Michel Ocelot
Dana Points
Susan Sarandon
James Schamus
Evan Shapiro
Uma Thurman
Christine Vachon
Gus Van Sant
Taika Waititi
Jeffrey Wright

Makoto Shinkai is perhaps the world’s finest animator and his brilliant new feature delivers frame after frame of jaw-dropping photorealistic splendor: skyscapes of unspeakable majesty, a butterfly on a twig, a blade of grass – all are rendered with such astounding delicacy and precision that you mourn their passing once the image has left the screen. The story is a modern-day Orpheus tale with a sci-fi twist that pays tribute to the great works of Hayao Miyazaki – especially Princess Mononoke – with its demonic spirit-gods and magnificent forest creatures.

Makoto Shinkai is perhaps the world’s finest animator and his brilliant new feature delivers frame after frame of jaw-dropping photorealistic splendor: skyscapes of unspeakable majesty, a butterfly on a twig, a blade of grass – all are rendered with such astounding delicacy and precision that you mourn their passing once the image has left the screen. The story is a modern-day Orpheus tale with a sci-fi twist that pays tribute to the great works of Hayao Miyazaki – especially Princess Mononoke – with its demonic spirit-gods and magnificent forest creatures.

Asuna spends her afternoons alone in the mountains, using her crystal radio to listen to haunting songs from somewhere far away. One afternoon, a wild bear-like creature attacks and Asuna is saved by Shun, a boy with strange powers who comes from a mythical underworld beneath the Earth that is a gateway to the afterlife. When Asuna returns the next day to find him gone, she decides to leave the world of the living behind and follow him.

Comment: Animated violence and bloodshed, ghostlike creatures, and dark themes may be inappropriate for young or sensitive audiences.

SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW - NYICFF is thrilled to present the first New York screening of the new Disneynature film from the award-winning directors of Earth. Sumptuously shot in the rain forests of Africa, 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.

The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps, who’d rather make mayhem than join their parents for an afternoon nap. Working together, Oscar’s chimpanzee family – including his mom, Isha, and the group’s savvy leader, Freddy – navigates the complex territory of the forest. But when Oscar’s family is confronted by a rival community of chimps, he is left to fend for himself until a surprising ally steps in and changes his life forever. As with the groundbreaking earlier Disneynature films, Chimpanzee boasts unparalleled nature photography and gives us an intimate first-hand look into the life of our closest relatives, while telling a truly remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph.

SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW - NYICFF is thrilled to present the first New York screening of the new Disneynature film from the award-winning directors of Earth. Sumptuously shot in the rain forests of Africa, 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.

The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps, who’d rather make mayhem than join their parents for an afternoon nap. Working together, Oscar’s chimpanzee family – including his mom, Isha, and the group’s savvy leader, Freddy – navigates the complex territory of the forest. But when Oscar’s family is confronted by a rival community of chimps, he is left to fend for himself until a surprising ally steps in and changes his life forever. As with the groundbreaking earlier Disneynature films, Chimpanzee boasts unparalleled nature photography and gives us an intimate first-hand look into the life of our closest relatives, while telling a truly remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph.

US PREMIERE - FILMMAKER Q&A AT MAR 17 SCREENING - Based on the earliest known version of Cinderella, the Chinese tale “Ye Xian” from 768 A.D., cinematographer Richard Bowen’s wonder-filled feature debut is a gorgeous and enchanting fairytale, with exquisitely ornate costumes, dazzling scenery shot in Yunnan Province, and an underlying message that is as timely today as it was thirteen centuries ago.

US PREMIERE - FILMMAKER Q&A AT MAR 17 SCREENING - Based on the earliest known version of Cinderella, the Chinese tale “Ye Xian” from 768 A.D., cinematographer Richard Bowen’s wonder-filled feature debut is a gorgeous and enchanting fairytale, with exquisitely ornate costumes, dazzling scenery shot in Yunnan Province, and an underlying message that is as timely today as it was thirteen centuries ago.

In a mythical kingdom, a girl is born. The village shaman had foretold a boy and Mei Mei’s father is sorely disappointed. Years later with her mother gone, Mei Mei is left with nothing but a pair of bejeweled slippers and the hope that one day she will get to dance at the Festival of the Full Moon. Meanwhile, the kingdom has been thrown out of balance – the moon is stuck in the sky – and the handsome young king is commanded by his mother to take a wife to restore the celestial harmony. But the king refuses to have a child with a woman he does not truly love. One day, peering through a telescope from his island home, the king spies Mei Mei floating on air in her magical slippers. Convinced that he’s seen an angel, he sets out in search for her – but she runs off, losing one bejeweled slipper along the way.

FILMMAKER Q&A AT MAR 10 SCREENING - One of the most talked about films at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, First Position follows six astoundingly gifted, unbelievably disciplined young dancers vying for a spot in the Youth America Grand Prix. Considered one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world, the NYC showcase provides students the opportunity to dance for scholarships to the world’s top dance schools and land contracts with renowned companies.

Joan Sebastian, 16, from Cali, Colombia dances to create a better life for himself and his family. Miko, 12, from Palo Alto, pursues her love of ballet with the help of (or perhaps in spite of) her perfectionist Tiger Mom. Michaela, 14, was adopted as a toddler from war-torn Sierra Leone and fights through injury to overcome stereotypes that keep many black dancers out of the spotlight. And then there’s Gaya from Israel, who at only 11 years old dances with a poise, control and maturity that is simply astonishing to behold. With tensions building as we progress to the make-or-break finals, the film supplies all the drama you would expect – but even more than a dance movie, First Position captures the universal trials and triumphs of childhood across all walks of life.

FILMMAKER Q&A AT MAR 10 SCREENING - One of the most talked about films at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, First Position follows six astoundingly gifted, unbelievably disciplined young dancers vying for a spot in the Youth America Grand Prix. Considered one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world, the NYC showcase provides students the opportunity to dance for scholarships to the world’s top dance schools and land contracts with renowned companies.

Joan Sebastian, 16, from Cali, Colombia dances to create a better life for himself and his family. Miko, 12, from Palo Alto, pursues her love of ballet with the help of (or perhaps in spite of) her perfectionist Tiger Mom. Michaela, 14, was adopted as a toddler from war-torn Sierra Leone and fights through injury to overcome stereotypes that keep many black dancers out of the spotlight. And then there’s Gaya from Israel, who at only 11 years old dances with a poise, control and maturity that is simply astonishing to behold. With tensions building as we progress to the make-or-break finals, the film supplies all the drama you would expect – but even more than a dance movie, First Position captures the universal trials and triumphs of childhood across all walks of life.

Sitting at #1 on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the best reviewed movies of all time, A Hard Day’s Night is “one of the great life-affirming landmarks of the movies” (Roger Ebert) and “pure infectious joy” (Kenneth Turan). Shot at the height of Beatlemania following their triumphant first US visit and Ed Sullivan appearances, and while the group occupied the top five spots on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, the film captures all the exhilaration, excitement, and optimistic energy that defined the early Beatles phenomenon.

Shot in black-and-white, mock cinéma vérité style, director Richard Lester follows the foursome as they run from frenzied fans, poke fun at managers, cops, and other establishment types, and generally revel in their own youthful exuberance. Much has been said about the innovative quick cut edits, the hand-held cameras, the cutting to the beat, and the film’s other lasting influences – but whether you care about that kind of stuff or not is besides the point. When else can you spend 88 minutes smiling and feeling so positive about life?

Sitting at #1 on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the best reviewed movies of all time, A Hard Day’s Night is “one of the great life-affirming landmarks of the movies” (Roger Ebert) and “pure infectious joy” (Kenneth Turan). Shot at the height of Beatlemania following their triumphant first US visit and Ed Sullivan appearances, and while the group occupied the top five spots on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, the film captures all the exhilaration, excitement, and optimistic energy that defined the early Beatles phenomenon.

Shot in black-and-white, mock cinéma vérité style, director Richard Lester follows the foursome as they run from frenzied fans, poke fun at managers, cops, and other establishment types, and generally revel in their own youthful exuberance. Much has been said about the innovative quick cut edits, the hand-held cameras, the cutting to the beat, and the film’s other lasting influences – but whether you care about that kind of stuff or not is besides the point. When else can you spend 88 minutes smiling and feeling so positive about life?

EAST COAST PREMIERE - The last time Momo saw her father they had a fight – and now all she has left to remember him by is an incomplete letter that he had started to write her, a blank piece of paper penned with the words “Dear Momo” but nothing more. Moving with her mother from bustling Tokyo to the remote Japanese island of Shio, she soon discovers three goblins living in her attic, a trio of mischievous spiritcreatures who have been assigned to watch over her and that only she can see.

The goblins are also perpetually famished and they begin to wreak havoc on the formerly tranquil island, ransacking pantries and ravaging orchards – acts for which Momo often has to take the blame. But these funny monsters also have a serious side, and may hold the key to helping Momo understand what her father had been trying to tell her. A Letter to Momo is a wonderfully expressive and beautifully hand drawn tale that combines bursts of whimsy and kinetic humor with deep felt emotion and drama. The animation is superb throughout, from the painstakingly rendered serenity of the island’s Shinto shrines to the climactic finale – a frantic chase featuring thousands of squirming, morphing ghosts and goblins that is the best flight of supernatural fancy since Spirited Away.

EAST COAST PREMIERE - The last time Momo saw her father they had a fight – and now all she has left to remember him by is an incomplete letter that he had started to write her, a blank piece of paper penned with the words “Dear Momo” but nothing more. Moving with her mother from bustling Tokyo to the remote Japanese island of Shio, she soon discovers three goblins living in her attic, a trio of mischievous spiritcreatures who have been assigned to watch over her and that only she can see.

The goblins are also perpetually famished and they begin to wreak havoc on the formerly tranquil island, ransacking pantries and ravaging orchards – acts for which Momo often has to take the blame. But these funny monsters also have a serious side, and may hold the key to helping Momo understand what her father had been trying to tell her. A Letter to Momo is a wonderfully expressive and beautifully hand drawn tale that combines bursts of whimsy and kinetic humor with deep felt emotion and drama. The animation is superb throughout, from the painstakingly rendered serenity of the island’s Shinto shrines to the climactic finale – a frantic chase featuring thousands of squirming, morphing ghosts and goblins that is the best flight of supernatural fancy since Spirited Away.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE - Lotte is back! The beloved girl-dog returns in this utterly charming follow-up to NYICFF 2008 audience favorite Lotte from Gadgetville. The townspeople of Gadgetville are as wacky as ever – still creating kooky contraptions and having cheery adventures. While reminiscing about a past adventure, Lotte’s uncle Klaus tells the story of how he and his friends, Fred and Ville, came to find three magical stones in a hidden temple.

Now all Lotte wants to do is unlock the secret of their power – so she convinces her uncle to go on a trip to find his old buddies and piece together the mystery. However, what Lotte and Uncle Klaus don’t know is that they are being followed by two Moon Rabbits – whose only hope of getting back home is locked up in those very same stones! A gentle and quirky journey filled with a cast of silly characters including a lovesick drummer and a man who sleeps all day in order to dream, Lotte and the Moonstone Secret is richly rendered, warm-hearted, good-natured fun for audiences of all ages. Featuring original songs by Latvian pop group Brainstorm! (What, you haven’t heard of them?!)

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE - Lotte is back! The beloved girl-dog returns in this utterly charming follow-up to NYICFF 2008 audience favorite Lotte from Gadgetville. The townspeople of Gadgetville are as wacky as ever – still creating kooky contraptions and having cheery adventures. While reminiscing about a past adventure, Lotte’s uncle Klaus tells the story of how he and his friends, Fred and Ville, came to find three magical stones in a hidden temple.

Now all Lotte wants to do is unlock the secret of their power – so she convinces her uncle to go on a trip to find his old buddies and piece together the mystery. However, what Lotte and Uncle Klaus don’t know is that they are being followed by two Moon Rabbits – whose only hope of getting back home is locked up in those very same stones! A gentle and quirky journey filled with a cast of silly characters including a lovesick drummer and a man who sleeps all day in order to dream, Lotte and the Moonstone Secret is richly rendered, warm-hearted, good-natured fun for audiences of all ages. Featuring original songs by Latvian pop group Brainstorm! (What, you haven’t heard of them?!)

US PREMIERE - WITH LIVE MUSIC ACCOMPANIMENT - Don’t miss this special US Premiere presentation of Magic Piano, the virtuosic stop-motion masterpiece from the Academy Award-winning producer of Peter and the Wolf, and set to Chopin’s etudes in celebration of the 200th anniversary of his birth. The film will be screened in 3D with live concert piano accompaniment by Derek Wang and Anna Larsen, Young Scholars of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation.

The film, part of the Flying Machine series – and short-listed for an Oscar – is a soaring tale of a girl who takes off into the open skies and travels the globe on a flying piano in search of her father. Other musical animation in the program includes Little Postman, Pl!ink, and Night Island, also from the Flying Machine series, as well as the award-winning musical films Luminaris (winner at Annecy and also short-listed for an Oscar) and The Maker.

US PREMIERE - WITH LIVE MUSIC ACCOMPANIMENT - Don’t miss this special US Premiere presentation of Magic Piano, the virtuosic stop-motion masterpiece from the Academy Award-winning producer of Peter and the Wolf, and set to Chopin’s etudes in celebration of the 200th anniversary of his birth. The film will be screened in 3D with live concert piano accompaniment by Derek Wang and Anna Larsen, Young Scholars of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation.

The film, part of the Flying Machine series – and short-listed for an Oscar – is a soaring tale of a girl who takes off into the open skies and travels the globe on a flying piano in search of her father. Other musical animation in the program includes Little Postman, Pl!ink, and Night Island, also from the Flying Machine series, as well as the award-winning musical films Luminaris (winner at Annecy and also short-listed for an Oscar) and The Maker.

From the twisted mind of Takashi Miike comes an insane new kids’ flick about a feuding ninja school – a riotous kung-fu comedy that easily earns all three exclamation points in its title. Little Rantaro comes from a long line of low-ranking ninjas, so when the time comes to leave the family farm to enter ninja school himself he is determined to study hard. Yet despite their dedication in star-throwing, explosives, and rock-climbing, Rantaro’s first year class is so inept that the headmaster declares an early summer vacation and sends them all home.

But the youngsters will get to earn their stars yet – after being challenged by a rival clan, the first-years must race to ring the bell at a mountaintop temple to save the school. Brilliant in its excess and bursting with joyous energy from the infectious young cast, the film is loaded with non-stop visual gags, dopey villains, adorable ninja trainees, and one very informative “friendly ninja trivia commentator” (as well as a musical back-story about a ninja-turned-hairdresser, sung mock operatic under a shower of falling flower petals). To quote one reviewer: Your jaw will drop like an elevator with a snapped cable. Be sure to stay for the end credits!

Comment: Stylized cartoon violence is jarring at first, until you realize that no one really gets hurt.

From the twisted mind of Takashi Miike comes an insane new kids’ flick about a feuding ninja school – a riotous kung-fu comedy that easily earns all three exclamation points in its title. Little Rantaro comes from a long line of low-ranking ninjas, so when the time comes to leave the family farm to enter ninja school himself he is determined to study hard. Yet despite their dedication in star-throwing, explosives, and rock-climbing, Rantaro’s first year class is so inept that the headmaster declares an early summer vacation and sends them all home.

But the youngsters will get to earn their stars yet – after being challenged by a rival clan, the first-years must race to ring the bell at a mountaintop temple to save the school. Brilliant in its excess and bursting with joyous energy from the infectious young cast, the film is loaded with non-stop visual gags, dopey villains, adorable ninja trainees, and one very informative “friendly ninja trivia commentator” (as well as a musical back-story about a ninja-turned-hairdresser, sung mock operatic under a shower of falling flower petals). To quote one reviewer: Your jaw will drop like an elevator with a snapped cable. Be sure to stay for the end credits!

Comment: Stylized cartoon violence is jarring at first, until you realize that no one really gets hurt.

SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW - Aaargh! NYICFF is extremely proud to present the epic new claymation adventure from four-time Academy Award-winning stop-motion masters, Aardman Animations. Directed by Aardman founder (and former NYICFF jury member) Peter Lord, Pirates is the high seas saga of hapless Pirate Captain and his crew of extremely silly and witless pirate fools.

With his rag-tag crew at his side, and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the boundlessly enthusiastic Captain embarks on a quest to be named Pirate of the Year – a voyage that takes us from the shores of exotic Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London and encounters with Queen Elizabeth, a young Charles Darwin, and a colorful assortment of ruthless pirate adversaries. But in his increasingly desperate drive for greatness, our gung-ho Captain risks alienating his only true friends and losing what is most dear to him.

SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW - Aaargh! NYICFF is extremely proud to present the epic new claymation adventure from four-time Academy Award-winning stop-motion masters, Aardman Animations. Directed by Aardman founder (and former NYICFF jury member) Peter Lord, Pirates is the high seas saga of hapless Pirate Captain and his crew of extremely silly and witless pirate fools.

With his rag-tag crew at his side, and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the boundlessly enthusiastic Captain embarks on a quest to be named Pirate of the Year – a voyage that takes us from the shores of exotic Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London and encounters with Queen Elizabeth, a young Charles Darwin, and a colorful assortment of ruthless pirate adversaries. But in his increasingly desperate drive for greatness, our gung-ho Captain risks alienating his only true friends and losing what is most dear to him.

SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW - One part More than a Game, two parts Bad News Bears, this thoroughly charming and eye-opening sports doc offers a glimpse of hope and possibility for life in Iraq through the vantage point of a girls college basketball team. In its second year of existence, the American University of Iraq women’s team has never won a single game – not surprising in a culture where team sports are strictly for men and when most of the players have never touched a basketball (some even show up to tryouts in high heels!).

Yet what they lack in talent they make up for in spunk, executing every drill and taking every direction from Connecticut English teacher-turned coach Ryan, whose earnestness sometimes plays like parody as he rallies his motley but endearing group into game shape. Through interviews and homemade video diaries, team members share their experiences before leaving war-torn homes and finding refuge at the university, where Kurds, Sunnis, Christians and Shiites are all welcome. Though the basketball is laughable (they lose one game 68 to 2), filmmaker David Fine captures every pass and nail-biting free throw as if he was filming for ESPN, and provides an overcoming-the-odds spirit so strong that the viewer can’t help but cheer for the rag-tag team. But the true heroes are the girls off court. Though a world apart from the lives led by most New York girls, what comes through in the film are not the differences but the similarities.

SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW - One part More than a Game, two parts Bad News Bears, this thoroughly charming and eye-opening sports doc offers a glimpse of hope and possibility for life in Iraq through the vantage point of a girls college basketball team. In its second year of existence, the American University of Iraq women’s team has never won a single game – not surprising in a culture where team sports are strictly for men and when most of the players have never touched a basketball (some even show up to tryouts in high heels!).

Yet what they lack in talent they make up for in spunk, executing every drill and taking every direction from Connecticut English teacher-turned coach Ryan, whose earnestness sometimes plays like parody as he rallies his motley but endearing group into game shape. Through interviews and homemade video diaries, team members share their experiences before leaving war-torn homes and finding refuge at the university, where Kurds, Sunnis, Christians and Shiites are all welcome. Though the basketball is laughable (they lose one game 68 to 2), filmmaker David Fine captures every pass and nail-biting free throw as if he was filming for ESPN, and provides an overcoming-the-odds spirit so strong that the viewer can’t help but cheer for the rag-tag team. But the true heroes are the girls off court. Though a world apart from the lives led by most New York girls, what comes through in the film are not the differences but the similarities.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE - FILMMAKER Q&A AT MAR 4 SCREENING - NYICFF is absolutely thrilled to present one of the most stunningly beautiful films we have seen in years. With swirls of vibrant color that burst from the screen, and nearly every frame a breathtaking wonder, Le Tableau is a captivating, enormously enjoyable animated treat for both children and adults.

In this wryly inventive parable, a kingdom is divided into the three castes: the impeccably painted Alldunns who reside in a majestic palace; the Halfies who the Painter has left incomplete; and the untouchable Sketchies, simple charcoal outlines who are banished to the cursed forest. Chastised for her forbidden love for an Alldunn and shamed by her unadorned face, Halfie Claire runs away into the forest. Her beloved Ramo and best friend Lola journey after her, passing between the forbidden Death Flowers that guard the boundaries of the forest (in one of the film’s most radiantly gorgeous scenes), and arriving finally at the very edge of the painting – where they tumble through the canvas and into the Painter’s studio. The abandoned workspace is strewn with paintings, each containing its own animated world – and in a feast for both the eyes and imagination, they explore first one picture and then another, attempting to discover just what the Painter has in mind for all his creations. Presented in partnership with Rendez-Vous with French Cinema.

Comment: A painted nude in the studio comes to life and becomes a talking character.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE - FILMMAKER Q&A AT MAR 4 SCREENING - NYICFF is absolutely thrilled to present one of the most stunningly beautiful films we have seen in years. With swirls of vibrant color that burst from the screen, and nearly every frame a breathtaking wonder, Le Tableau is a captivating, enormously enjoyable animated treat for both children and adults.

In this wryly inventive parable, a kingdom is divided into the three castes: the impeccably painted Alldunns who reside in a majestic palace; the Halfies who the Painter has left incomplete; and the untouchable Sketchies, simple charcoal outlines who are banished to the cursed forest. Chastised for her forbidden love for an Alldunn and shamed by her unadorned face, Halfie Claire runs away into the forest. Her beloved Ramo and best friend Lola journey after her, passing between the forbidden Death Flowers that guard the boundaries of the forest (in one of the film’s most radiantly gorgeous scenes), and arriving finally at the very edge of the painting – where they tumble through the canvas and into the Painter’s studio. The abandoned workspace is strewn with paintings, each containing its own animated world – and in a feast for both the eyes and imagination, they explore first one picture and then another, attempting to discover just what the Painter has in mind for all his creations. Presented in partnership with Rendez-Vous with French Cinema.

Comment: A painted nude in the studio comes to life and becomes a talking character.

FILMMAKER Q&A AT MAR 18 SCREENING - NYICFF welcomes renowned animator Michel Ocelot (Kirikou and the Sorceress, Azur & Asmar) to present his newest film. Tales of the Night is Ocelot’s first foray into 3D animation and extends the shadow puppet style of his Princes and Princesses into the third dimension, with silhouetted characters set off against exquisitely detailed backgrounds bursting with color and kaleidoscopic patterns like a Day-Glo diorama.

The film weaves together six exotic fables each unfolding in a unique locale, from Tibet, to medieval Europe, an Aztec kingdom, the African plains, and even the Caribbean Land of the Dead. In Ocelot’s storytelling, history blends with fairytale as viewers are whisked off to enchanted lands full of dragons, sorcerers, werewolves, captive princesses, and enormous talking bees - and each fable ends with its own ironic twist.

FILMMAKER Q&A AT MAR 18 SCREENING - NYICFF welcomes renowned animator Michel Ocelot (Kirikou and the Sorceress, Azur & Asmar) to present his newest film. Tales of the Night is Ocelot’s first foray into 3D animation and extends the shadow puppet style of his Princes and Princesses into the third dimension, with silhouetted characters set off against exquisitely detailed backgrounds bursting with color and kaleidoscopic patterns like a Day-Glo diorama.

The film weaves together six exotic fables each unfolding in a unique locale, from Tibet, to medieval Europe, an Aztec kingdom, the African plains, and even the Caribbean Land of the Dead. In Ocelot’s storytelling, history blends with fairytale as viewers are whisked off to enchanted lands full of dragons, sorcerers, werewolves, captive princesses, and enormous talking bees - and each fable ends with its own ironic twist.

WORLD PREMIERE ENGLISH LANGUAGE VERSION - The NYICFF 2010 Grand Prize winner is back, in a new English language version, featuring the voices of Forest Whitaker, Joan Cusack and Cary Elwes. Legendary Czech stop-motion animation master Jiri Barta’s first feature in over 20 years is four parts Toy Story and one part David Lynch, as a group of abandoned toys stage an ambitious rescue of their kidnapped friend.

WORLD PREMIERE ENGLISH LANGUAGE VERSION - The NYICFF 2010 Grand Prize winner is back, in a new English language version, featuring the voices of Forest Whitaker, Joan Cusack and Cary Elwes. Legendary Czech stop-motion animation master Jiri Barta’s first feature in over 20 years is four parts Toy Story and one part David Lynch, as a group of abandoned toys stage an ambitious rescue of their kidnapped friend.

Set behind the doors of a dusty attic, the adorable doll Buttercup plays mom to a motley family of castaways: the station master Teddy Bear, clay-animated Schubert, and the Quixotic marionette knight Sir Handsome. In this enchanted world every day is a birthday, until a mysterious black cat kidnaps the beloved Buttercup and takes her to the Land of Evil ruled by the villainous Head of State, who commands an army of mechanical, mustachioed insects and an all seeing spying eye. Both a wonderfully spooky children’s fairy tale and Soviet-era allegory, Toys in the Attic marks a career highpoint for Barta, who was among the first to raise stop-motion animation to an art form and paved the the way for modern hits like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, and Fantastic Mr. Fox.

FIRST NY SCREENING IN OVER 10 YEARS - An icon of psychedelic pop culture, Yellow Submarine is a colorful musical spectacle and an exhilaratingly joyful cinematic experience for all ages – filled with visual invention, optical illusions, word play, and glorious, glorious music.

Once upon a time…or maybe twice…there was an unearthly paradise called Pepperland, 80,000 leagues under the sea it lay, a place where beauty, happiness, and music reigned supreme. But this peaceful harmony is shattered when the Blue Meanies invade with their army of storm bloopers, apple bonkers, snapping turtle turks, and the menacing flying glove in an attempt to stop the music and drain Pepperland of all color and hope. Now it’s The Beatles to the rescue, as our animated heroes team up with Young Fred and the Nowhere Man and journey across seven seas to free Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, make peace with the Meanies, and restore music, color, and love to the world.

But beyond all the music and whimsy, Yellow Submarine is a landmark in animation, with Heinz Edelmann’s inspired art direction conjuring up a non- stop parade of wildly different styles and techniques. From the paper-doll residents of Pepperland, to the tinted photography of the soot covered roofs and smokestacks of Liverpool, the menagerie of fanciful characters in the Sea of Monsters, the kaleidoscopic color-splashed rotoscoping of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, the vertigo inducing op-art of the Sea of Holes, and the triumphant euphony of the It’s All Too Much finale, the film is simply a joy.

FIRST NY SCREENING IN OVER 10 YEARS - An icon of psychedelic pop culture, Yellow Submarine is a colorful musical spectacle and an exhilaratingly joyful cinematic experience for all ages – filled with visual invention, optical illusions, word play, and glorious, glorious music.

Once upon a time…or maybe twice…there was an unearthly paradise called Pepperland, 80,000 leagues under the sea it lay, a place where beauty, happiness, and music reign supreme. But this peaceful harmony is shattered when the Blue Meanies invade with their army of apple bonkers, snapping turtle turks, and the menacing Flying Glove in an attempt to stop the music and drain Pepperland of all color and hope. Now it’s The Beatles to the rescue, as our animated heroes team up with Young Fred and the Nowhere Man and journey across seven seas to free Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, make peace with the Meanies, and restore music, color, and love to the world.

But beyond all the music and whimsy, Yellow Submarine is a landmark in animation, with Heinz Edelmann’s inspired art direction conjuring up a non- stop parade of wildly different styles and techniques. From the paper-doll residents of Pepperland, to the tinted photography of the soot covered roofs and smokestacks of Liverpool, the menagerie of fanciful characters in the Sea of Monsters, the kaleidoscopic color-splashed rotoscoping of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, the vertigo inducing op-art of the Sea of Holes, and the triumphant euphony of the It’s All Too Much finale, the film is simply a joy.

SHORT FILMS FOR AGES 3 TO 6 - A kaleidoscopic showcase of the best short film and animation from around the world, for ages 3 to 6. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

SHORT FILMS FOR AGES 3 TO 6 - A kaleidoscopic showcase of the best short film and animation from around the world, for ages 3 to 6. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

Behind
Canada - US PREMIERE
Animation, Ga Young Back, 2011, 3 min

The Gruffalo's Child
UK - EAST COAST PREMIERE
Animation, Johannes Weiland/Uwe Heidschotter, 2011, 26 min

Balloon Moon
Portugal - EAST COAST PREMIERE
Animation, Jose Miguel Ribeiro, 2010, 5 min

Twist and Shout
Japan - EAST COAST PREMIERE
Animation, Yosuke Kihara, 2010, 3 min

Gulp
UK - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Sumo Science, 2011, 2 min

Metro
USA
Animation, Jake Wyatt, 2011, 5 min

Diversity
USA - US PREMIERE
Animation, Anthony Dusko, 2010, 1 min

Keenan At Sea
USA
Animation, David Cowles/Jeremy Galante, 2010, 2 min

PL!INK
Norway/Poland - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Anne Kristin Berge, 2011, 3.5 min

Who Is Not Sleeping?
Sweden - WORLD PREMIERE
Animation, Jessica Lauren, 2010, 4 min

SHORTS FILMS FOR AGES 5 TO 10 - The best short film and animation from around the world, for ages 5-10. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

SHORTS FILMS FOR AGES 5 TO 10 - The best short film and animation from around the world, for ages 5-10. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

Maximum Boost
Switzerland - US PREMIERE
Live Action, Rolf Hellat, 2010, 5 min

Hello I Like You
USA - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Mixtape Club, 2011, 2 min

The Storyteller
India/UK - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Nandita Jain, 2011, 10 min

Swimming Pool
Czech Republic
Animation, Alexandra Hetmerova, 2010, 7 min

The Girl and the Fox
USA
Animation, Tyler J. Kupferer, 2011, 5.5 min

Extinction of the Sabertooth House Cat
USA
Animation, Damon Wong, 2010, 3.5 min

Shop Tales
Hungary - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Eszter Szoboszlay, 2010, 7 min

B/W Races
Italy - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Jacopo Martinoni, 2010, 2.5 min

Floyd the Android
USA
Animation, Jonathan Lyons, 2011, 2 min

Ernesto
UK - US PREMIERE
Animation, Corinne Ladeinde, 2011, 7 min

Shadow of a Midsummer Night
Norway - NY PREMIERE
Live Action, Arna Marie Bersaas, 2011, 16 min

SHORT FILMS FOR AGES 8 TO 14 - The best short film and animation from around the world, for ages 8 to 14. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

SHORT FILMS FOR AGES 8 TO 14 - The best short film and animation from around the world, for ages 8 to 14. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

Dawn
Canada - US PREMIERE
Animation, Jean-Francois Proulx, 2010, 1.5 min

Luminaris
Argentina - NY PREMIERE
Animation/Mixed Media, Juan Pablo Zaramella, 2010, 6.5 min

Grandma Grasshopper
Bolivia/Denmark - US PREMIERE
Animation, Denis Chapon, 2010, 13 min

Capturing Santa
Ireland - NY PREMIERE
Live Action, Peter Cattaneo, 2011, 12 min

The Sandpit
USA - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Sam O'Hare, 2010, 5.5 min

Dripped
France
Animation, Leo Verrier, 2010, 9 min

Paint Showers
USA - EAST COAST PREMIERE
Animation, Miguel Jiron, 2010, 3 min

Bunce
UK
Live Action, Peter Cattaneo, 2010, 12 min

Chute
France
Animation, Mathias Lachal, 2010, 2 min

SHORT FILMS FOR AGES 12 TO ADULT - The best short film and animation from around the world, for ages 12 to adult. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

SHORT FILMS FOR AGES 12 TO ADULT - The best short film and animation from around the world, for ages 12 to adult. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

Dr. Breakfast
USA - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Stephen Neary, 2011, 7 min

Journey to Cape Verde
Portugal
Animation, Jose Miguel Ribeiro, 2010, 17 min

I Don't Want to go Back Alone
Brazil
Live Action, Daniel Ribeiro, 2010, 17 min

(Notes On) Biology
USA
Animation, Danny Madden, 2010, 5.5 min

Child's Play
Germany - NY PREMIERE
Live Action, Lars Kornhoff, 2010, 18 min

Polo's Robot
Australia - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Peter Lowey, 2011, 2 min

SHORT FILMS FOR AGES 10 TO ADULT - A collection of strange and scary short films from around the world, for ages 10 to adult. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

SHORT FILMS FOR AGES 10 TO ADULT - A collection of strange and scary short films from around the world, for ages 10 to adult. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

Chernokids
France - US PREMIERE
Animation, Matthieu Bernadat, 2010, 7 min

Escape His Stare
France - US PREMIERE
Animation, Chen Chen, 2010, 3.5 min

Rose & Violet
Canada - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Luc Otter/Claude Grosch, 2011, 26.5 min

The Maker
Australia - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Christopher Kezelos, 2010, 5 min

The Monster of Nix
France - NY PREMIERE
Animation, Rosto A.D., 2011, 30 min

Wilis
France - US PREMIERE
Animation, Emilie Tcherkaschenko, 2010, 5 min

SHORT FILMS FOR AGES 10 TO ADULT - Girls' Point of View is a collection of the best short films from around the world, for ages 10 to adult. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

SHORT FILMS FOR AGES 10 TO ADULT - Girls' Point of View is a collection of the best short films from around the world, for ages 10 to adult. All audience members receive voting ballots to select the NYICFF 2012 winning films! Program includes:

Whale Bird
France - US PREMIERE
Animation, Sophie Roze, 2011, 7.5 min

Hairy
USA - US PREMIERE
Live Action, Ana Lily Amirpour, 2010, 17 min

Jessi
Germany - US PREMIERE
Live Action, Mariejosephin Schneider, 2010, 31 min

I Am a Girl!
Netherlands
Live Action/Documentary, Susan Koenen, 2010, 15 min

Fat
Canada - US PREMIERE
Live Action/ Documentary, Margaret Donahoe/Gillian Good, 2011, 5 min

Swimsuit 46
Belgium - NY PREMIERE
Live Action, Wannes Destoop, 2011, 15 min