media releases
Friday, January 16, 2009
Brieanne Jansen to Speak at SJCFF 2009 Young Actor's Studio Program, Empire Theatre, January 18th, 2PM
Monday, November 17, 2008
Michel Ocelot's Critically-Acclaimed "Azur and Asmar: The Princes' Quest" Leads a Vibrant Collection of 21 Films from 7 Countries to Open the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival, January 16 to 18, 2009
new releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 16, 2009
Contact:
Sophoan Sorn, Founder
Email: ssorn@sjiff.org
Official Website: www.sjiff.org
BRIEANNE JANSEN TO SPEAK AT SJCFF 2009 YOUNG ACTOR'S STUDIO PROGRAM, EMPIRE THEATRE, JANUARY 18TH, 2PM
Stockton, California, USA - The San Joaquin Film Society is proud to announce that San Joaquin actress, Brieanne Jansen, 11 (of "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl"), will be a guest speaker at the interactive Young Actor's Studio program of the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival, on Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 2:00PM. Free admission.
ABOUT BRIEANNE JANSEN
Brieanne Jansen, born in Ontario, Canada, moved to California with her family in the summer of 2001. Brieanne discovered her love of the arts, after suffering through a five-year period of post traumatic stress disorder, resulting from a hostage situation that she and her family endured shortly after relocating to the United States. Always a fan of the popular American Girl brand, she was cast in "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" after finding an open casting call on the American Girl website. Directed by Patricia Rozema, produced by Julia Roberts, and written by Valerie Tripp, it was the first American Girl feature film to have a theatrical release across North America. Brieanne Jansen's hobbies are reading, writing, and singing. With her singing, she has competed locally and regionally - where she recently took top spots in competitions in Northern California, including Lathrop's South County Idol. Manteca Idol, and Bay Area Youth Focus. At the end of Manteca Idol, she was awarded a recording opportunity in recognition of being the first person under 13 to complete the competition. A goodwill advocate with a deep passion in giving back to her community, Brieanne has actively raised $9,000 and 3,000 pounds of food for Second Harvest Food Bank since April 2008. Her next endeavor is to pursue her acting and singing career, professionally.
Regarding Sunday's Young Actor's Studio program, Brieanne Jansen states, "I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to be able to share my dreams and my magical experiences on a movie set, with kids of all ages from my community."
Admission is free. Space is limited, at first-come, first served basis. To reserve floor seating, view clips, and more information, visit www.sjiff.org/sjcff09/YAS.html
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL
The Valley's 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival (SJCFF 2009) takes place with eight programs on January 16 to 18, 2009 at the Stockton Empire Theatre (1825 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204). Presented by the San Joaquin Film Society, SJCFF 2009 opens with the California Premiere of the English Language Version of the animated masterpiece "Azur and Asmar" (World Premiere at Festival de Cannes) by acclaimed French animator Michel Ocelot, and featuring a vibrant collection of 21 new films from Belgium, Estonia, France, Hungary, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States of America, making their North American, USA, California and Central Valley premieres. Official Selection also includes award-winning documentaries "Darius Goes West" and "Going on 13" (World Premiere at Tribeca) and the World of Shorts with 18 short films, including Student Oscar® winner "Zoologic" and Festival de Cannes Short Films Corner-selected "His Good Will" and "Papiroflexia." Be inspired through the Young Filmmakers' Workshop with hands-on activities and cinema insights, a captivating Young Actor's Studio conversation with San Joaquin actress Brieanne Jansen (from "Kit Kittridge: All American Girl"), and an intriguing conversation with directors Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and Dawn Valadez of "Going on 13" on Closing Night.
Films selected for the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival have been screened and awarded at over 300 prestigious and noteworthy film festivals around the world - and are showcased for the very first time within California's multi-cultural Central Valley to a unique audience of children, families and kids of all ages!
Tickets on sale at Theatre. Ticket information and box office schedule at www.sjiff.org/tickets . For program line-up, film information, and trailers, visit official website at www.sjiff.org, email at filmsj@gmail.com or call (209) 518 - 9882.
For passes for dignitaries, accredited professionals, and press and media inquiries please proceed with the same contact information provided.
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN FILM SOCIETY
The new San Joaquin Film Society (SJFS) is the home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival, California Central Valley's premier celebration of global cinema. For 2009, in addition to the international film festival in May, SJFS will launch an ambitious year of events that will include the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival in January, the 1st California International Documentary Film Festival in the Fall, the year-round Cinema Room film programs, Cinema Italia series in February, Jewish Film Week in June, Greek Cinema series in September, special events, and educational programs. SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world's best cinema to the culturally-rich, Valley communities.
For more information, visit official website at www.sjiff.org
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Mailing Address:
San Joaquin Film Society
P.O. Box 690341
Stockton, CA 95269-0341
USA
Email: filmsj@gmail.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 17th, 2008
Contact:
Sophoan Sorn
Email: filmsj@gmail.com
Official Website: www.sjiff.org
MICHEL OCELOT'S CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED "AZUR AND ASMAR: THE PRINCES' QUEST" LEADS A VIBRANT COLLECTION OF 21 FILMS FROM 7 COUNTRIES TO OPEN THE 1ST SAN JOAQUIN CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL, JANUARY 16-18, 2009
Stockton, California, USA - The San Joaquin Film Society (SJFS) is proud to announce the Official Selection of its inaugural San Joaquin Children's Film Festival (SJCFF09), a new film festival for kids of all ages set to open January 16 to 18, 2009 at the Stockton Empire Theatre in Stockton, California.
The festival will feature special presentations of the English-language version of "Azur and Asmar: The Princes' Quest" (presented by The Weinstein Company and GKIDS), a new, animated masterpiece by French animator Michael Ocelot. The flagship film will screen at the Opening Night Gala, and will lead a unique, vibrant, and dynamic collection of 21 feature and short films from around the world, including: nationally-acclaimed, award-winning, American documentaries "Darius Goes West" (Saturday Night Feature) and "Going on 13" (Closing Night Film); and a global collection of 18 short films, including Student Oscar® winner "Zoologic" and Festival de Cannes Short Films Corner-selected "His Good Will" and "Papiroflexia." These 21 films have screened at over 300 festivals around the world, collectively. In addition, a young filmmakers' workshop and conversations with guest artists are slated for the festival's first edition.
For detailed synopses, movie trailers, and more information, visit SJCFF09's official festival site at: www.sjiff.org/sjcff09
OPENING NIGHT GALA
1. "Azur and Asmar: The Princes' Quest" by Michel Ocelot, France
DOCUMENTARY CINEMA
2. "Darius Goes West" by Logan Smalley, USA
3. "Going on 13" by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and Dawn Valadez, USA
A WORLD OF SHORTS PROGRAMME
4. "Abridged" by Arjun Rihan, USA
5. "American Dream" by Joseph Mann, USA
6. "The Chestnut Tree" by Hyun-min Lee, USA
7. "Colours" by Lee Chee Tian, Singapore
8. "Gyerekdalok - Nursery Songs" by Nagdolna Hegyi, Hungary
9. "His Good Will" by Cayman Grant, USA
10. "Hose" by Kevin Watkins, USA
11. "Huhu - Pole Hole" by Alexei Alexeev, Hungary
12. "Hungarian Folk Tales: The Hare-Herder" by Lajos Nagy, Hungary
13. "Jungle Gym" by David Badgerow, USA
14. "KJFG No. 5" by Alexei Alexeev, Hungary
15. "Leila" by Louise-Marie Colon, Belgium
16. "Little Jerboa" by Delphine Hermans and Siona Vidakovic, Belgium
17. "Miriam's Theatre" by Priit Tender, Estonia
18. "Papiroflexia" by Joaquin Baldwin, USA
19. "Sooner or Later" by Jadwiga Kowalska, Switzerland
20. "The World is Round" by Jadwiga Kowalska, Switzerland
21. "Zoologic" by Nicole Mitchell, USA
ABOUT "AZUR AND ASMAR: THE PRINCES' QUEST"
"Magnificent! Entrancing!"
– Variety Magazine
"Beautiful!...the movie has a terrific flair for arabesque patterning, a gemlike luminosity of surface and a handsome, classical cast of mind."
–
Nathan Lee, New York Times.
“Cinema whose every frame could be hung on an art gallery wall.”
– Financial Times
The flagship of the 2009 San Joaquin Children's Film Festival is "Azur and Asmar: The Princes' Quest," a film that received a standing ovation at its World Premiere at the the 2006 Festival de Cannes and grossed $16 million at the French box office, is a story of two boys raised as brothers. Blonde, blue-eyed, white skinned Azur and black-haired, brown-eyed, dark-skinned Asmar are lovingly cared for by Asmar's gentle mother, who tells them magical stories of her faraway homeland and of beautiful, imprisoned Fairy Djinn waiting to be set free.Time passes, and one day Azur's father, the master of the house, provokes a brutal separation. Azur is sent away to study, while Asmar and his mother are driven out, homeless and penniless.
Years later, as a young adult, Azur remains haunted by memories of the sunny land of his nanny, and sets sail south across the high seas to find the country of his dreams. Arriving as an immigrant in a strange land, Azur is rejected by everyone he meets on account of his "unlucky" blue eyes, until finally he resolves never to open those eyes again. The once-beautiful child clad in gold is reduced to a blind beggar. Yet, blind though he is, little by little and step by step, he discovers a beautiful and mysterious country. Meanwhile, back in her homeland, Azur's nanny has become a wealthy merchant and Asmar has grown into a dashing horseman. Reunited but now as adversaries, the two brothers set off on a dangerous quest to find and free the Fairy of the Djinn. (99 minutes, GKIDS)
ABOUT MICHEL OCELOT
According to uniFrance: "Born on the Côte d'Azur, Michel Ocelot spent his childhood in Guinea, his adolescence in Anjou, and lives now in Paris. After studying art, he has dedicated his whole career to animated films and personal creation. Since the very beginning, all his works have been based on his own screenplays and graphic designs. He has directed a number of animated series and short films, works which helped establish his name on the festival circuit and in professional circles (for six years Ocelot has been President of ASIFA, or Association Internationale du Film d'Animation). He first reached a wider audience with his first feature-length film, "Kirikou and the Sorceress" (1998), a magical African tale..."
In his career, thus far, the world-renown Michel Ocelot has received prestigious awards from BAFTA, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, César (French Oscars®), among other accolades. Ocelot's rich portfolio includes: "Princes and Princesses" (2000); "Kirikou and the Wild Beasts" (2005); "Azur and Asmar The Princes' Quest" (2006, 2008); and in 2007, he directed a music video for "Earth Intruders," a song recorded by Icelandic artist Björk.
ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN FILM SOCIETY
The new San Joaquin Film Society (SJFS) is the home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival, California Central Valley's premier celebration of global cinema. For 2009, in addition to the international film festival in May, SJFS will launch an ambitious year of events that will include the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival in January, the 1st California International Documentary Film Festival in December, a 3-part global cinema series, special events, and educational programs. SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world's best cinema to the culturally-rich, Central Valley communities.
For more information, visit official website at www.sjiff.org
Mailing Address:
San Joaquin Film Society
P.O. Box 690341
Stockton, CA 95269-0341
USA
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the official selection
VIEW THE OFFICIAL SELECTION OF SJCFF 2009 FILMS CLICK HERE
festival guide
CLICK TO VIEW, PRINT AND DOWNLOAD
print
FILM FESTIVAL FOR KIDS: HIGH ON ART, LOW ON PANDAS, BY BELINDA LUSCOMBE, TIME MAGAZINE CLICK TO READ
FILM FEST FOR KIDS CALL 'CUT' TODAY, BY JO ANN KIRBY, THE RECORD CLICK TO READ
REEL MAGIC, BY JO ANN KIRBY, THE RECORD CLICK TO READ
on tv
VIEW SOPHOAN SORN'S TV TALK ON SACRAMENTO & CO. CLICK TO VIEW
media downloads
DOWNLOAD MOVIE STILLS
(official use only)
• Azur and Asmar (cilck here)
• Darius Goes West (click here)
• Going on 13 (click here)
• All Short Films (click here)
press kits
DOWNLOAD PRESS KITS
(official use only)
• Azur and Asmar (cilck here)
• Darius Goes West (click here)
• Going on 13 (click here)
movie trailers
VIEW THE OFFICIAL TRAILERS
• Azur and Asmar; The Princes' Quest
• Darius Goes West
• Going on 13
festival venue
ALL FESTIVAL EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HISTORIC
STOCKTON EMPIRE THEATRE
1825 Pacific Ave
Stockton, CA 95204
Get Directions
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