The IFFF Turns Hollywwod 'Upside Down'
This year’s International Family Film Festival has selected Alice, Upside Down, by writer/producer/director Sandy Tung, as its opening night feature presentation, screening Thursday, February 28th at 8:00pm at the landmark, Raleigh Studios. The premiere is followed by a fiesta-filled reception at the famous, Lucy’s El Adobe Café on Melrose.
Funny and poignant, Alice Upside Down is the story of a young girl in her “tweens”, grappling with finding her identity after the loss of her mother, when the family moves to a new home, in a new city, to a new school, where she must make new friends. Adapted from a series of children’s books, Tung states that, “The film is a little more real (than other films made for kids), in that Alice (11) is struggling with very real issues.” Tung, along with co-writer Meghan Heritage and producers Carl Borack and Dale Rosenbloom are extremely proud of this film and the “skilled” young actress, Alyson Stoner, who plays the lead. Tung is honored his film has been selected to open IFFF’s 13th Season!
IFFF also kicks off its four day screening schedule on the 28th with two other delightful films. In the six o’clock slot is producer/director Dennis Fallon’s, All Roads Lead Home, about the rebellious twelve year old, Belle, who is sent to live on her grandfather’s farm where she learns about the value of life through the expendability of animals, which begs her to wonder, am I useful? And at 4pm, writer/producer/director Conchita Nora Villa gives us, Alondra Smiles, the story of fourteen year old Alondra who (after having had a rough start in life), is planning a special 15th birthday celebration with her friends and grandparents, when her jealous cousin threatens to ruin everything just to have her way.
The International Family Film Festival promotes socially responsible films and screenplays, suitable for a general audience, that express a fundamental respect for the positive values of life. The IFFF advocates and encourages the creation and sharing of family film and screenplay product through film exhibition, professional and children’s hands-on film camps, seminars and post-film discussions. The IFFF has a target audience of Filmmakers, Producers, Distributors, Press, Critics, Industry, Small Businesses, Families and Kids. According to Chris Shoemaker, IFFF’s Executive Director, "Following the successful market for the independent family films screened at last year’s IFFF, it became apparent that the family film genre has come of age and is ready to hold its own in Hollywood."
This year IFFF has films from around the world connecting filmmakers and audiences through one heart, one mind, and one world -- all united by universal human experiences. Enjoy a plethora of family films from seventeen diverse countries, which express a fundamental respect for humanity and the affirmative values of life that connect us all. The International Family Film Festival - Make a Film, Make a Friend, World Peace through Filmmaking!
The International Family Film Festival is February 28- March 2, 2008 at the Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, CA. For a full schedule of films visit the website at www.iffilmfest.org. Tickets are $10 per screening and can be purchased either on-line or via telephone at (661) 257-3131. Membership to the festival is $35 and provides a 20% discount on all tickets and events. Seating is limited so mke your reservations in advance.
