Public Event | Second Annual
KIDS FIRST! Film Festival Returns to Hawai‘i
With the overwhelming success of last year's festival, the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival screens another fun-filled summer season of films at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa!
June 8 at UH-Manoa • 3:00 pm – FAMILY FEATURE
Moondance Alexander – Ages 8+
94 minutes
Spunky 12-year old Moondance Alexander (Kay Panabaker, Nancy Drew) has a hard time making friends, but a chance meeting with a wild pinto changes her life. With the help of a down-and-out show rider (Don Johnson), Moondance discovers that sometimes fitting in is less important than moving on and riding it out. With figure skater, Sasha Cohen. Best Film, Newport Beach Film Festival.
June 15 at UH-Manoa • 3:00 pm – TRUE INSPIRATION
Knights of the Bronx – Ages 9+ with Parental Guidance
90 minutes
With Ted Danson
"A heartwarmer…uplifting." – The Hollywood Reporter
Based on true events, a middle-aged, inner-city schoolteacher discovers a way to reach out to his skeptical students through the game of chess.Against all odds, he inspires his students to become champions, not only at chess, but in life!
Parents: a few scenes with violence and drugs.
June 22 at UH-Manoa • 3:00 pm – SNEAK PEEK!
Alice Upside Down Ages 8–12
90 minutes
With young superstars Alyson Stoner (Cheaper by the Dozen) and Lucas Grabeel (High School Musical); Luke Perry and Penny Marshall. Best Comedy Feature, International Family Film Festival. Based on the books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Eleven-year-old Alice finds her life seriously disrupted when her widowed father moves the family to a new town. Having a rough time adjusting to her new life, Alice gets a little unexpected help and charges forward towards her future.
June 29 at UH-Manoa • 3:00 pm – CRITTER TAILS
Ages 3–7
TRT: 69 minutes
DOOBY DOOBY MOO
When Duck finds out about a talent show at the county fair, he and the animals on the farm start rehearsing to win! Narrated by Randy Travis, with a wild vocal performance by Jon Carroll. Based on the book by Doreen Cronin.
THE UGLY DUCKLING AND ME: SCHOOL DAYS
Everyone knows the Hans Christian Anderson story about the ugly duckling that changed into a swan. Here's the story that happened in between, when a weird looking little duckling named Ugly was adopted by a city rat named Ratso.
The Tails of Abbygail
A live action film starring six dogs and two horses! One day while home alone, a cute and very curious little Jack Russell Terrier named Abbygail uncovers a fortune cookie that magically brings all her stuffed animals and toys to life. They embark on an adventure of fun, safety and new friendships.
June 29 at Waikiki Sheraton • 7:00 pm – FAMILY FEATURE
Moondance Alexander – Ages 8+
94 minutes
Spunky 12-year old Moondance Alexander (Kay Panabaker, Nancy Drew) has a hard time making friends, but a chance meeting with a wild pinto changes her life. With the help of a down-and-out show rider (Don Johnson), Moondance discovers that sometimes fitting in is less important than moving on and riding it out. With figure skater, Sasha Cohen. Best Film, Newport Beach Film Festival.
See Sheraton Waikiki website for additional information.
July 6 at Waikiki Sheraton • 7:00 pm – SNEAK PEEK!
Alice Upside Down – Ages 8–12
90 minutes
With young superstars Alyson Stoner (Cheaper by the Dozen) and Lucas Grabeel (High School Musical); Luke Perry and Penny Marshall. Best Comedy Feature, International Family Film Festival. Based on the books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Eleven-year-old Alice finds her life seriously disrupted when her widowed father moves the family to a new town. Having a rough time adjusting to her new life, Alice gets a little unexpected help and charges forward towards her future.
See Sheraton Waikiki website for additional information.
July 13 at UH-Manoa • 3:00 pm – SNEAK PEEK!
ALL ROADS LEAD HOME – Ages 8+
109 minutes
Best Drama Feature, International Family Film Festival
Touching story about family, unconditional love, precious life, and the challenges along the way that open our hearts and lead us back home. With a strong message about animal rights, the film tells the poignant, ultimately optimistic tale of a young girl's struggle to come to terms with her mother's death, and the help she gets from family, friends, a thoroughbred horse and a dog named Atticus. Stars Peter Coyote, Vivien Cardone (Everwood), Jason London, Vanessa Branch, and Peter Boyle in his last film.
July 20 at UH-Manoa • 3:00 pm – SUPER SHORTS
Ages 5–9
TRT: 76 minutes
MAX'S WORDS
When his brothers won't share their collections of stamps and coins, Max starts a collection of his own. One word leads to another, and Max discovers he has a story worth telling. Narrated by T.R. Knight. Based on the Bank Street and School Library Journal Best Book of the Year by Kate Banks.
WALLACE'S LIST
Wallace, a mouse, can do anything, as long as he has a list. Then he meets a neighbor who loves adventure, and Wallace discovers a wonderful world that he and his lists had not anticipated. Narrated by Zach Braff. Based on the School Library Journal Best Book by Barbara Bottner and Gerald Kruglik.
PAUL'S OPA
Best Student Drama Short, International Family Film Festival. An eight-year old inventor yearns to make his all-time dream come true: to have a grandpa. So he builds himself one! Just as Paul begins to realize that his grandpa could never take the place of a real one, a small miracle happens. Dubbed in English (originally in German).
OBARA & THE MERCHANTS
Traditional Yoruba tale about Obara who hunts for food when his village suffers from famine. When he finally gets an animal, three hungry merchants approach. What will he do? Based on a book by Michelle Bodden; narrated by Alonzo Bodden (Last Comic Standing).
MADELINE: NEXT STOP AMERICA
French schoolgirl Madeline heads to the Big Apple for another exciting adventure. The spunky redhead travels to New York City to take in the sights and watch the Bronx Bombers play ball.
For more information on dates and times of events, call
Ann Brandman (808) 956-9883.
A project of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media, KIDS FIRST! films are free of gratuitous violence; race, gender, or religious bias; and condescension towards children. Age-appropriate groupings of classic, independent, short and sneak preview films entertain through a balance of animation and live action, plus varied themes from different cultures.
