Talkin’ Sprockets

Hey all. I read in the newspaper this morning that it’s National Volunteer Week. You may have read in your OWL Calendar this month that it’s also East Coast Music Week. But that’s not all! Entirely unofficially, I’m declaring it Movie Week™ here on the OWL blog. That’s because the Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children has kicked into gear, and I have lots of movie stuff to talk about.

But that’s not all (did I say that already?)! I interviewed the festival’s director, Elizabeth Muskala, all about what it takes to put on such a cool event, and I’m here to share the thoughts she shared with me.

Read on:

Q: If you had to describe Sprockets in one word, what would it be?

Elizabeth: Transformative. Sprockets provides access to diverse cultures and traditions, and allows children and youth to visit faraway lands and cultures without ever leaving Toronto. Sprockets also offers a rare opportunity to see quality films from around the world that haven’t previously been screened in our city, and in many cases may not be available again. Children and youth have an opportunity to see themselves and their stories on the big screen.

Q: What do you look for in a film to be showcased at Sprockets?

Elizabeth: Great stories and important issues are paramount. Sprockets uses film as a launching pad for discussing challenging, complex issues, and as an expression of creativity. We want to provoke discussion between children and their parents and educators.

Q: What’s your favourite flick screening at this year’s festival and why?

Elizabeth: It’s difficult to pick a favourite because there are so many great films from around the world, but one of my favorites this year is The Secret Letter from The Netherlands. It’s a fast-paced and smart teen thriller about a girl who thinks that her dad may be working for a criminal organization. It’s guaranteed to keep kids on the edge of their seats!

Q: How many movies do you consider for Sprockets each year? Is it hard to narrow it down to a final list?

Elizabeth: We considered well over 350 submissions for Sprockets this year. It’s incredibly hard to narrow it down to a final list. We know our audiences, so we follow our gut instincts about what will play well to young audiences in Toronto.

Q: Overall, what’s the best thing about your job?

Elizabeth: Watching a film play well and to see that the audience connects to the film in the way that you hope they will.  There is no way to describe how exciting it is to see the reaction from an audience of children and young people.

—

Cool!

The elementary programme for Sprockets starts today and continues through Friday. The festival itself goes until Sunday. If you’re in the Toronto area, why not talk your folks into taking you to a show? I personally can’t wait to check out a couple myself and come back here to talk about them.

For more info on films, schedules, etc., click here to head on over to the festival’s official website.

Talk to you later, blog readers. And happy Movie Week™!

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com