SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Film Center will hold its fifth-annual Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Children and Youth this weekend at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.
Tumbleweeds, which was founded by Patrick Hubley, is modeled after the Toronto International Film Festival for Kids. Five years marks an exciting milestone for this festival, which has grown with each passing year. One reason for the growth is the adding of an educational component.
“We’ve been working with schools throughout the city and county to bring schoolchildren to different venues and show them films that have been previously shown at Tumbleweeds,” said Dana Hernandez, public relations and communications coordinator for the film center. “The staff teaches them about media literacy and different issues highlighted in the films.”
The festival presents new, culturally enriching cinema for children. This year, the lineup features films from all over the world, including Europe, Uganda, India and Australia. According to the film center’s website, Tumbleweeds seeks to foster the next generation of filmmakers and film fans.
“The goal is to introduce kids and those who are kids at heart to quality storytelling that is not readily available in Utah, ” Hernandez said. "We bring these stories here so that people who are really young can get exposure to international cinema.”
While the festival focuses on children, Hernandez said it is just as much for adults. The film center seeks to establish an atmosphere that can serve as a “retreat for families,” Hernandez said.
The lineup for this weekend includes 12 feature films, a documentary and four shorts programs that will each feature a collection of short films.
The films come with some age recommendations, beginning with children ages 4 and up to children ages 10 and up. More specific details on the films and age recommendations can be found at utahfilmcenter.org. The plots for each of these films can also be found on the website.
The festival will open with the screening of a humorous Australian film titled “Oddball” on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. A highlight of the festival is the showing of “The Goonies” — now in its 30th year — on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. The festival closes Sunday, Sept. 27, at 6:30 p.m. with the premiere of a German film titled “My Friend Raffi.”
Activities in the Tumbleweeds Kids Clubhouse will take place in between film screenings and include an obstacle course, learning games and an arts and crafts station.
In addition to activities, the festival will also hold four media arts workshops on filmmaking, animation, 3D rigging and game designing, led by experts in these respective fields. Tumbleweeds' first panel discussion will also take place, providing instruction about creating content on YouTube. To participate in these events, guests must register online and pay a $20 registration fee.
Hernandez said that Tumbleweeds is a culmination of everything the film center does year-round, including showing free films on Saturdays throughout the state.
The hope is to teach each person who attends something new.
“Whether it’s learning about a new cinematic technique or learning something about your parents,” said Hernandez. “That’s the best takeaway, to see kids and family gain enjoyment from the experience.”
If you go…
What: Fifth annual Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Children and Youth
When: Sept. 25-27
Where: Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 S, Salt Lake City
Admission: A limited number of opening night tickets can be purchased for $8. All other tickets can be purchased for $6. Tickets can be bought at the art center, online at arttix.org or by calling 801-355-2787.
Email: lpeterson@deseretnews.com