This text is part of the special Spring Break booklet
25 years around the world
From February 26 to March 6, the Montreal International Children’s Film Festival (FIFEM) returns this year with a hybrid edition, which will be held both in theaters and online. It’s with The treasure of little Nicolasthe third opus inspired by the adventures of the rebellious French character, which the festival will mark the start of its 25and editing. More than 100 short and feature films from 40 countries will be on offer for budding film lovers — and as always, the offer includes documentaries, fiction and animation all rolled into one. On the side of the movies in theaters, we ogle Even mice go to heaven, nominated for the César 2022, which recounts the improbable friendship strewn with pitfalls of a mouse and a fox. Germany sends us the animation Fritzi — History of a revolution, which recounts the events leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall from a child’s perspective. Online is Korean The kids are fine, a drama that follows the tribulations of Da-yi, a schoolboy who navigates between his hospitalized mother and his desire to make classmates. Finally, we turn to the programs of short films to occupy the afternoons: Indigenous voicespresented free of charge, brings together stories told by members of the First Nations, while Mini-cinephiles offers a selection for ages two and up.
Are you in the Capitale-Nationale area? Note that the Quebec Family Film Festival (FCEQ) will be in full swing from March 6 to 11, indoors, at Cinéma Le Clap.
The magic of everyday life
As for the NFB, new releases are pouring in, and several beautiful works available for free online will be launched especially for the school break. A special channel featuring short documentaries and animation — like the adventures of the bear Ludovicor the capsules A minute of science, please! — will be launched on February 25 at noon. The second season of The list of things that exist, a web series inspired by the comic strip of the same name, will also be released during the spring break. It stars Cathon and Iris, two curious and funny best friends who introduce young audiences to everyday objects, such as toothbrushes or garbage cans, from an informative and funny angle. Finally, little explorers will be happy to dive into virtual reality with the short film The bee and the orchid by Frances Adair Mckenzie, available in 360° video on YouTube and Vimeo, and in VR on Oculus TV, a colorful tribute to Darwin’s theory. Its premise? Nature is creative and constantly reinvents itself, changing with the seasons, needs and threats.
To see in video