Disney Nature's CHIMPANZEE to Open and DAVID to Close Tumbleweeds Festival (SLC: March 23 - 25)

DISNEYNATURE’S CHIMPANZEE TO OPEN 2012 TUMBLEWEEDS FILM FESTIVAL

Closing Night Film DAVID Explores Themes Of Tolerance And Bullying

Tickets On Sale Today At Arttix.Org

Salt Lake City, UT –The 2012 Tumbleweeds Film Festival opens on March 23 with a special screening of CHIMPANZEE, the new film from Disneynature and the award-winning filmmakers of Earth. In addition, the 2^nd annual festival closes with a screening of film festival favorite DAVID, a charming film that examines the complexities of life through the eyes of an 11-year old Muslim boy growing up in Brooklyn. The 2012 Tumbleweeds Film Festival runs March 23-25 and presents films from around the world for children and youth ages 4-14. All screening are held at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center and The City Library. Tickets go on sale today at all Arttix box offices, at www.arttix.org or by phone at 801-355-ARTS (2787).  Tickets for all screenings are $6.00 including service fees. More information about Tumbleweeds is available at www.utahfilmcenter.org and www.kidsfilm.org. 

OPENING NIGHT FILM

CHIMPANZEE

Directors: Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield // (USA, 2012 – 90 min)

Recommended for all ages.

Sumptuously shot in the rain forests of Africa, the new film from Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, the award-winning directors of Earth, CHIMPANZEE tells the true-life story of an adorable young chimp named Oscar. Oscar’s playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom.

Special Thanks to Disneynature and Love Communications for supporting Tumbleweeds and making this screening possible.

CLOSING NIGHT FILM

DAVID

Director: Joel Fendelman // (USA, 2011 – 80 min)

Recommended for children 10 and up

This charming film examines the complexities of life through the eyes of an 11-year old Muslim boy growing up in Brooklyn. With a cast largely made up of non-professionals, DAVID is an understated yet powerful film that shows how friendships can transcend the boundaries of religion and culture.

Winner, Ecumenical Prize – 2011 Montreal Film Festival; Winner, Audience Award – Brooklyn Film Festival; Official Selection – 2011 Rome International Film Festival, 2011 Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2011 Napa Valley Film Festival

Visit www.kidsfilm.org for more info. Follow us on Twitter @kidsfilm and “like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TumbleweedsFilmFestival.

Tumbleweeds is generously sponsored by: the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, Salt Lake County’s Zoo, Arts and Parks Program, Adobe Foundation, Art Works for Kids!, eBay, the Natural History Museum of Utah and Spyhop Productions.

Media Sponsors for the 2012 Tumbleweeds Film Festival are: City Weekly, KUED, Molding Box, NOW In This Week, and Munchkin Radio.

Utah Film Center programs are made possible by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Rio Tinto, Salt Lake County’s Zoo, Arts and Parks Program, Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Swartz Foundation, and Zions Bank.

The Tumbleweeds Film Festival is an annual film festival for children and youth, ages 4-14, presented by the Utah Film Center. Launched in 2011, Tumbleweeds provides opportunities for film lovers of all ages to engage their creative spirit, and bridge cultures by experiencing films whose stories transcend geographic, cultural and political boundaries. Many of the films at Tumbleweeds are screened in their original language. Foreign language screenings are presented with English subtitles that will be read aloud by a “subtitle reader.” In addition to film screenings, the Utah Film Center is partnering with Spy Hop Productions to present workshops designed to introduce participants to different aspects of filmmaking.

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