Children go to the cinema even in times of crisis

27 October 2012 / 18:10:33 GRReporter

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A scene from the movie "Tinkerbell - Secret of the Wings", included in the children's programme

According to George Kazianis, artistic director of the Children's Film Festival "Children go to the cinema", last weekend more than 4,500 children visited the "Cine Paradise" theatre at the municipality of Korydallos to watch the latest film of the animated series "Madagascar".

The film-show of this series is part of a major initiative of the municipality of Korydallos, the goal of which is to offer meaningful entertainment for children at a low cost. "Korydallos is a very difficult area, most people here are pressed relentlessly by poverty," Kazianis says. "People seem to have a great need to have fun, but without spending too much money."

Of course, one can hardly call a festival an event, which begins in October 2012 and ends in April 2013. "Our festival is nothing else but a social suggestion," Kazianis explains.

The festival, which despite its name does not only include film shows, will be held within 32 weekends and the ticket is really cheap: 2 euro for the film-shows, 3 euro for the theatre performances and the Festival of Puppets and Shadows, as well as a card for two, worth 8.5 euro and valid for four performances.

It is not the first time that such an initiative has been organized at "Cine Paradise" in Korydallos municipality. The first Children's film festival, held in January 2012 under the title "The school goes to the cinema", attracted over 23,000 spectators, and it even had to be extended. The Children's Film Festival this year expects at least 140,000 parents and children on Saturdays and Sundays, and at least 35,000 students at the special shows on weekdays.

There will be festival activities in all the halls during the new season, and the main hall of "Cine Paradise" will be the central one. Visitors will be able to attend free classes in art, cooking, magic and karaoke. In the winter, the open-air cinema hall will be transformed into a special place where children will be able to participate in free contests, such as sack fighting and archery.

Every Saturday in the afternoon and on Sundays throughout the day - before, after or during the performances, representatives of "Dessila" association will entertain children with educational games of the series "Learning while playing".

As for the films, themed weekends will be held separately, such as the one dedicated to Asterix and Obelix on 13 and 14 October. Furthermore, to the broad public in Greece will be presented for the first time a great number of films which children will be able to see again on the big screen. These include "Tangled," "The Princess and the Frog", "Τoy Story 3", "Cars 2", "The Incredibles", "Brother Bear", "Ratatouille", "Wally-Ε", "Up" and "Finding Nemo".

The festival is also interested in movie premieres, so its programme includes "Brave", "Hotel Transylvania", "Zambezia", "Wreck it Ralph", "ParaNorman", "Rise the guardians", "Zarafa", "Frankenweenie" and "Barbie The Princess and The Popstar".

The film "Zarafa", with a premiere on November 8, is also included in the programme of "Cine Paradise".

Two films by significant creators of animated films - Michel Ocelot and Hayao Miyazaki, will also be shown, and a weekend will be dedicated to the best documentaries about the environment.