Release Date: January 5, 2006

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART YOUTH FILM PROGRAM Starts NEW SEASON WITH SERIES OF FEATURE FILMS

The Story of the Weeping Camel
(Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni, Germany, 2003, 93 minutes)
Saturday, March 25, 10:30 am

Washington, DC- This winter and spring, the National Gallery of Art Youth Film Program will present a variety of recently produced feature films from the United States and around the world—Canada, England, Japan, South Korea, The Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany. All films are shown free of charge in the East Building Auditorium, which has stadium-style seating for 465 and a state-of-the-art projection system. The auditorium is equipped with an FM wireless listening system for the hearing impaired. Receivers, ear phones, and neck loops are available at the Art Information Desk near the main entrance of the East Building, at 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, on the National Mall.

The Youth Film Program is offered year-round and is designed especially for ages 8 to 18. Selected for artistic quality as well as their story lines, the films introduce viewers to a variety of cultures and issues through the experiences and perspectives of their young protagonists. The program also enhances the enjoyment of the Gallery’s collections and exhibitions and fosters an understanding of film as an art form.

WINTER/SPRING 2006 SCHEDULE

THE BLUE BUTTERFLY (Léa Pool, Canada/England, 2003, 92 minutes)
Saturday, January 7, 10:30 am
Sunday, January 8, 11:30 am
Ten-year-old Pete isn’t about to let his wheelchair prevent him from pursuing his dream: to capture the rare Blue Morpho butterfly, found in the wilds of the rainforest. A renowned but cranky entomologist, played by William Hurt, reluctantly agrees to escort Pete on a trip to Costa Rica. Tracking down the insect proves to be a more difficult and dangerous journey than either had imagined! Recommended for ages 10 and up.

MAD HOT BALLROOM (Marilyn Agrelo, USA, 2005, 105 minutes)
Friday, March 3, 2006, 6:30 pm
This documentary follows New York City fifth graders on a journey into the world of ballroom dancing. Told from the candid perspective of the students and their teachers, the film chronicles three teams as they prepare for a citywide competition. As they are transformed from reluctant participants to determined competitors, the students reveal parts of themselves and their world. In English and Spanish with English subtitles. Recommended for ages 15 and up.

HANA & ALICE (Shunji Iwai, Japan, 2004, 135 minutes) *Washington, DC premiere
Saturday, March 4, 12:00 pm
Through a classic love triangle, this comedy tells of friendship, first love, and growing up. Hana and Alice, best friends since childhood, enter high school eager to meet boys. Hana’s ploy to attract one particular boy begins with an inventive deception, but is followed by more white lies, setting off a hilarious chain reaction. In Japanese with English subtitles. Recommended for ages 15 and up.

THE THOUSAND–YEAR FIRE (Naoki Segi, Japan, 2004, 89 minutes) *US premiere
Tuesday, March 7, 2006, 10:30 am
This film eloquently tells the story of a boy grieving the loss of his parents and learning to face challenges on his own. Eleven-year old Satoshi moves from Tokyo to a small seaside town to live with his grandparents. So inspired by his new surroundings, he decides to participate in Hiwatashi, a ritual swim in the open sea. Those who accomplish the feat become members of the chosen circle permitted to watch over the holy fire of Chitosebi, which has burned perpetually for a thousand years. In Japanese with English subtitles. Recommended for ages 12 and up

OSEAM (Sung Baek-yeop, South Korea, 2003, 75 minutes) *Washington, DC premiere
Wednesday, March 8, 10:30 am
Sunday, March 12, 11:30 am
Adapted from a fairy tale by the writer-poet Jeong Chae-bong, this is the story of a five-year-old boy, Gilson, traveling in search of his mother. Believing that she will be found in the place where the wind starts, Gilson sets out on a trek with his blind older sister. When the youngsters are discovered by Buddhist monks who take them in, their journey progresses from a physical search to a spiritual quest. With visually stunning, hand-drawn animation, Oseam’s themes of beauty, tragedy, and never-ending love underscore the tenets of Buddhist tradition. In Korean with English subtitles. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

BLUEBIRD (Mijke de Jong, The Netherlands, 2004, 79 minutes) *Washington, DC premiere
Thursday, March 9, 10:30 am
Friday, March 10, 6:30 pm
Thirteen-year-old Merel appears to be a model child. Diligent in school, she has a strong, caring relationship with her physically disabled younger brother. But when she becomes the target of some nasty bullying, her suppressed emotions manifest themselves in uncharacteristic behavior. Bluebird is a sharply observed portrait of one girl’s struggles with adversity and the friendships that sustain her. In Dutch with English subtitles. Recommended for ages 15 and up.

STRINGS (Anders Rønnow Klarlund, Denmark, 2004, 91 minutes) *Washington, DC premiere
Friday, March 10, 10:30 am
Saturday, March 11, 12:00 pm
A virtuoso feat of puppeteering, this stunning film imagines a mythical kingdom populated entirely by stringed puppets. The story begins with the dramatic death of the emperor of Hebalon, who dies taking a terrible secret to the grave with him. His young son Hal Tara takes over the throne. Forced to avenge his father’s death, Hal Tara sets out on a perilous quest and ultimately discovers the truth about his father and the nature of his kingdom. An epic tale of adventure, bondage and liberation, love and war, and identity and destiny, Strings is a magical blend of themes that range from Shakespeare to The Lord of the Rings to Star Wars. In English. Recommended for ages 15 and up

MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (Luc Jacquet, National Geographic Feature Films/Warner Independent Pictures, 2005, 80 minutes)
Sunday, March 19, 11:30 am
Sunday, March 26, 11:30 am
Experience a journey like no other on the planet! Emperor penguins brave icy winds, freezing temperatures, and starvation as they cross the Antarctic on an annual journey to their breeding grounds for mating season. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, this documentary tells the incredible story of the penguins’ life cycle. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL (Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni, Germany, 2003, 93 minutes)
Saturday, March 25, 10:30 am
This documentary follows a family of nomadic shepherds in the Gobi Desert, South Mongolia, as they assist in the births of their camel herd. When a rare white calf is born, its mother rejects the newborn and denies it the milk needed to survive. Find out how the shepherds help the calf in this touching film. In Mongolian with English subtitles. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

MY BROTHER IS A DOG (Peter Timm, Germany, 2004, 86 minutes) *Washington, DC premiere
Saturday, April 22, 10:30 am
Sunday, April 23, 11:30 am
Be careful what you wish for! When young Marietta receives a magic rock from Africa on her birthday, she wishes for a pet dog. She’s absolutely thrilled when a sweet little dog suddenly appears on her couch, until she discovers that her pesky little brother Tobias is missing. He’s the dog! Will she be able to reverse the spell? In German with English subtitles. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

FIVE CHILDREN AND IT (John Stephenson, UK, 2004, 89 minutes)
Saturday, May 13, 10:30 am
Sunday, May 14, 11:30 am
Based on the 1902 book by Edith Nesbit, this fantasy takes viewers on an adventure with five children who accidentally uncover a magical creature. ‘It’ is a Psammead, an ancient and irritable sand fairy the children find one day on a secret beach at their uncle’s mansion. It grudgingly agrees to grant the children one wish per day, however the children soon discover that their wishes have a tendency to turn out quite differently than expected. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

GENERAL FILM INFORMATION

The Youth Film Program takes place in the East Building Auditorium at Foruth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Seating for all events is on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure getting a seat, arrive at least ten minutes before showtime. Programs are free and subject to change without notice; for the latest information call (202) 842-6252. Listings of film programs for children and youth are updated quarterly on http://www.nga.gov/programs/flmchild.htm.

General Information

The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are at all times free to the public. They are located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gallery is closed on December 25 and January 1. For information call (202) 737-4215 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176, or visit the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov.

Visitors will be asked to present all carried items for inspection upon entering the East and West Buildings. Checkrooms are free of charge and located at each entrance. Luggage and other oversized bags must be presented at the 4th Street entrances to the East or West Building to permit x-ray screening and must be deposited in the checkrooms at those entrances. For the safety of visitors and the works of art, nothing may be carried into the Gallery on a visitor's back. Any bag or other items that cannot be carried reasonably and safely in some other manner must be left in the checkrooms. Items larger than 17 x 26 inches cannot be accepted by the Gallery or its checkrooms.

For additional press information please call or send inquiries to:

Press Office
National Gallery of Art
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785
phone: (202) 842-6353 e-mail: pressinfo@nga.gov

Deborah Ziska
Chief of Press and Public Information
(202) 842-6353
ds-ziska@nga.gov

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