Chicagoist Is For The Children*

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 31, 2005 7:46PM

With the grown-ups film fest out of the way for another year, it’s time for the kids to get theirs with the Chicago International Children's Film Festival.

The CICFF kicked off last Thursday with an opening gala hosted by Chicago’s own Harold Ramis. A friend of Chicagoist reports that Ramis kept it real and was nice enough to sign his nephew’s Ghostbusters DVD. You’re all heart, Egon. Though the fest runs through November 6th, screenings are only held on weekends, which leaves this Saturday and Sunday for your kiddie flick fix. Screenings are held at Facets Cinema on Fullerton and Vittum Theater at 1012 Noble St.

Since Sesame Street has left most children with the attention span of your dog, one of the fest’s shorts programs might be your best bet. Each program is linked thematically with films about families, tall tales or games. (Don’t be fooled by the Planet Rock program! Rather than a series of Afrika Bambaataa videos, all the shorts celebrate the beauty of the Earth).

One of the full-length films that caught our attention was Come Away Home, directed by Doug McKeon (dude’s come a long way from Mischief). It’s the story of a young girl who is forced to stay with her grandfather in South Carolina for the summer. Slowly, she gets over her resentment and marvels at the charm and character exhibited by the people around her--like In The Garden of Good And Evil without all the murder and drag queens.

If you’re looking for other kid-centric ideas in Chicago, check out Frommer’s Chicago With Kids. It’s packed with lots of good ideas and is even available as a digital download.

* And by this we mean people who act like children, not actual children.