Editor's note: 8-18 Media is a youth journalism program of the Upper Peninsula Children's Museum in Marquette. This story was written by Chelsea Parrish, 17, Andrew Powell, 17, Hayley Maskus, 16, Lane Whitley, 15 and Tia Platteborze, 13.
TRAVERSE CITY -- Kids eagerly awaited the first film to be shown at the new Traverse City Kids Film Festival. Their line stretched around the block.
The 2006 French film "Azur and Asmar," shown Wednesday, was the first screenings at the State Theatre for the kids festival. That was followed by Shorts for Kids on Thursday and Saturday features "Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms." All are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
Kids who attended Azur and Asmar said it was reminiscent of the 1992 animated film "Aladdin." It tells the story of a blond boy and a black-haired boy who are raised by the same woman until they are forced apart by their cruel father.
The Petros siblings from Miami have attended the TCFF with family for three years. Sophia, 10, enjoyed seeing a different type of animation.
"I thought it was great. The animation was different than it is here because it was made in a different country," she said.
Karissa Gawronski, 13, from Clarkston, liked the film's message.
"I thought it was good and it was international and had a bunch of different cultures in it," she said.
Movie-goers said the Kids Film Festival is an important addition and has been a long time in coming. Alex Petros, 12, said, "It gets people to movies that they have never seen before."
Skylar Norgaard, 13, of Traverse City, thinks the Kids Film Festival broadens the festival's attractiveness to all ages.
"So that a bigger group could kind of enjoy the movies, you know," he said. "I do think it's important because I think (kids) should get to enjoy the movies, too, not just the adults."
Logan Dellacqun, 12, of Traverse City, thinks it provides young people a new perspective.
"I think it gives the kids a new view of films, and the film festival and good movies," he said.
Festival officials couldn't agree more, including John Robert Williams, a co-founder and festival board member.
"I have two kids myself, and they're going to be at all the movies," he said. "I can't wait for them to see these movies."
Rich Brauer, cinematographer of "Escanaba in Da Moonlight," director of "Mr. Art Critic" and this year's Michigan Filmmaker of the Year award winner, applauded the addition.
"It's important for this festival to involve people of all ages. It's all about storytelling and that does not have an age preference," he said.
Festival founder and filmmaker Michael Moore said the Kids Film Festival will give young people some appropriate attention.
"Well, I think we've overlooked kids in the past and we thought they deserved their own film festival here inside our film festival," he said. "Lots of great films for kids from all around the world."
The kids enjoyed the festival so far, but suggest improvements. Dellacqun suggested more movies for kids.
"Maybe open it to other venues and maybe show longer films," he said. "There's a lot of short films."
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