HIFF & Guild Hall Children’s Short Film Program is a compilation of films from around the globe curated by 10 year children’s programming veteran, Patti Greaney. Including both animation and live action films, this program is designed to inspire a child’s imagination. While exposing them to other worlds and cultures, each short film will offer glimpses into how other civilizations live and how their citizens may speak different languages, but still have similar interests — giving young minds the opportunity to realize there is a wonderful larger world out there.

Even though this group of films is billed as a ‘children’s program’, it’s truly created for the child in all of us.

Patti Greaney is an independent film producer and executive producer of film and evolutionary content at Giraldi Media. She is the founder of the successful StarChefs.com, the largest professional culinary site on the internet. Her latest project is the Out of Hand Festival, a partnership with the School of Visual Arts, an online, international, student competition for mobile content. Patti has now curated children’s short film programs for six years.

SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES. The program is one hour in length.

Hokus Pokus by Anna Samoylovich

A magicians wish does not always come true.

Denmark / Animation /  4:13

The Happy Duckling by Gil Dolev

Follow a story of a young boy in his struggles against a STALKING DUCK!!  In this pop-up world expect the unexpected! Surprises a plenty behind every flap you open and every tab you pull.

Scotland  / Animation / 9:35

Malice in Wonderland by Ross Bolinger

Two sheets of paper side by side, each containing a single character. One is ever joyous and carefree while the other, acutely observing the actions of the first, broils with envy.

USA / Animation / 3:17

Maggie and Mildred by Holly Klein

Mildred is left to look after Maggie and the two of them now have the whole house to themselves. It doesn’t matter if they are discovering old furniture, saving a young prince or baking huge cakes – every room is full of adventures.

USA / Animation / 4:00

Cocoon Child by Sonja Rohleder

A poetic film about the imagination of an autistic child showing the mo ment where the inner world connects with the world at large

Denmark / Animation /  5:00

Cyber by Stefan Eling

And, who said computer games were for couch potatoes?

Germany / Animation /  5:00

The Little Crow with the Naked Bottom by Raimke Groothuizen

The little crow has a problem. The solution brings on teasing from friends but ultimately serves an even better purpose.

Nederlands  / Animation / 5:00

Goldfish by Joe Wein

Third-graders are on a mission to save their classroom’s goldfish but everything they know is working against them…..

USA  / Love Action / 12:30

Dinosaur Song by Christian Robinson

A young boy takes us on a journey about the life of a dinosaur.

USA / Animation /  3:00

Birds on a Wire by Jarbas Agnelli

Reading a newspaper, Jarbas Agnelli saw a picture of birds on the electric wires. He cut out the photo and decided to make a song, using the exact location of the birds as notes (no Photoshop edit). He was curious to hear what melody the birds were creating.

Brasil  / Animation / 1:25

Runaway Train by Cordell Barker

Happy passengers are having a great time on a crowded train, oblivious to the fate that awaits them around the bend. The ensuing crisis leads to a class struggle that is as amusing as it is merciless. naturally there are victims, but in the end everyone is equal.

Canada  / Animation / 9:11