ZOOM: FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR ITS 11TH YEAR

November 13, 2014—Columbus, Ohio—The Wex’s Zoom: Family Film Festival returns for its 11th year with a fantastic, family-friendly selection of films at incredibly affordable prices—and free, all-ages activities—December 4–7, 2014 (plus a bonus Stooge-a-thon “warm up” the day after Thanksgiving, November 28).

This year’s lineup is the most international yet with a film from each continent—a Zoom first.

In addition to the screenings, on Saturday, kids and families can visit the café for a free Saturday Morning Cereal and Pajama Party hosted by Heirloom and a free ice cream social featuring Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in the afternoon. The weekend will also include hands-on activities for families.

Zoom co-organizer Chris Stults, associate curator of film/video, notes, “For 11 years, Zoom has offered families and filmgoers an entertaining and diverse selection of films from all genres and from around the world, much of which they wouldn’t be able to experience anywhere else.”

Jean Pitman, co-organizer of the event and the Wexner Center’s educator for youth programs, adds, “Zoom has become a community favorite, especially for families, film fans, and kids of all ages looking for fun, engaging, and educational activities. It’s an affordable way for families and friends to spend time together, enjoying a filmgoing experience that goes beyond the multiplex walls.”

Please note that the separate purchase of a ticket is required for our special exhibition Transfigurations; admission is not included with the purchase of a film ticket. Members can enjoy the exhibition for free but will need to obtain a ticket from the Patron Services Desk.

Parents who have questions about the films and their content, can contact Jean Pitman at (614) 292-4614 or jpitman@wexarts.org.

The full schedule follows; read more at http://wexarts.org/zoom
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28  (Zoom Warm-Up)
Stooge-a-thon
1 pm | Ages 4 and up

Avoid the Black Friday blues with this special afternoon program of shorts by the slap-happiest slapstick team in movie history—the Three Stooges. This program will have audiences young and old nyucking it up with Larry, Moe, and Curly! The program includes Hoi Polloi (1935), Dizzy Doctors (1937), Mutts to You (1938), Violent is the Word for Curly (1938), and Loco Boy Makes Good (1942). (approx. 90 mins., 35mm)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4
Oklahoma!  (Fred Zinnemann, 1955, US)
7 pm| All ages

The first Rogers & Hammerstein musical to be adapted for the movies, Oklahoma! was nominated for four Oscars and won for Best Score and Best Sound. A joyous celebration of frontier life, the film is filled with timeless songs (“Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’”), fine singers, and innovative choreography. Two different versions were filmed simultaneously—one at the conventional 24 and another at 30 frames per second. Thanks to a new digital restoration, we’re screening the superior 30-frames-per-second version, available for the first time in decades. (145 mins., 4K DCP)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6

Belle and Sebastian (Nicolas Vanier, 2014, France)
7 pm | Ages 7 and up

In this timeless story set during WWII in the snowy Alps of occupied France, a resourceful young boy named Sebastian tames a giant mountain sheepdog that he names Belle. Their friendship is put to the test when Nazis arrive in their village, rooting out resistance fighters who helped Jewish refugees cross the border. This wonderful update of a classic French novel and cult 1960s TV show won the Youth Jury Award at the 2014 Seattle International Film Festival. (104 mins., DCP)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
Kids Flix Mix
10 am | All ages

Our annual screening of lively animated shorts from the New York International Children’s Film Festival is always a crowd pleaser. This year’s lineup is full of colorful animations, lively music, and entertaining combinations of the two.. (approx. 60 mins., video)

The Boy and the World (Alê Abreu, 2014, Brazil)
Noon | Ages 7 and up

It’s easy to see why The Boy and the World won the top prize at the world’s most respected animation festival.With a refreshingly original animation style, the wordless film tells the tale of a young Brazilian boy who ventures from his countryside home into a carnivalesque metropolis in search of his father. Employing everything from mosaics to watercolors, the film explodes with captivating colors as well as samba and hip-hop rhythms. (80 mins., DCP)

Free for Wexner Center Members!
Felix (Roberta Durrant, 2013, South Africa)
2 pm | Ages 7 and up

Fourteen-year-old Felix Xaba dreams of becoming a jazz musician like his late father. Desperate to play in a school concert, he seeks out the aid of his father’s former bandmate Bra Joe and quickly excels on saxophone—until his mother finds out and forbids Felix from playing again. Consumption of alcohol, alcoholism and parental death discussed, mild language, bullying. In English, Xhosa, and Afrikaans with English subtitles read aloud. (97 mins., DCP)

I Swan (Kong Sheng, 2012, China)
4 pm | Ages 7 and up

Unable to speak following her mother’s death, young Holly is sent to join her father at the wind farm where he works. There she encounters a wounded swan that she names Snowy. With her dad’s support she begins to nurse Snowy back to health, but soon discovers that (due to widespread trafficking) it’s illegal to keep swans at home.Discussion of parental death, limited strong language and smoking. In Mandarin with English subtitles read aloud. (98 mins., DCP)

I Am Eleven (Genevieve Bailey, 2011, Australia)
7 pm | Ages 7 and up

From suburban living in America to bathing with elephants in Thailand, I Am Eleven takes the audience around the globe in a life-affirming account of what it is like to be 11 today. Director Genevieve Bailey’s heart-warming documentary follows 11-year-olds from 15 different countries as they share their thoughts on love, war, family, happiness, religion, and the future with remarkable humor, honesty, and wisdom. In various languages with English subtitles read aloud. (93 mins., DCP)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7

Zoom Out: Playful Experiments in Cinema
1 pm | Ages 7 and up

This program of family friendly shorts playfully explores just what movies can do. The films featured include everything from Stan Brakhage’s classic Garden of Earthly Delights, made without a camera by placing flora and fauna directly on the film strip, to entertaining obscurities like 33 Yo-Yo Tricks, a forgotten 1970s time capsule that delivers what the title promises and more! Visit wexarts.org/zoom for complete listings. (approx. 70 mins.)

Free Screening!
Giraffada (Rani Massalha, 2013, France/Germany/Italy/Palestine)

3 pm | Ages 9 and up

Ziad, a 10-year-old boy living in the West Bank, is so enamored of the two giraffes at the Qalquilya Zoo that he can communicate with them. When one is lost in an airstrike, his veterinarian father is determined to bring a new mate from the Safari Ramat Gan park in Israel. Inspired by a true story, Giraffada beautifully illustrates our bond with animals while raising important questions about the tragic toll of political conflict. Offscreen animal death, alcohol consumption, shelling. In English, Arabic, and Hebrew with English subtitles read aloud. (85 mins., DCP)

FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Zoom weekend is also Member Appreciation Days weekend at the Wex. Members receive and free admission to Felix (part of Zoom), added discounts in the Wexner Center Store, free gift wrap service, and light refreshments from Heirloom, which will be open from 9 am–4 pm.

All families are welcome to check out these events during the festival, free of charge:

Cereal and Pajama Party
December 6, 9–10 am in the café

Kids can start the weekend by staying in their PJs and heading off to Zoom for free cereal from the Heirloom café before watching Saturday cartoons on the big screen.

Hands-on Crafts and Activities for Everyone
December 6, 11 am–4 pm in Mershon Auditorium Lobby

This year’s creative fun features a variety of crafting activities for various ages including making buttons, coloring pages, and much more. 

Ice Cream Social

December 6, 1:30–3 pm in Mershon Auditorium Lobby

Families can enjoy an assortment of flavors from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in the café.

EVENT/SEASON SUPPORT

Zoom 2014 is presented with support from American Electric Power, Heirloom, Huntington Bank, and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

Youth and family programs are also presented with support from Ameriprise Financial, Battelle, Bob Evans Farms, and Cardinal Health.

Significant contributions for the Wexner Center’s 2014—15 film/video season are provided by the Rohauer Collection Foundation.

Promotional support is provided by Columbus Parent.

The Wexner Center receives general operating support from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, Nationwide Foundation, and the Ohio Arts Council, as well as from the Corporate Annual Fund of the Wexner Center Foundation and Wexner Center members.