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Tue, Oct 27, 2015
Zoom: Family Film Festival, Columbus’s only annual celebration of family entertainment from around the world, returns for its 12th year with a fresh and engaging lineup of films at affordable prices—and free, all-ages activities—December 3–6, 2015 (plus a bonus Zoom kick-off with a special 3D screening of the classic chiller Creature from the Black Lagoon, the day after Thanksgiving).
This year’s films come from Japan, Sweden, Germany, France, Lebanon, Qatar, Norway, and the United States, and showcase a variety of styles and genre—from documentary to animation to Hollywood classics, including a series of classic Buster Keaton shorts with live musical accompaniment and the Columbus debut of artist Takashi Murakami’s first feature film Jellyfish Eyes. New this year is artist Julian McFaul’s interactive Adventures in Cardboard. Filmgoers can build a fort in our Zoom Family Studio and grab a seat inside for a movie after it becomes part of an epic cardboard screening environment. In addition to the screenings and fort-building, on Saturday, kids and families can visit the café for a free Saturday Morning Cereal and Pajama Party hosted by Heirloom Café, and a free Ice Cream Social featuring Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in the afternoon. There will also be hands-on activities for families all weekend long.
Jean Pitman, Zoom co-organizer and Wexner Center educator for youth programs, says, “Zoom is a one-of-a-kind experience for families, film fans, and youth seeking out vibrant and challenging—and just plain entertaining—films. With this year’s new interactive Adventures in Cardboard, Zoom-goers will have a fresh and new activity that will only make the weekend more memorable.”
Zoom co-organizer Chris Stults, associate curator of film/video, notes, “For 12 years, Zoom has been the leader in bringing families and filmgoers unique films and experiences that offer an enriching and entertaining alternative to the multiplex.”
A ticket to any Zoom screening also gets free same-day admission to the exhibition After Picasso: 80 Contemporary Artists. Exhibition entry is always free for students with ID and those under age 18.
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. ZOOM: FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D (Jack Arnold, 1954) Fri, Nov 27 | 1 pm (Zoom warm-up)
Jellyfish Eyes (Takashi Muramakami, 2015, Japan) Thu, Dec 3 | 7 pm Ages 8 and up
My Skinny Sister (Sanna Lenken, 2015, Sweden) Fri, Dec 4 | 7 pm Ages 11 and up
Kid Flix Mix Sat, Dec 5 | 10 am Ages 4 and up
Golden Kingdom (Brian Perkins, 2014, Germany/USA) Sat, Dec 5 | Noon Ages 8 and up Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet (Various directors, 2014, Canada/France/Lebanon/Qatar/USA) Sat, Dec 5 | 2 pm Ages 9 and up
Ballet Boys (Kenneth Elvebakk, 2013, Norway) Sat, Dec 5 | 4 pm Free for Wexner Center members Ages 9 and up
ADVENTURES IN CARDBOARD SCREENINGS Zoom guests are invited to experience the festival’s final three screenings in a handmade, cardboard cinema installation created by artist Julian McFaul and his Adventures in Cardboard team, along with help from kids and families participating in our free Zoom Family Studio activity. Grab a chair, find a spot on the floor (bring a blanket), or sit in a cardboard fort to watch the movies on a big screen in our Performance Space. Space is limited and seating is first-come, first-served for these screenings. After Zoom is over, the set will be adapted and reinstalled at Capitol Theatre for a spring performance featuring 850 dancers from Momentum, a Columbus-based, in-school youth dance program.
Buster Keaton Comedy Classics Sat, Dec 5 | 7 pm With live music by Sue Harshe Ages 7 and up Maya the Bee Movie (Alexs Stadermann, 2014, Australia/Germany/Belgium) Sun, Dec 6 | 1 pm Free for all audiences
Party Mix Sun, Dec 6 | 3 pm Ages 9 and up
FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIES All families are welcome to check out these events during the festival, free of charge.
Cereal and Pajama Party Sat, Dec 5 | 9–10 am Café
Zoom Family Studio Featuring Julian McFaul’s Adventures in Cardboard Sat, Dec 5 | 11 am–4 pm Ages 7 and up (parent/guardian supervision required)
Hands-on Crafts and Activities for Everyone Sat, Dec 5 | 11 am–4 pm Mershon Auditorium Lobby
Ice Cream Social Sat, Dec 5 | 2:30–4 pm in Mershon Auditorium Lobby
Support for the Wexner Center’s 2015–16 film/video season is provided by the Rohauer Collection Foundation.
Youth and family programs are presented with support from Ameriprise Financial and The Chaddock Group.
Free and low-cost programs are presented with support from Huntington Bank and Cardinal Health Foundation.
Zoom 2015 is presented with support from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Heirloom Café and, Art4Moore Fund.
Thanks to our community partners: Blick Art Materials, The Julian, and Momentum—Excellence at the Speed of Dance.
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.
