MiniBury

Brought to you by the Addison Independent

  • Home
  • About MiniBury
  • Archives
  • The Addison Independent
  • Sign up for the newsletter
  • Events Calendar
  • Summer Camp Guide 2023
  • Playgroups etc.
  • Stuff To Do

A Family-Friendly Film Series Is Coming To Midd

09.28.2021 By: Megan James

A Family-Friendly Film Series Is Coming To Midd

Who doesn’t love feel-good stories of human-animal relationships?

That was Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival Producer Lloyd Komesar’s rationale when he set the theme for this year’s MNFF Selects film series, which runs from October to May at Town Hall Theater. Komesar is hoping the family-friendly animal-based films he’s screening will entice folks to bring the kids along — masked, of course — to the movies this fall and winter.

The first six films are rated G or PG.

“I’m inspired by the relationships that people I know in Vermont have with their pets and animals,” he said. “I’ve seen people relating so deeply to animals here.”

Komesar has had those relationships, too — and it may have been another reason he decided to dedicate the film series to the deep connection between humans and animals: He lost his 17-and-a-half-year-old dog last spring. “Biggie was a heck of a dog,” Komesar recalled. “As my vet said, he was living just for us. He had nothing left inside.”

“Let’s use film as a way to bring out these connections,” he said.

And the films look great — especially if it feels like your family has exhausted all the offerings on Disney Plus lately.

Here’s what’s coming up!

A Family-Friendly Film Series Is Coming To Midd

The series kicks off on Sunday, October 17, with a free matinee of My Octopus Teacher (rated G), which tells the story of a filmmaker who forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, and learns deeply as the animal shares the mysteries of her world. The film, directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, won the 2021 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

A Family-Friendly Film Series Is Coming To Midd

On November 21, catch the documentary Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street (rated PG). The film dives into the hearts and minds of the “Sesame Street” creators, artists and educators who established one of the most influential and enduring children’s series in television history. (This film, and the rest in the MNFF Select Series, aren’t free. Adult tickets are $16; tickets for children under age 12 are $7.)

A Family-Friendly Film Series Is Coming To Midd

Up next, on December 30, is Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog. From award-winning director Lynn Roth, the film (rated PG) sensitively portrays the timeless and unbreakable bond between a boy and his faithful dog as it is put to the ultimate test in 1930s Germany. When the Nuremberg Laws are passed forbidding Jews to own pets, Kaleb, a German Shepherd, is separated from his Jewish family and his beloved 10-year-old master, Joshua. What follows is a story of love and courage during an unforgettable time in history.

A Family-Friendly Film Series Is Coming To Midd

January’s film (January 16) is From The Wild Sea (rated PG), a stunning and poetic documentary that portrays the heroic efforts of a network of marine wildlife rescue volunteers who work tirelessly to save sea animals from oil, plastic and escalating winter storms. In depicting the complex collision between humans and nature, the film deftly oscillates between the perspectives of humans and animals.

A Family-Friendly Film Series Is Coming To Midd

Cheetah-lovers, take note: On February 20, the film is Duma (rated PG), an exquisite and colorful film about an orphaned cheetah who becomes the best friend and pet of a young boy living in South Africa. Winner of the Humane Society’s 2006 Genesis Award for Family Feature Film, and inspired by a true story, Duma offers audiences a blend of excitement, adventure and compassion with a beautiful and grand landscape as its backdrop.

A Family-Friendly Film Series Is Coming To Midd

Finally, on March 24, catch Buck, a documentary (rated PG) exploring the life of acclaimed ‘horse whisperer’ Buck Brannaman, who recovered from years of child abuse to become a well-known expert in the interactions between horses and people. Directed by Cindy Meehl, Buck won the 2011 Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.

The last two films — Grizzly Man and The Rider — are rated R, so more appropriate for a grown-ups movie night.

All the MNFF Select films are screened at Town Hall Theater. Attendees 12 and over must be vaccinated. Children under 12, and all other attendees, must wear masks inside the theater.

Get tickets here.

A Family-Friendly Film Series Is Coming To Midd

Related Posts

  • family fun coming up!

    *********************************************************************** **   SAVE THE DATE   ** Thursday, May 14, 2015 5:30-8:30PM 15th ANNUAL SPRING PEEPERS…

  • A New, Improved Playground Is Coming To Midd

    There has been some discussion on Front Porch Forum about the recent removal of the…

  • Coming Soon To Midd: Vermont Children's Museum
    Coming Soon To Midd: Vermont Children's Museum

    Kerianne Severy has a vision, and she's ready to actualize it. She recently formed a…

Megan James

Upcoming Events

Jun
1
Thu
9:30 am Vergennes Parent/Child Playgroup @ Vergennes Congregational Church
Vergennes Parent/Child Playgroup @ Vergennes Congregational Church
Jun 1 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Come enjoy a weekly free playtime for preschoolers and parents, sponsored by the Addison County Parent/Child Center. Bixby Librarian Mary Neffinger arrives at 10:30 to read stories.
10:00 am Tot Time Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
Tot Time Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
Jun 1 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Burn through some energy at this unstructured playtime with tricycles, hula hoops and other ride-on toys in the town gym!
10:30 am Bristol Storytime @ Lawrence Memorial Library
Bristol Storytime @ Lawrence Memorial Library
Jun 1 @ 10:30 am
Little ones and their caregivers head to the library for stories, songs, and activities.
12:00 pm New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
Jun 1 @ 12:00 pm
Chat with other local moms who are in their first year postpartum. This weekly Zoom group is hosted by Alison Underwood, counselor and social worker at Porter Women’s Health. Call or email her for consent [...]
3:30 pm Midd Summer Market @ Triangle Park
Midd Summer Market @ Triangle Park
Jun 1 @ 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Come downtown for live music, artisans, makers, growers, prepared foods and more.
Jun
2
Fri
8:30 am Mary Hogan Playgroup @ Mary Hogan Pre-K Classroom
Mary Hogan Playgroup @ Mary Hogan Pre-K Classroom
Jun 2 @ 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Playgroup is open for all children ages birth-5 years of age and their families on Fridays (following the ACSD school calendar). A light snack will be provided. Please call or email Deb for more information.   
10:30 am Lincoln Storytime @ Lincoln Library
Lincoln Storytime @ Lincoln Library
Jun 2 @ 10:30 am
Little ones and their caregivers get together for stories and songs.
12:30 pm Homeschoolers Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
Homeschoolers Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
Jun 2 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Come play at the town gym with other homeschool families.
2:00 pm Champlain Orchards Cider Garden ... @ Champlain Orchards
Champlain Orchards Cider Garden ... @ Champlain Orchards
Jun 2 @ 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The orchard’s new cider garden is opening for the summer on June 2nd! It will be open through the summer 2-8 p.m. on Fridays and noon to 8 p.m. on Saturdays for full cider pours [...]
7:00 pm ‘Matilda Jr.’ @ Mount Abraham Union High School
‘Matilda Jr.’ @ Mount Abraham Union High School
Jun 2 @ 7:00 pm
This MAUSD Expanded Learning Program Middle School Musical features 6th, 7th, and 8th graders performing the classic Roald Dahl tale.
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

Helpful Websites

  • Addison Central School District
  • Addison County Pre-K
  • Addison County Readers
  • Addison County WIC page
  • Addison Independent
  • Addison Northwest School District
  • Bristol Recreation Department
  • Building Bright Futures
  • Experience Middlebury
  • Find and Go Seek
  • Ilsley Public Library
  • Junebug
  • Kids VT
  • Let's Grow Kids
  • Mary Johnson Children's Center
  • Memorial Sports Center (Ice Rink)
  • Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT)
  • Middlebury College Events
  • Middlebury Community Music Center
  • Middlebury Parks and Recreation
  • Middlebury Weather
  • Mount Abraham Unified School District
  • National Association of Education of Young Children
  • Rikert Nordic Center
  • Simon Says
  • Snow Bowl
  • VT Dept. of Health
  • WIC Health

Copyright © 2023 · Modern Blogger Pro Theme By, Pretty Darn Cute Design