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SALT LAKE CITY — The Sundance Film Festival is once again collaborating with the Utah Film Center to provide some options for young movie buffs during this year’s festival.
The Utah Film Center also organizes the Tumbleweeds Film Festival, a film festival focused on children’s movies that takes place annually in Salt Lake City. This year’s Tumbleweeds Film Festival is scheduled for March 6-8 and 13-15.
Until then, young film buffs can be satiated with three Sundance films: the Dutch film “Binti,” the U.S./U.K. production “Come Away,” and the American film “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.”
'Binti'
In “Binti,” director Frederike Migom’s timely story intersects two of the most relevant 2020 topics: immigration and the internet.
The titular character is a 12-year-old undocumented Congolese immigrant living in Belgium with her father, Jovial. Binti wants to live a normal life as an online influencer. But when the place where she’s living is raided by police, she's soon on the run.
Binti soon meets Elias, who is in a secret treehouse and is working to save a forest giraffe native to the Congo known as the okapi. Elias is struggling with his parents’ divorce and Binti will need to help him find a solution.
Migom previously directed several short films, but “Binti” is her debut feature film. It’s recommended for kids ages 8 and up and has English subtitles.
Showtimes:
- Jan. 25, noon, Salt Lake City Library Theatre, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City
- Jan. 26, 3:30 p.m., Redstone Cinema 1, 6030 Market Street, Park City
- Jan. 30, 5:30 p.m., Prospector Square Theatre, 2175 Sidewinder Drive, Park City
- Feb. 1, 1 p.m., Redstone Cinema 2, 6030 Market Street, Park City
'Come Away'
Brenda Chapman’s film is described as an “origin story for two of the most beloved characters in literature.” It tells the story of Peter before he became Pan and Alice before she visited Wonderland.
The pair live in a country home with their parents and brother, David. However, their aunt Eleanor is extremely critical of how the children are being raised, and she wants to send David away to boarding school.
With David about to leave, the family must figure out how to deal with his absence. When a deadly tragedy strikes, Alice and Peter take matters into their own hands.
Chapman got her start at Disney, working on animated films such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King.”
“Come Away” is recommended for kids ages 10 and up, but parents are advised that some scenes in the film may be frightening for younger viewers.
Showtimes:
- Jan. 24, 12:30 p.m., The Ray Theatre, 1768 Park Avenue, Park City
- Jan. 25, 12:30 p.m., Redstone Cinema 1, 6030 Market Street, Park City
- Jan. 26, 12 p.m. Salt Lake City Library Theatre, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City
- Jan. 31, 5:30 p.m., Prospector Square Theatre, 2175 Sidewinder Drive, Park City
- Feb. 1, 3:30 p.m., Redstone Cinema 1, 6030 Market Street, Park City
'Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made'
“Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made” comes from Tom McCarthy, who previously directed the 2016 Best Picture Academy Award winner “Spotlight.”
This film is based on the book series by Stephan Pastis, who co-wrote the screenplay with McCarthy.
The titular character is the president and CEO of Total Failure, Inc., a detective agency Timmy operates with his partner, a polar bear named Total. The pair embark on a quest through the streets of Portland, Oregon, to find Timmy’s mother’s Segway scooter, which mysteriously goes missing.
“Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made” is recommended for kids ages 8 and up.
Showtimes:
- Jan. 25, 3:00 p.m., Salt Lake City Library Theatre, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City
- Jan. 26, 12:30 p.m., Redstone Cinema 1, 6030 Market Street, Park City
- Jan. 29, 5:30 p.m., Prospector Square Theatre, 2175 Sidewinder Drive, Park City
- Feb. 1, 12:30 p.m., Redstone Cinema 1, 6030 Market Street, Park City
The Sundance Film Festival is happening today through Feb. 2 in Park City, Salt Lake City and Sundance Mountain Resort. For more information about the films, visit sundance.org/2020-sundance-film-festival-program-guide/KID-guide.
