First international children's film festival

St James Cavalier will present its first festival of children's films blending live action, animation and colourful documentaries.

With the collaboration of The French Embassy, the China Cultural Centre, the Slovak Cultural Institute and KRS Film Distributors, St James will offer children and adults some of the best World Cinema dedicated to kids.

Each film has been especially selected to provide entertainment and education, bringing together the lyrical poetry of a Hans Christian Andersen story of The King and The Mockingbird with the buccaneering adventures of The Island of Black Mor.

The festival takes audiences on a magic carpet ride from Medieval Slovakia to the freezing Antarctica, from the love story and triumphs of a Chinese blind sports girl to the hardship and exhilaration of New York ballroom dancing championships. The films, some of which are subtitled, run daily from Boxing Day to New Year's Eve, with two shows daily. Tickets are Lm1.25. There are seven films in all: Black Mor's Island (animation); Mad Hot Ballroom (documentary); Lotus Lantern (animation); Thomas the Falconer (adventure); Le Roi et Lâtoiseau (animation); March of the Penguins (documentary); and Colours of the Blind (adventure).

March of the Penguins is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the festival. Filmed under unimaginable conditions by the French director Luc Jacquet, on the coldest, driest and (in winter) darkest continent on Earth, there is snow, and there is ice, and there are penguins. There is also an ethereal beauty.

For more information contact Chris Gatt on 2122 3200 or send an e-mail info@sjcav.org.