Join these courageous characters as they boldly explore the world and shape their own paths, inspiring everyone around them! This insightful program boasts a wide array of globetrotting gems for kids ages nine and above, featuring shorts from the US, Afghanistan, Canada, Russia, Colombia, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, and more.
This program has five films with subtitles
The Queen’s Flowers (2024)
Dir. Ciara Leinaala Lacy, 12min
US
Nonverbal
A magical take on a true story, this animated adventure follows Emma, a native Hawaiian girl in 1915 Honolulu, as she makes a special gift for the last monarch of Hawai`i Queen Lili`uokalani.
The Most Beautiful Kabuli Dress (2024)
Dir. Kazim Ajram, 6min
Afghanistan
In Persian with English subtitles
Raihana dreams of wearing a beautiful dress on her birthday. Her brother, Karim, is ready to buy it as a gift for her, but Yalda, another little girl, has her heart set on the same dress.
Heart of the Ocean (2024)
Dirs. Natalya Kharina & Alena Rubinshtein, 9min
Russia
Nonverbal
After the apocalypse, a mechanical fish living in the dead ocean somehow brings a real, live egg to life, embarking on a journey of wonder and true parental love.
Ceiba y Sus Raices Tainas (2023)
Dir. Brithney Rivera, 4min
US
In Spanish with English subtitles
Disaster strikes the island of Puerto Rico as Guabancex, Spirit of Chaos, unleashes a hurricane. Ceiba, a courageous young woman who uses a wheelchair, is the only one who can prevent catastrophic doom.
Boy Cut (2024) 3min
Dirs. Cullen Burt, Abby Corbett, Indira Escobar & Shon Xiao, 3min
US
In English
Something as simple as a haircut can mean so much to someone. This animated documentary tells the story of a child who desires to control their own appearance, directed and animated by four students in USC’s CTXA 470 Documentary Animation Production class.
Skin Color (2024)
Dirs. Fidel Alfonso Barboza Gómez, Sebastián Castaño, 9min
Colombia
In Spanish with English subtitles
In Bogotá in 1996, a 9-year-old Afro-Colombian boy confronts the adult world when he realizes that the pinkish color in his pencil case, called “skin color,” does not match the color of his own skin.
My Name is Edgar and I Have a Cow (2023)
Dir. Filip Diviak, 8min
Czech Republic
In English
Edgar’s utterly ordinary life is disrupted by a newborn calf he discovers on a tourist trip to a slaughterhouse.
Noor (2024)
Dir. Thabit AlMawaly, 15min
United Arab Emirates
In Arabic with English subtitles
On his way home one day, a young Emirati boy finds a pigeon that won't fly. Can he convince his traditional father to let him keep it?
Having fun in the Mountains (2023)
Dir. Hsin-ying KUO, 15min
Taiwan
In Mandarin with English subtitles
Two young boys embark on a trek up the Hehuan North Peak, standing at over 3,000 meters high. As the weather shifts from clear to foggy, one of the boys experiences altitude sickness. With the summit in sight, they must decide whether to push forward or turn back.
Wood Hood (2022)
Dir. Alex Cullen, 16min
US
In English
DeVaughn craves a quiet place to escape the chaos of his home, the city, and kids that steal from him. This short follows the 15 year old on a weekend-long group camping trip with Camping to Connect, a BIPOC-led mentorship program that teaches leadership, brotherhood, and inclusion in the outdoors.
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PARALLEL EXIT
Parallel Exit creates compelling stories that are family-friendly, cultivating art that speaks to a culturally boundless audience of any age. Productions have received both local and international praise for their inventiveness, energy, and originality, with presentations at such esteemed venues as Lincoln Center, BAM, The New Victory Theater, 59E59 Theaters, and Symphony Space in New York; the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the UK (winning a Spirit of the Fringe Award); and festivals in Poland, Spain, Austria, and Japan. Following an extended German tour in partnership with GOP Variety Arts Theatre Circuit, Parallel Exit served as the powerhouse behind Big Apple Circus’s critically acclaimed The Grand Tour and 40th Anniversary—marking the beginning of a new chapter that radiates with excitement. Their newest work, Sunset Circus, is an intimate, family-friendly circus playing at the Marlene Meyerson Jewish Community Center starting February 9.
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JOEL JESKE
Joel Jeske is a physical comedian, director, teacher, and creator known for his work with the physical theater company Parallel Exit, where he serves as Associate Artistic Director. He created and performed in Off-Broadway hits like This Way That Way, Cut to the Chase, Room 17B, and Everybody Gets Cake! for which he was nominated for Drama Desk Awards in 2006, 2011, and 2015. JEske has also appeared in films such as Two for the Money and Two Weeks Notice. His TV credits include Sex and the City and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Internationally, Jeske has headlined festivals in Germany, Austria, Spain, and China. As a clown, he created acts for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Cirque du Soleil, and The Big Apple Circus, where he also hosted productions. He teaches circus and clowning internationally and in New York, and has received honors including Clown of the Year (2007) and the Audience Choice Award (2009). -
RYAN SHINJI MURRAY
Ryan is a 15-year professional circus artist with a background in artistic gymnastics, diving, kung fu, and tricking. Now, he is an acrobatic generalist with specialties in chair balancing, tramp wall, and ground acrobatics. Ryan has toured for three years with Cirque Éloize's iD and seven years with Cirque du Soleil's Kurios. He plays the character of Luca in Parallel Exit's production Sunset Circus. He also freelances extensively in the New York City area for several clients including The Slipper Room, Lincoln Center, The Muse, House of Yes, and many more.
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