The Children's Hospitals International Film Festival (CHIFF) was created as a Flickers branded festival to bring amazing short films from around the world to patients in children's hospitals around the world. At a time in the young lives of these patients when they don’t have much control, it is the kids who will decide which films will win the CHIFF awards for festival favorites from a wonderful program of animated and live action films.
The idea for this new kind of film festival was the brainchild of Original Concept & Development Associates. The very first CHIFF evnet premiered at Boston Children's Hospital in April of 2017 in partnership with the Ryan Seacrest Foundation Studio. After the B*H premiere, the festival has been working on expanding to other children's hospitals across the US and Canada. We are growing this new kind of children's film festival with the efforts of the staff at the Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival who are curating a program of award winning short films that have been submitted to the American and British Academy Award qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival. Filmmakers who wish to submit to CHIFF only need to submit to the Rhode Island International Film Festival and they will automatically be considered for CHIFF.
US Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, MD. “Recently learned about Children's Hospitals International Film Festival. They bring inspiring short films directly to hospital rooms of young patients who then vote on and pick the winning films. Putting smiles on children’s faces does wonders for healing.” April 3, 2018 on Twitter
Our Team:
George Marshall (Flickers) festival director, “The Children’s Hospitals International Film Festival is a wonderful addition to our programing and a perfect fit of our non-profit artistic mission. This is truly an example of the power of film to both impact and elevate.”
Duncan Putney (OCD Assoc.) co-creator, “These kids are the perfect audience for a festival of wonderfully entertaining short films that have the ability to transport an audience and stimulate the imagination. I’d been wanting to make this new kind of children’s film festival happen for a little while and Flickers was the perfect home for it.”
Andre Stark (OCD Assoc.) co-creator, “The kids are aching for quality entertainment that they can enjoy in their hospital rooms or in small groups, and this annual program of short award winning films from around the world can make a big difference.”
Tim Haggerty (Flickers) technical director, “It is a great feeling to bring joy to the most deserving audience in the world, the young patients in children’s hospitals.
Shawn Quirk (RIIFF) programming director, The Rhode Island International Film Festival gets more great films from around the world applying to the main festival in August than we could possibly show, and now with the addition of our Children’s Hospitals International Film Festival we have the perfect outlet.”
Committee members: Gabbi DiNobile, Brian Cortez, Cassie Galusha,
CHIFF Logo Animation by Georgia Hilton
Films: CHIFF would not be possible without talented filmmakers making wonderful short films. Our program is compiled by Flickers and curated by Boston Children’s Hospital’s Seacrest Studio and Child Life Services staff.
2019: “The Adventure of the Afternoon” “The Big Adventure of a Little Line” “The Cherry Brothers” “DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver” “Fathers Day Breakfast” “Jubile” “Kitten Witch” “Rising Waters in Underwood Springs!” “SWIFF” “Space Girls” “Tyrannosaurus Funk”
2017-18: “Barnyard Aces” “Boy in the Bubble” “Catch It” “Coin Operated” “Daisy Chain” “Fulfillment” “La Hora Senalada” “Litter Bugs” “The Present” “Rabbit & Deer” “Rouf” “Simmon’s Cat - Off to the Vet” “Snack Attack” “Snap” “Soar” “Tooth Tail”
Hospitals:
BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL (MA) since 2017, “I'm very excited to partner with the team at Flickers to bring this film festival to Boston Children's Hospital through our Seacrest Studios,” Maxwell Svec, Media Program Specialist at the Seacrest Studios at B*H
CINCINNATI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (OH) since 2018, “The CHIFF film festival was an amazing opportunity to bring patients and employees together to celebrate these awesome films! The voting aspect of the film festival was a wonderful way to empower patients with the chance to make their own choices on which film they felt was the best.” Whitney Osborne, Media Specialist, Child Life & Integrative Care, Seacrest Studio
LURIE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Chicago, IL) since 2018 “It was so great! The kids loved it bedside. Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us.” "Thank you for helping us provide such amazing programing for our patients. We had a wonderful experience working with you and the films were such a hit with our families. The best part was that we could provide patients the content bedside, as well as, in our play space. That is so rare! Your contribution and the part you played in creating a better and brighter healing environment for our children are greatly appreciated." Nicole Alkaraki, MA, LPC, Family Life Center Coordinator
SCOTTISH RITE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Atlanta, GA) since 2018,
UNIVERSITY of VERMONT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Burlington, VT) April 2019
WILLETT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL (Savannah, GA) since 2018, “The film festival was well received by the community, staff and most importantly the families we served.” Kristen King, Manager of Child Life Services
SICK KIDS (Toronto, Ontario) Since 2018
UNIVERSITY of IOWA STEAD FAMILY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Iowa City, IA) since 2018, “On behalf of the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, I would like to thank you for providing us with such wonderful movies for our Children’s Hospitals International Film Festival! We had a great time and appreciate your reaching out to us!” Kathy Jo Whiteside, Senior Certified Child Life Specialist, Child Life Event Specialist, Children and Women’s Services
CS MOTT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Ann Arbor, MI) since 2018,
CONNECTICUT CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER (Hartford, CT) January 2019 “On behalf of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, I wanted to send you all a huge THANK YOU for making last week’s film festival event so much fun for our families! Most of the families that came had high school or older school aged kids and they were so into it. They loved rating the films! The parents really enjoyed themselves too. I love hosting events like this because it helps normalize the hospital experience for our patients and can actually help with the healing process... Thank you again for bringing smiles to the faces of our patients and families.” Kelsea J. Fortner, LMSW, Family Education and Resource Coordinator, United Technologies Family Resource Center, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL at DARTMOUTH (NH) Fall 2019
BAYSTATE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Springfield, MA) Summer 2019
UCSF BENIOFF CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Oakland, CA) Summer 2019
HASBRO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Providence, RI) Summer 2019
More hospitals to be announced soon in: California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Quebec, Tennessee, Texas ...
Flickers is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all contributions to Flicker for the Children's Hospitals International Film Festival are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Donations can be made through FLICKERS on the Network for Good website and please note “CHIFF” in the designation box:
https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=050399728
Follow us on Twitter: @FlickersCHIFF
