Festival Director Kathy Loizou said: ‘Showcomotion is ten years old this year and Pixar Animation Studios are helping us celebrate our anniversary in style. Mark Walsh, the Supervising Animator on the Disney•Pixar film Ratatouille, is a special guest at the festival. Mark will talk about the work of Pixar Animation Studios over the last ten years, including such classics as Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. The Showcomotion Special 10th Anniversary Talk is on Wednesday 2 July 2008 at 7pm.’

ED VAIZEY MP TO GIVE KEYNOTE AT
SHOWCOMOTION CHILDREN’S MEDIA CONFERENCE
Ed Vaizey MP, Shadow Minister for Culture and Broadcasting is to give the Opening Keynote at the Showcomotion Children’s Media Conference on the evening of Wednesday 2 July at 7pm. The Showcomotion Conference which runs from 2-4 July is the premier meeting place for delegates in the children's media and entertainment industries.

SHOWCOMOTION PANDA’S TO EVERYONE’S TASTE
The festival kick starts in style with an OPENING GALA PREMIERE of KUNG FU PANDA. This much anticipated animation screens on Thursday 26 June and features the voices of Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Seth Rogen.

The very first Showcomotion took place in 1999 and to celebrate the first ten years of the festival there are some great special events, previews and premieres. In addition to Kung Fu Panda, special previews during the festival include:

• The Fox And The Child, the new film by Luc Jacquet who made the international wildlife hit, The March Of The Penguins;
• Tales Of The Riverbank, a new animated version of the 1960s classic made by Handmade Films, which features the vocal talents of Stephen Fry, Ardal O’Hanlon, Jim Broadbent and Steve Coogan;
• Animated adventure features Nocturna and Dragon Hunters;
• UK feature Special People by Justin Edgar, recent award winner at the Britspotting Festival;
• Behind The Clouds, a family drama from Portugal;
• The classic kids adventure films from Sweden, Leaps And Bounds;
• From Norway, The Ten Lives Of Titanic The Cat.


Younger film fans can join in the family fun weekends (28 June & 5 July) with face painting, arts and crafts and model making and enjoy a rare chance to see Thomas & Friends, Bob The Builder, Angelina Ballerina, Pingu and Shaun The Sheep on the big screen.

UNICEF UK AWARDS
Nominations have been announced for the prestigious UNICEF UK AWARDS, the only human rights film awards specifically for films for young people. 18 short films on the theme of young people’s rights have been nominated for two Jury Awards and one Audience Award. The Jury Award winners will be selected by local young people from Cube Magazine, NSPCC Sheffield Young People’s Centre and Sheffield Young Writers’ Workshop.

THE STEEL CITY GLOBE AWARDS – SHEFFIELD’S OWN MINI OSCARS
Following the amazing success of the awards in 2006 and 2007, Showcomotion looks forward to hosting the third Steel City Globe Awards, Sheffield’s own mini-Oscars for primary age film makers. The winning films will be announced at a glittering black-tie gala awards ceremony on Thursday 10 July at the Showroom Cinema in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Sheffield.

YOUNG TALENT GETS THE GREEN LIGHT AT FESTIVAL
Nearly a 100 films made by young people will be shown at the festival. Primary and secondary schools, colleges and youth groups have been working all year on their films and their hard work culminates in celebratory screenings during the 15 days of the festival. It’s a rare opportunity and a proud moment for kids, and their friends and families, to see their own work on the big screen.

-ENDS-
For further information contact Kathy Loizou Kathy@showroom.org.uk T. 0114 276 3534
Images of Mark Walsh & Kung Fu Panda available, photocalls can be organised on request.

Showcomotion, the largest and longest-established kids’ film fest in Great Britain, is screening a total of 175 films from around the world including 97 films made by young people. The fest will screen 13 features and 162 shorts from 22 countries.

Most Showcomotion films cost just £2 for under 18s and some are free. For full details see the Showcomotion brochure or visit the website at www.showcomotion.org.uk. Showcomotion is at the Showroom Cinema, Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1 2BX Box Office: 0114 275 7727