The 11th Annual International Family Film Festival is set to open on September 23, 2005 at the Regal/Edwards Grand Palace Theater with a slate of 80 films from 12 countries. The opening film is Come Away Home, a California premiere, from American Family Films, directed by Doug McKeon, written by Robert D. Slane and starring Lea Thompson, Paul Dooley, Martin Mull, Thomas Gibson, David Keith and Jordan-Claire Green. The film is the heartwarming story of a 12-year-old New York girl who leaves the city for a summer in rural North Carolina and discovers a long-lasting friend in her grandpa. The opening film screens at 7:00 PM in Theater 2 followed by a 7:30 PM screening in Theater 3 of The Crab Orchard directed by Michael J. Jacobs, written by Robin Peters, starring Ed Asner, Judge Reinhold and Ruby Handler. Crab Orchard is the story of a family traumatized by their personal tragedies resulting from 9/11 that finds strength by returning to their roots and rediscovering family.

The festival continues through September 29, 2005 with the presentation of 80 films, 23 premieres and the personal appearances of both filmmakers and stars at the individual screenings. Films screen daily from 3 PM through 10 PM and, on the weekend, from 1 PM to 10 PM. Special screenings have been arranged with schools during the week days. The student submissions will be screened on Monday, September 26. The 2005 student finalists come from Texas, Miami, Wayne State, St. Johns, USC, UCLA, NYU, AFI, Chapman, Columbia, Michigan, Germany, Australia, Boston, SUNY, Savannah and the Art Institute. The films chosen to participate in the 2005 IFFF were submitted from the United States, Nepal, Albania, Germany, Taiwan, Turkey, Qatar, Australia, UK, Iran, Canada, Germany and Italy.

Professional filmmaking workshops will be offered on Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25 starting at 1 PM both days. The Saturday workshops include Distribution and the Internet and Financing Family Films and the New Tax Laws. The Sunday workshops will include International Distribution and Can You Get Out Alive, Advertising and Marketing a Family Film and Packaging a Family Film- Is It Necessary to Work With Hollywood?

The film screenings conclude on September 29 with a surprise premiere of a large studio- released film that will be announced shortly. The award ceremony will be on October 1, 2005 at the Valencia Hyatt Hotel's Grand Ballroom. The festival will be honoring a giant in the animation industry with the Friz Award in Animation presented by both of Friz Freleng's daughters, as well as the presentation of the first Ladies' Home Journal Family Film Award. Joining with the Film Office of the City of Santa Clarita, IFFF will be presenting an award to Lou Florimonte, the legendary filmmaker and film instructor from the CalArts Film Department.