The MediaBridge YouthFest is ready for its close-up. This dynamic short film festival will feature live action and animated works from eight countries, curated by youth ambassadors from Mexico, India, Portugal, Russia, and Sri Lanka working together with teens from Chicago, downstate and western Illinois. Two MediaBridge screenings will be held on Saturday, August 9th at The Normal Theatre (209 North Street, Normal, IL) at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $6.00 per screening.

MediaBridge is a five-week screenwriting program produced by Facets Multi-Media where teens review and select films for the film festival along with creating their own screenplays.

The international animated and live action short films were selected by MediaBridge participants from a pool of nearly 150 films through interactive small-group debates.

"Who better to curate a film festival for teens than teens themselves?" said Nicole Dreiske, Artistic Director of Facets Multi-Media, Inc. "Our society tends to assume we know what our youth want without asking them. These teens are amazing. The discussion and thoughtful comments offered and discussed during the jury sessions really showed how capable they are."

Prior to the official MediaBridge YouthFEST screenings, an "Open Screen" will take place at Facets Multi-Media, 1517 W. Fullerton, Chicago, on Friday, August 8 at 11 p.m. Youth filmmakers are invited to share their works through a public screening.

The festival opens at The Normal Theatre with a 7:00 p.m. screening titled "Think Outside the Box," a collection of animated and live action films about being confident no matter what the crowd says.

The first film of the screening is Funglasses (Germany, 2006, 8 min), in which a young man glimpses astonishing worlds when his optometrist prescribes fun glasses to cure his black and white vision. The second film Zoologic (USA, 2007, 4 min) portrays a confident penguin who decides to stand up to a strict

A Day In A Life (Belgium, 2008, 21 min) illustrates how the need for money can connect the least likely of acquaintances. Superhero Training Center: Cultural Awareness Day (USA, 2008, 6 min) brings 3D-animated superhero characters to the table to discuss cross-cultural mishaps. Tony Zear (France, 2007, 20 min) captures audiences with the film's sincere message that no one is ever alone and there is a match for all of us somewhere. Odd Shoe (UK/USA, 2007, 10 min) makes its world premiere as its protagonist, Joe, takes a big gamble trying to fit into some new shoes. The first screening wraps up with Varmints (UK, 2008, 24 min), a beautifully animated film that asks the question: "will the future be found in man or machine?"

The 9 p.m. screening titled "Twist of Fate" includes six films whose characters head for what they hope are the right paths, taking hilarious and heartbreaking detours along the way.

Take 3 (New Zealand, 2008, 12 min) leads the second screening with three competing young actresses learning how teamwork (even between rivals!) can lead to success. John and Karen (UK, 2007, 4 min) details the delightfully quirky encounter between a penguin and a polar bear who work to patch up their relationship. Zohar (Israel,
Easy Pickins (USA, 2007, 13 min)
2007, 30 min) recounts the challenges and triumphs of an athletic young woman who struggles to maintain her identity and voice despite her family's insistence on feminine beauty and daintiness. Easy Pickins (USA, 2007, 13 min) is a classic slap-stick film with a new twist where little old ladies aren't as helpless as they seem. The MediaBridge Festival's triumphant conclusion features George (Sweden, 2007, 25 min), a film about two anxious parents who are surprised when their is a mixup with their adopted baby boy.

"The teens gave up five weeks of their summer and put hours of work into this festival choosing these fine films," said Milos Stehlik, Facets Executive Director. "The diversity of the students' nationalities, experiences, and opinions really fueled the discussion and helped create a first rate selection of fascinating works."

For more information about the MediaBridge Program or the Festival, please contact Kathleen Beckman at 773-281-9075, e-mail kidsfest@facets.org, or visit www.cicff.org.