MVFF47 - RSVP Guide

Tummy Tom, a good-natured, well-intentioned and slightly gangly ginger cat, is a prime example of his species—he’s curious, mischievous, a bit lazy, and most of all, he loves to curl up for catnaps with his favorite stuffed teddy. But one day, “cat-astrophe” strikes: Jumping into his basket for a snooze, he discovers…Bear is missing! Fortunately for Tummy Tom, his BFF, a graceful gray named Cat-Mouse, springs into action and feline hijinks ensue as the duo encounter Squirrel, Sheep, and other animal friends ready to assist in the hunt for Bear. Tummy Tom first appeared on Sesamstraat (Dutch Sesame Street) in 1978, and co-directors Joost Van Den Bosch and Erik Verkerk’s new sing-along animation is an interactive delight for kids from age 2 to 200 (that’s in cat-years). Shown with The Anchor & the Kite (Jeff O’Brien Myers and Forest Blakk. US 2024, 3 min) and There Can Only Be One (Britney Fan, US 2024, 3 min).

Expected In Person Guest

Melody, 12, is obsessed with Rachel from Friends and worried about fitting in at school. Living with cerebral palsy, she faces extra challenges when moved from special ed into an “inclusive learning environment”. Based on Sharon Draper’s best-selling YA novel.

Twelve-year-old Melody Brooks is a typical early-21st-century tween, obsessed with Rachel from Friends, unhappy with the uncool clothes her mom buys for her, and worried about fitting in at school. As a nonverbal sixth grader living with cerebral palsy, she’s got extra challenges to contend with, especially when she’s moved from the special ed classroom into an inclusive learning environment that feels far from inclusive, given her teacher’s refusal to welcome her and the disdain of fellow students. But when given an assistive communication device, Melody quickly learns to use her new-found voice to prevail over the forces holding her back. Based on Sharon M. Draper’s YA bestseller and starring the amazing Phoebe-Ray Taylor as Melody, with Judith Light, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Kirby, and Jennifer Aniston (as Melody’s inner voice), director Amber Sealey’s (No Man of God) drama delivers a tale of determination, pride, and self-empowerment like no other.

Age 12+



Expected In Person Guest

Ten-year-old Percy Boy Collins is one of the fastest runners in school, but he never fails to arrive late for class. A smart-talking Aboriginal child in a white-dominated environment, Percy Boy has few allies until he befriends Keithy Cobb, the new kid at school. The schoolmates join forces to fend off the fifth-grade bullies known as the Wolf Pack. Joining them is little Daisy Hawkins, the fiercest and scariest third grader around. The three share a common goal: for Percy Boy to defeat the Wolf Pack in the running competition at the school carnival. But while he trains for the race, Percy Boy also begins to see visions from the afterworld, including those who perished in the bushfire that claimed the lives of his parents. Indigenous Australian director Tanith Glynn-Maloney’s first feature is an inspirational celebration of the bonds that tie us to our family, our friends, and our heritage.