TIFF Kids International Film Festival (also known simply as TIFF Kids) spotlighted Sesame Workshop at its 2013 festival, in both the public and industry-only programs. All programming took place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox building in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2013[]
Public programming[]
- Elmo's Alphabet Challenge free screening, April 20: "Special Sesame Street guests to introduce the film!"
- Mascot Meet & Greet, April 20 and April 21: Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby
- Louis Henry Mitchell, Character Artist Workshop, April 20 and 21: Associate Design Director of Special Projects for Sesame Workshop
- Sesame Street Make-a-Film Workshop, April 20: Making a mini-version of "Jump" with show producers.
- Sesame Street Apps in the digiPlaySpace Appcade, March 9 to April 21: "Sesame Street-themed games, creative tools and storytelling devices on the latest devices help kids develop their key learning skills and have fun while doing so."
Industry programming[]
- Master Class with Sesame Workshop: Inspiring the Global Child, April 19, industry only: "This session offers industry participants an in-depth look at the making of this beloved childrenโs show that has inspired and educated generations of children in North America and around the world. Guest speakers will provide insight on childrenโs content development for global and multicultural audiences; character development; international production models; and innovations in digital content production for children." Appearing are Sonia Manzano, Joey Mazzarino, Nadine Zylstra and researcher Autumn Zitani
- Sesame Street "Pitch" Session, April 18-19, invitation only: Via TIFF Industry, Sesame Workshop producers will work with "talent that has passed through our professional development programmes, (e.g. Talent Lab, Studio, Producer's Lab Toronto, etc.), as well as TIFF alumni. Successful candidates will have the exclusive opportunity to pitch Sesame Workshop for the chance to make a short film for this much-loved childrenโs show." Celeste Koon won the competition; the writer/director/producer had a short film called The Intergalactic Space Adventures of Cleo and Anouk at the festival. The resultant segment "Letter A Adventure" shares the look of Cleo and Anouk.
2014[]
Public programming[]
- Elmo the Musical screening, April 13: Introduced by Big Bird (Caroll Spinney).
- Barry Goldberg, Character Design Workshops
- Mascot Meet & Greet, April 20 and April 21: Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby
Industry programming[]
- In Conversation with Caroll Spinney: Moderated by Nadine Zylstra, supervising producer. [1]
Related[]
In 2012, Carly Shuler of The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop talked at the Lighting Fast Leaps the Learning series at the TIFF Nexus New Media Literacies Conference. (YouTube)