Boyz (and Girlz) ‘n the ‘Hood

School’s out and it’s Kids Korner at the movies for the next three months, as Hollywood floods the market with a summer harvest of CGI heroes and villains, and slapstick doofuses and shtick peddlers. Fortunately, children (and parents) seeking a respite from the torrent of mindless entertainment have a friend at the Urban Kidz Film Festival. The sixth annual edition of this free (for kidz) program of the San Francisco Black Film Festival is actually a single, pull-out-the-stops show. The lights dim at noon for a stellar collection of animated and live-action shorts from the U.S. and Canada, plus a wild card from South Africa. After a nourishing break, the afternoon rolls on with the feature-length documentary, Do You Believe in Magic?, which is not about the Lovin’ Spoonful. This inspiring, invigorating film follows the trick-filled trek of two poor students at Cape Town’s College of Magic as they strive to reach the World Teenage Magic Championships in Las Vegas. Trust us, the superheroes at the multiplex have nothing on Lesley and Mfundo.
Sat., May 31, noon, 2008