Tatyanna Wright's Haute Mama

New York International Children's Film Festival

Tickets are on sale now for this amazing event. If you don't know about the festival, its time you do...

Founded in 1997 to promote intelligent, passionate, provocative cinematic works for ages 3-18 and to help define a more compelling film for kids. Since its launch, the event has grown to become the largest festival for children and teens in North America, with a paid audience of over 20,000 attending the most recent event. Since 2000, all screenings have sold out in advance.

Each year the festival presents 100 animated, live action and experimental shorts and features from around the world plus gala premieres, retrospectives, filmmaker Q&As, workshops, audience voting, and the NYICFF Awards Ceremony. But the festival has become much more than just an annual event; NYICFF now offers year-round film programming, a touring festival, an online festival, and film production workshops for children ages 6-16.

This year features some of the most celebrated names in cinema as jury members - Susan Sarandon, Uma Thurman and Gus Van Sant to name a few. Plus opportunities to expose a budding film maker to techniques like claymation, stop-motion, and more with the incredible workshops offering one-week filmmaking intensives available for ages ranging from tots to teens. 

Visit gkids.com for more information on the festival, tickets and workshops. 

 

Healthy Child Healthy World: Healthy Home Party

Tonight I’m hosting a Healthy Home at my residence. A healthy what????

Firstly a little about Healthy Child Healthy World:

Healthy Child Healthy World is a nonprofit organization. They have been a national leader for nearly two decades, igniting a movement of awareness and responsibility to inform and inspire millions of people to take action and create cleaner, greener, safer environments for our children and families.

Unfortunately, tens of millions of Americans, overwhelmingly children, now face chronic disease and illnesses including cancer, autism, asthma, allergies, obesity, birth defects, ADD/ADHD, and learning and developmental disabilities. The number gets higher each year and more parents ask WHY? Scientific evidence increasingly finds chemicals in everyday products like cleaning supplies, beauty care and cosmetics, home furnishings, plastics, food, and even toys, that are contributors to these ailments.

The good news is that parents are best equipped to “do something” to prevent harm and help their children have the healthiest and happiest life. Healthy Child Healthy World ensures parents know what they can do today.

It’s an amazing organization with incredible support and I feel honored that they have asked me to host a Healthy Home party to explain the importance of reducing toxic exposure in our homes by sharing with my friends and neighbors the five easy steps to creating a healthier environment and lifestyle for all stages of parenting.

EcoBroker, Emma Hamilton has kindly donated time to speak about what to look for in a green home, and explain what a certified EcoBroker does. I’m looking forward to great evening of organic wine, organic food, safe samples, good company and a unique opportunity to present my passion in a fun and comfortable setting.

Healthy Home parties are presented by LUNA bars and Klean Kanteen with sponsor sample participation from Activeion, Earth Friendly Products, EAT CLEANER^TM, Say Yes To Carrots!, HAPPYBABY, Organic Valley, Plum Organics and Seventh Generation. If you're interested in hosting your own Healthy Home party, please click here

Children's Theatre For The Weekend?

Looking for something a little different to do with your little ones this weekend? The creative folks at the Frog & Peach Theatre Company have produced two fabulous interpretations of Cinderella and The Tinderbox.

I took my 6-year old son, and 10-month old baby to see The Tinderbox. They both enjoyed it immensely. Both were captivated by the combination of live action and puppetry, and the 45 minute running time wasn’t a problem for either of them. My son followed the story and humour, and enjoyed the puppet making 101 that immediately followed the performance. He loved how engaging the actors were, making eye contact with him as if they were performing especially for him. My baby had never seen anything like it before and was purely interested in staring at everything! 

The Frog and Peach Theatre Co is on New York Cities upper west side. Tickets are $10 in advance online and $12 at the door. Available online at smarttix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theater ½ hour prior to the performance.

Be quick, the plays have a limited engagement of this weekend and next.

The Meatrix

The Meatrix, a short animated film translated into over 30 languages, is a worldwide phenomenon! The film spoofs The Matrix while illustrating the problems with industrial agriculture and today’s meat supply.

My six year old son LOVED it and asked me if it was true..."Is that really what happens to farm animals?" Yes was my response. The film prompted several questions and we re-watched it eighteen more times!

The Meatrix is a smart little film using pop culture and entertainment to educate viewers about the food they eat and where it comes from. Join people around the world to help support family farms.

Go Green Event Tomorrow

Nothing is more important than the health of your child. Tomorrow is Go Green an event proudly presented by Haute Mama and Citibabes featuring a special screening of My Toxic Baby, a new powerful documentary about toxins in our world. Below is an inspiring short film that ties in with our Go Green event. I hope to see you tomorrow. The event is free with free childminding. Please RSVP: [email protected] Generous sample donations and product from Plum Organics, Origins, Mamatini, Egg-Baby, Organic Avenue and Green Depot.

A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.

Film Review: My Toxic Baby

Whether we like it or not, toxins surround us - from our food, our household and body products, to our children’s toys, bedding, and the houses we live in - invisible toxins are everywhere.

In a new documentary My Toxic Baby, award-winning filmmaker, Min Sook Lee seeks to find affordable answers to the question: Are there alternatives to the toxic wasteland we’ve created for ourselves? “My Toxic Baby is a very personal, sometimes funny and occasionally sad look at a current issue in our times”. Lee says.

More than just a film about toxins in baby products, My Toxic Baby reveals how much we consume and waste. Looking at alternatives, Lee discovers that many of the ‘new’ theories are actually age-old practices humans are re-connecting with from diapering and nursing to food concerns.

Lee unexpectedly discovers that her own home is above normal levels for certain toxins like PCB’s and lead. Shocked, she decides to get herself and her young daughter tested for chemical substances - with disappointing results. 

My Toxic Baby is a potent and inspiring film for everyone. Whether you care about the environment, the sustainability of our planet, are a parent or simply curious and disbelieve in chemical exposure in everyday items, My Toxic Baby will open your eyes to the toxic world around you.

My Toxic Baby will be screened at a special presentation in New York City by Haute Mama and Citibabes on Thursday, February 4^th. What shade of green will you wear?