The fourth and final installment in our 45^th anniversary spotlight focuses on one of our great success stories: Kristóf Deák’s journey from a first prize win at Facets’ Chicago International Children’s Film Festival in 2016 to an Academy Award win for his short film Sing.

As the oldest children’s film festival in the Western Hemisphere and one of two Oscar-qualifying kid’s fest in the world, Facets’ Chicago International Children’s Film Festival has been bringing exciting new cinema to Chicago and beyond since 1983. Emerging and established directors have had films screen at the festival and go on to receive all kinds of critical acclaim.

In the festival’s 37 year history, 44 films have gone on to be nominated for Academy Awards, and eight of have won, including Toyland (2009), The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2011), and Bunny (1999) just to name a few.

Hungarian director Kristóf Deák’s film Sing became the next to achieve this when it debuted at CICFF33 in 2016, taking home the Professional Jury award for Best Live Action Short.

Deák’s journey wasn’t just metaphorical, however. He traveled all the way to Chicago for the festival and spoke with Chicago Public School students at a sold out field trip screening and Q&A. Speaking about his experience, Deák said:

“I can say my Chicago experience was great, the Festival is run by a wonderful team of people and I’ve had a lot of fun meeting and hanging out with other filmmakers, as well as doing Q&As with a very engaged audience.”

Sing won over the festival jury and eventually the Academy members’ hearts with its powerful message about speaking up in the face of injustice. Based on a true story experienced by a former roommate from Sweden, Deák saw the cinematic potential of this anecdote and decided it would be his next project.

As a new student, Zsófi joins the school choir hoping to make new friends. When her teacher tells her not to sing out loud, Zsófi sadly agrees to not cause a stir. Her new friend Liza notices the silencing going on, confronts the teacher and devises a plan to stand up for what is right in grand fashion.

After its qualifying win at CICFF, Sing was nominated and won Best Live Action Short at the 89^th Academy Awards.

At the ceremony in 2017, Deák gave a poignant acceptance speech that feels just as relevant as a new election season approaches:

“Ignoring youth appears to be a promising electoral stratagem – it is easier to play on the fears of the old generations than to satisfy the hopes of the younger ones – it is ultimately self-defeating both socially and economically. The young people will find a way to sing.”

The Academy’s recognition of a film like Sing is crucial to the Festival’s ongoing mission. Seeking out films that are made for kids and teens and not simply about them has guided CICFF picks since the beginning.

Facets Turns 45

This post is the fourth and final installment in our special 45^th Anniversary series where we look back at exciting moments in Facets’ history. Read part one here, part two here, part three here, and submit your own favorite Facets moments here.

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