Fresno Famous

First Friday Films is an annual free series of events exploring science concepts by showcasing short films and videos and presenting them in an out of doors evening setting. It's a unique atmosphere unlike any other experience in Fresno!

This year's events will take place in the Met's courtyard area with the films projected onto the Museum's south wall and begin at 9pm.

This summer's theme is "Childhood". Each month's program will present characteristics of youth (imagination, collecting, play, and youthfulness) ranging from nostalgic to critical, humorous to thought-provoking.

August 7: Childhood Adventures

PADDLE TO THE SEA
William Mason, Canada, 1966, 28 min

"Based on Holling C. Holling's beloved Caldecott-awarded children's book, William Mason's stunning film follows the adventures of a tiny, wood-carved canoe as it forges its own path from Lake Superior through the Great Lakes and down to the Atlantic Ocean. Buoyed by beautiful photography and a sense of true wonder about the sun, Earth, and water, the Academy Award-nominated Paddle to the Sea is an unforgettable tribute to the forces of the natural world, as well as a thrilling journey across the waves and rapids of North America." -Icarus Films

THE RED BALLOON
Albert Lamorisse, France 1956, 34 min
"...Albert Lamorisse's The Red Balloon remains one of the most beloved children's films of all time. In this deceptively simple, nearly wordless tale, a young boy discovers a stray balloon that seems to have a mind of its own. Wandering through the streets of Paris, the two become inseparable, to the surprise of the neighborhood and the envy of other children. Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival, The Red Balloon has enchanted the young-and the young at heart-for decades..." -Icarus Films

WHITE MANE
Albert Lamorisse, France 1953, 40 min
"In the south of France is a near-desert region called La Camargue. There lives White Mane, a magnificent stallion and the leader of a herd of wild horses too proud to let themselves be broken in by humans. Only Folco, a young fisherman, manages to tame him. A strong friendship grows between the boy and the horse, as the two go looking for the freedom that the world of men won't allow them. ...This extraordinarily shot wonder from Albert Lamorisse...is a work of technical sophistication and immense natural beauty.." -Icarus Films

Location: Fresno Metropolitan Museum Courtyard, 1555 Van Ness Avenue, Fresno
Starts: 2009 Aug 7 - 9:00pm
Ends: 2009 Aug 7 - 11:00pm
Website: http://www.fresnomet.org