George Eastman Museum to Host 90-Second Newbery Film Festival to Encourage Reading and Media Literacy Among Youth

On Saturday, April 5 from 2 to 4 p.m., join representatives from the George Eastman Museum, Writers & Books, and KidsOutAndAbout.com in the Dryden Theatre for the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival, a program of short films by children and teens.

The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which young readers create short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery award-winning books. Creative takes are encouraged: think Charlotte's Web as a horror movie, or The Tale of Despereaux as a musical.

For fourteen years, the festival has screened the best kid-made movies annually in New York, Chicago, Boston, and many other cities including Rochester, New York at the George Eastman Museum. 

Founded by James Kennedy, author of the award-winning The Order of Odd-Fish, the festival aims to encourage reading and media literacy among youth through the making of short videos that tell the entire story of a Newbery Honor or Award book in ninety seconds. 

The 14th annual festival will be hosted by James Kennedy and the legendary author Bruce Coville (The Unicorn Chronicles, Aliens Ate My Homework, and much more). Books will be available for sale, and attendees will have the opportunity to meet the authors and filmmakers. 

Movies made by kids from the Rochester area and some of the best from around the country will be shown during the program, free of charge to all. Advanced registration is encouraged.

Those interested in making their own 90-Second Newbery movie  must submit their entry by March 24. Details, video resources, and more can be found at the 90-Second Newbery website.

For more information about the George Eastman Museum, visit eastman.org.