Child Animator & Film Critic Perry Chen at 17th International Family Film Festival

Perry Chen with his IFFF Award on red carpet with IFFF founder Chris Shoemaker (photo by Sandra Vielma)

6th-grade award-winning film critic and animator Perry Chen and his producer mom Dr. Zhu Shen enjoyed the festivities at the 17th International Family Film Festival in Hollywood March 24 and 25, 2012. One of the highlights was accepting the “Best Animation Award” for the 8-13 age group for their first animation short, “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest,” directed by Kevin Sean Michaels, storyboard by Oscar-nominee Bill Plympton, produced by Zhu Shen and Holocaust historian Jud Newborn.

http://www.awn.com/news/people/ingrid-pitt-beyond-forest-wins-ifff-award (AWN: Perry Chen’s Animation Won IFFF Best Animation Award, March 29, 2012)

http://www.iffilmfest.org/2012/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92&Itemid=112 (IFFF 2012 winners list)

Perry Chen receiving IFFF award from fest founders Chris Shoemaker & Patte Dee McKee(photo by Sandra Vielma)

Another highlight was meeting IFFF Film Excellence Honoree, The Hub TV Network CEO Margaret Loesch and other award winners and presenters at the closing night awards. Margaret autographed for Perry!

IFFF honoree, The Hub TV CEO Margaret Loesch with PerryChen at IFFF awards (photo by Jeremy Broekman)

IFFF Film Excellence Award Honoree, The Hub TV Network CEO Margaret Loesch's autograph for PerryChen

Perry Chen with IFFF award-winner, director Hong Zhou at IFFF awards dinner (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry had fun experimenting with the “Doodle Buddy” app on mom’s iPad, drawing caricatures of people during IFFF:

Perry Chen drawing of director Hong Zhou with "Doodle Buddy" app on iPad

Ghost by Perry Chen

Perry and Zhu enjoyed meeting 2011 IFFF Friz Award honoree Bill Farmer (voice of Goofy) who gave a presentation about voice-over for animation. Perry and his animator friend Dani Bowman had the opportunity to try voice-over for some fun characters with Bill.

Perry Chen doing voice with Bill Farmer at IFFF (photo by Sandra Vielma)

Perry Chen & Zhu Shen with IFFF PR Director Jeremy Broekman (photo by Sandra Vielma)

The film that Perry and Zhu enjoyed the most was the highly entertaining Chinese comedy “The Noodle Man,” a film about love, tradition, food, and redemption, produced by Ligeng Tan, followed by a lively Q&A with Mr. Tan and a full house of audience, and Zhu gladly interpreted for the producer. Perry gave the film 4 out of 5 starfish! The film had its world premiere at IFFF, the audience loved it. Perry said he craved for Chinese noodles after watching the film!

Perry Chen & Dani Bowman at IFFF (photo by Sandra Vielma)

After a full day of films, film panel, and awards, media interviews with two young teens, Perry, Zhu and Dani’s family joined the Chinese filmmakers reception, and enjoyed meeting Chinese directors and producers, Chinese food and performances.

Perry Chen at IFFF Chinese filmmakers party (photo by Sandra Vielma)

Perry Chen with mom Zhu Shen & Dani Bowman riding to IFFF (photo by Sandra Vielma)

Perry Chen's drawing of Dani Bowman with "Doodle Buddy" app on iPad

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About Perry Chen:

Perry S. Chen is an 11-year-old award-winning child film critic, artist, animator, TEDx speaker, and entertainment personality, currently in 6^th grade from San Diego. He started reviewing movies at age 8 in 3^rd grade using a kid-friendly starfish rating system, and has been featured in CBS, NPR, NBC, CNN, CCTV (China Central Television), Variety, Animation Magazine, The Young Icons, The Guardian, The China Press, etc. He was a presenter at the 2010 Annie Awards for Animation, and has written movie reviews for Animation World Network, San Diego Union Tribune, Amazing Kids! Magazine, and his own Perry’s Previews blog:

www.perryspreviews.com

Perry won an “Excellence in Journalism Award” from San Diego Press Club in 2010 and 2011 for his movie and restaurant reviews, an “Excellence Writer Award” from “We Chinese in America” Magazine in 2010 for his movie review column. Perry is widely recognized as an authoritative spokesperson about movies for his generation, and appears frequently at red carpet movie premieres, awards, and film festivals, interviewing prominent directors from such films as Toy Story 3, Up, How to Train Your Dragon. He was a presenter at the 2010 Annie Awards for Animation in Hollywood. Perry and his mom Dr. Zhu Shen are featured in a new book about parenting and youth entrepreneurship, “The Parent’s Guide to Raising CEO Kids,” published in Aug 2011.

About “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest”

“Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest” is Perry Chen’s first film as the sole animator, with storyboard and character design by Bill Plympton, directed by Kevin Sean Michaels, produced by Drs. Zhu Shen and Jud Newborn, a Holocaust historian. The film premiered to critical acclaim at LA Shorts Fest & Comic-Con in July, 2011, acquired for worldwide distribution in Sep 2011 by Shorts International, distributor of Oscar-nominated shorts, won a “Special Jury Award” for “Extraordinary Vision” at Flyway Film Festival in Wisconsin in Oct, 2011, featured as a bonus film at the 2011 Animation Show of Shows, and has been touring film festivals around the world. In addition to animating “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest,” Perry also animated one scene in Bill Plympton’s award-winning “Guard Dog Global Jam.” Become a fan on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/ingridpittanimation (Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest official FB page)

http://www.facebook.com/perryspreviewsfan (Perry’s Previews fan page)

Subscribe to Perry’s YouTube channel and watch his filmmaker interviews:

http://www.youtube.com/perryspreviews

For more information about Perry Chen, his animation films, and movie reviews, contact Dr. Zhu Shen, bioforesight@gmail.com

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