Films & Events
Sounds Like Teen Spirit: A Popumentary
Special Jury Award - SIFF 2009 Youth Jury
Jury Statement: For excellence in capturing the universal experience of young adults discovering their place in the world.
Having penned their own songs, bright-eyed European kids ages ten to 15 compete for the top prize at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in this warmly comic “popumentary.” There’s ten-year-old Giorgos from Cyprus, who admires George Michael and is bullied at school for his dreams of stardom. Mariam from Georgia has an abundance of national pride and multiple pigtails. Bulgarian Marina, lead singer of girl group Bon-Bon, only wants to know that her estranged father will watch her performance on TV. And then there’s Belgian group Trust, whose 15-year-old members are almost too old for the contest. In his first feature documentary, British director Jamie Jay Johnson follows these kids from their national finals to the big night: a live televised production with extravagant and garishly colorful sets. “I’m wetting myself with excitement!” screams one of the contest’s over-the-top hosts. At times nerve-wracking to watch as these innocent, earnest children bear the anxiety of competition, the film is a tender message of hope and perseverance that is sure to leave a smile on your face and catchy Europop songs in your head. Recommended for ages 13+.
Sponsors:
Adobe Youth Voices, KEXP 90.3 Seattle, Longhouse Media, Renton and the Renton FilmFrenzy, The Boeing Company
Cast & Crew
Director: Jamie J. Johnson
Producer: Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley
Editor: Lucien Clayton
Screenwriter: Jamie J. Johnson
Cinematographer: Jamie J. Johnson
Music: Mat Davidson
Filmography: Debut Feature Film
World Sales: Intandem Films
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(2 reviews)
user reviews
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This movie deserves a bigger audience, May 29, 2009
By Stephen McAdoo
“Saw this at Thursday night's sparsely attended screening, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Touching, funny, and moving, with great characters ranging from the Cypriot David Archuleta-lookalike to the hurt and angry poor little rich Bulgarian girl, to the charmer from Georgia and the amusingly horny young”
… full review
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Heart-warming and fun, May 29, 2009
By R L
“This was great - caught the Thursday night screening at the Egyptian and was charmed. It was very moving, funny and at times heart-breakingly honest. If you liked "Spellbound" from many years ago, this "popumentary" is equally enjoyable.”
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