13th annual Sprockets Film Festival brings "School Days with a Pig" to Toronto

by Chris MaGee

The Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow is staffed by a gang of full grown men whose actual maturity level is debatable; but hell, aren't we all just big kids at heart? That why when spring roles around in our fair city we always get a wee bit excited to see what the programmers of The Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children have in store for Toronto film audiences, whether they be 8-years-old... or 38-years-old. This year, the fest's 13th, is no different. In amongst the 27 features and 41 shorts from 23 different countries there's one film programmers are bringing to this year's festival that will make Japanese film fans very happy.

Based on the true story of a 6th grade teacher who has his class raise a pig and then debate whether or not it's right to eat their new friend Tetsu Maeda's "School Days with a Pig" stars Satoshi Tsumabuki as Mr. Hoshi and a cast of 26 real 6th graders... and one very real (and cute) pig. The film won the Audience Award at the 2009 Jeonju Film Festival in South Korea, and the film's screening here at Sprockets will be its Canadian Premiere.

Click here for showtimes and ticket info not only for "School Days with a Pig", but for all the great films that your family (and young at heart film bloggers) can catch between April 17th and 23rd here in Toronto.