When Santa Fell to Earth director drops into Framed children’s film festival

Nov. 5, 2012 - PRLog -- Film director Oliver Dieckmann will be introducing a special preview of the festive family feature, When Santa Fell to Earth at the Framed Film Festival – a new annual children’s film festival bringing cinema to a new generation, taking place at the Barbican Centre in London this November.

Dieckmann said “British films and British filmmakers have always inspired me, and Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has accompanied me ever since my father read it to me as a child.  So I’m really excited to be presenting our Christmas film in London at Framed Film Festival.”

The enchanting tale is based on the novel of the same name by the internationally bestselling author, Cornelia Funke, whose latest book, Ghost Knight, was published at the beginning of October. This is not the first time her books have been translated cinematically, with adaptations of Inkheart and The Thief Lord making it to the big screen in the last few years.

The idea for the story of When Santa Fell to Earth came to Funke one night when she was living in Hamburg.  She said “I looked out my window and there it was; a wooden trailer van. Nothing suspicious, except for the fact that there was a light behind the window. It started snowing while I looked at it and suddenly there he was, in my head and heart; Niklas Goodfellow, the last living Santa, hiding from Gerold Goblynch, the man who stole Christmas.

“Everything I love about Christmas went into this story and Niklas is one of my favourites amongst all the characters who showed up in my writing house. I taste gingerbread when I remember writing this book. I so loved to write this book and it makes me ridiculously happy to hear that many families read it aloud every Christmas.”

Framed Film Festival is a new annual showcase of the best international cinema and learning activities for young people, taking place at the Barbican and selected independent cinemas across London between November 17 and 25. The special preview at the Barbican takes place on Sunday November 18 at 11.15am. Tickets are available from www.barbican.org.uk priced £5/£3 (no unaccompanied adults or children).

The film is also screening at three other London venues as part of the festival; Stratford East Picturehouse on November 18 at 11am, Shortwave Bermondsey on November 18 at 11.30am and the Phoenix Cinema in Finchley on November 24 at 12pm. Pre-booking is essential.

The film opens in selected cinemas across the UK and Ireland from December 7. For more information about the film, where it is playing or to register for online competitions for a chance to win children’s books, magazines, toys and gadgets, visit www.whensantafelltoearth.co.uk