Since 2000, the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival offers a showcase for short and feature films from independent and student filmmakers and major studios worldwide, plus screenplays. The festival partners with more than 30 venues worldwide that host screenings of KIDS FIRST! curated films year-round. These venues include established film festivals such as the Tallgrass Film Festival, the Phoenix Film Festival, the Atlanta Children’s Film Festival and the University of Hawaii at Manoa as well as children's museums, nonprofit film centers, schools and other local organizations that showcase films at their annual festivals or more frequently. For filmmakers, it is like submitting their films to these 30+ venues. Submitting to KIDS FIRST! is like submitting to 30 individual festivals. Not every venue will play every film or feature every screenplay, because some only show student films, animated features, films about dads or Black communities, the environment or climate change.
Films are digital storytelling – they offer a way to share our personal stories or those of our communities in a tangible way. They help strengthen people-to-people ties between people from different countries and promote cultural understanding, tolerance and inclusion of those whose way of life is different from ours. We have films by and about indigenous people, Latinx and Black communities, the environment, social justice, animal rights, homelessness, gender identity, and multicultural awareness. They help us break down barriers, empower women and encourage a more gender inclusive work environment. Some films teach us about people with disabilities and open our eyes to a different way of being. Some films inspire youth to reach out and achieve their full potential by providing role models that young people can relate to. Some give us insight into issues surrounding climate change and teach us ways to protect the environment and our planet. Other films ask life’s biggest questions about spirituality or mortality. They help promote interfaith harmony. The dialogue is always either in English or subtitled in English so they encourage English proficiency for those that English is a second language. Some films are just plain fun; they make you laugh at their outright silliness, and leave a smile on your face. Some provoke a deep dive into topics of concern. Our film selections include animated films, documentaries, shorts and features, and screenplays – which must meet the same criteria as films.
Since the pandemic, most festivals have created a combination of live, virtual and hybrid screenings that allows audiences to participate according to their comfort level. Today, most of our venue partners follow their live screenings with a day or more of online screenings. The screenings are often augmented by live or streaming discussions, Q & A sessions, filmmaking workshops for youth and other activities that support a dialogue between the next generation of thought leaders. The festival is committed to improving the overall capacity within the arts community by providing opportunities for filmmakers to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and learn from each other. KIDS FIRST! is known for showcasing films made both by and for children, ages 2 to 22. Our student filmmakers come from preschools through universities. They, and our independent filmmakers, come from all over the world -- United States, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland, India, China, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, South Africa, Russia, Portugal, Norway, New Zealand, Luxembourg, Israel, Iran, Germany, Croatia and more.
Accepted films or screenplays must meet or exceed the KIDS FIRST! criteria and be appropriate for exhibition on a large screen. Our baseline criteria includes:
NO gratuitous violence or abuse
NO inappropriate sexual behavior
NO bias in terms of race, gender, culture or religion
NO condescension toward children
NO replicable unsafe behavior
Have an uplifting message!
Be appropriate for ages 2 to 5, 5 to 8, 8 to 12, and 12 to 18.
ELIGIBILITY:
Premiere status is a factor during the selection process.
Only completed works can be submitted. We do not play works in progress.
Films with dialogue in languages other than English must be subtitled in English.
Note that KIDS FIRST! Film Festival affiliates do not pay a screening fee. Please do not waste our time or yours if you require a screening fee.
Awards are determined by individual venue partners.
Accepted feature films will get a First Look opportunity for distribution by Soundview Media Partners.
Screenwriters take note: Acceptance of your screenplay by KIDS FIRST! will get you coverage you can use to promote your screenplay. While our venue partners tend to focus more on screening finished films over screenplays, some may include screenplays. What you receive for your application fee is a very thorough analysis of your screenplay, which is why the fee is so high.
