Adventure and imagination come together each year at BAMkids Film Festival, one of Brooklyn’s most beloved cinematic traditions for children and families. We’re looking for fun, thoughtful, and diverse short films for young audiences from around the world!

Whether animated, live action, or documentary, we seek joyful and original stories that spark curiosity, celebrate global perspectives, and offer families fresh ways to see and understand our world.

If you’re a filmmaker with a short that fits, we’d love to see your work! Submissions are now open — be part of a festival that’s a warm, welcoming space for wide-eyed first-time filmgoers and families alike.

Submit your film today and help us celebrate creativity, storytelling, and the power of cinema!

To get a sense of the joyful, imaginative, and boundary-pushing films from last year's line-up, check out the BAMkids Film Festival webpage here: https://www.bam.org/bkff

-------

"Thank you, BAMkids Film Festival! The curation of the kid's film festival was flawless. My son is only three, but after watching My Best Friend Wawa and Wishes: Windows & Nests, he was completely immersed in the stories and characters. He even applauded at the end- proof that art isn't just something material; It's the feeling it leaves with you." -America Del Rocio, parent and attendee

“We absolutely loved being part of BAMKids Film Festival. The organizers are so supportive, the venue is beautiful, and the audience response is incredibly warm and enthusiastic. There’s such a joyful, community-oriented energy throughout the whole event.” - Christian Perry & Eric Tsuchiyama, Creators of Sockz Studio

---------

Virtual YOUNG FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE

BAM also hosts virtually, the Young Filmmakers Showcase for young filmmakers 14 and younger! This is an exciting opportunity for young people ages 14 or younger to share their cinematic creativity with a wide and welcoming community of film lovers

Young FIlmmakers is a non-competitive call for short films (4 minutes or less) created by and for younger audiences. A selection of entries that capture the broadest range of stories, themes, and styles will be included on our BAMkids Film Festival webpage for everyone to enjoy.

Photos: Courtesy of Meevil The Weevil: Breakfast Of Champions, Fitting In, Lille Tut Morning Sun, Mildred The Gallery Cat, Lena's Farm: Full Nest, Mojappi - It's Mine, Tatarang! And JOIN

Awards & Prizes

Best Animated Short
Best Live Action Short
Young Filmmakers Showcase

Rules & Terms

BAMkids Film Festival 2027
Information, Rules, and Regulations

1. The Festival

BAMkids Film Festival is an annual international film festival presented by BAM, now in its 29th year. The festival features a competitive selection of short films from around the world, with many presented in their original languages. Screenings take place the first weekend in February.

2. Organizations Mission

Located in downtown Brooklyn, NY, BAM is the home for curious people and adventurous ideas. We support artistic experimentation and champion inclusion and accessibility throughout the arts as presenter, activator, and connector

3. Entry

Submit your film through our FilmFreeway platform by October 9, 2026. We encourage early submissions, as programming decisions begin well before the deadline. Entry fees are intentionally kept very low to help support the mission of the festival. While we hope you'll consider paying the fee, we understand that it’s not always possible — if you need a waiver, please reach out and let us know your reason for the request. We’re happy to work with you.

4. Eligible Films and Videos

• All entries submitted must be suitable for children ages 14 and under.
• The Festival accepts both live-action and animated submissions, completed 2024-2026.
• All entries whose original language is not English must be subtitled or dubbed in English.
• If your film is selected for the festival, we will ask that you provide captions for your film as a .srt or .vtt file, but prefer subtitles to be burned in.

5. Selection/Festival Director

Selection will be made by the festival director and programming team. Input is also sought from children.

6. Criteria for Selection

• Film content should be creative and demonstrate artistic and technical mastery.
• Content should speak positively to children of diverse backgrounds and cultures. We look for films that provide strong role models for all children and must not contain gender, racial or cultural stereotypes and biases. The content of the films should cause no harm and fit our ideals of racial and gender equity, inclusivity, social justice and global awareness.

• Stories should be culturally authentic, timely, uplifting and of universal appeal to young audiences. Plotlines, ideally, should be child-driven, FOR children, rather than ABOUT them. Films with extremely bleak messages or unhappy endings are not a fit for BAMkids.

• Films should NOT contain gratuitous violence or explicit nudity. Sexual content of any kind is not appropriate for our audience. Strong and/or repeated profanity will disqualify your film.

Entries may be disqualified for technical or procedural reasons, including:
• Any entry not subtitled or dubbed into the English language.
• Films and videos that are purely educational or instructional.
• Films and videos that are aimed primarily at an adult audience.

7. Notification of Festival Status

The Festival will inform all entrants no later than Dec 11, 2026 if films have been selected.

8. Additional screenings.

Selected short films and festival short programs may be included in additional screenings taking place in the months following the BAMkids Film Festival 2027. These additional screenings fall into two categories: 1) Best of BAMkids Film Festival, 2) Best of BAMkids Film Festival on tour and 3) School screenings.

Best of BAMkids Film Festival will take place in Fall 2027 at BAM Cinema, featuring three programs tailored for ages 3–5, 6–8, and 9+. Each program will showcase a selection of short films voted as favorites by families who attended the festival.

We’re also excited to introduce Best of BAMkids on Tour, offering venues throughout the United States the opportunity to screen prize-winning and audience favorite films from our festival. These programs will be professionally compiled and made available to participating venues. Filmmakers and distributors can indicate on the Festival Film Submission Form if they permit their films to be included in this program.

Beginning in fall 2027, school groups in New York will be invited to attend special field trip screenings of the Best of BAMkids Film Festival, featuring highlights from the 2027 festival. These screenings will take place on one designated day in the fall, offering students ages 3–14 a fun and memorable big-screen experience.

9. Festival format of films and videos selected

All short films must be sent to us as .mov, .mp4 or .m4v files. Precise specifications will be provided upon acceptance of the films.

10. Rulings

BAMkids Film Festival reserves the right to rule on cases not covered by these regulations.
2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Anna Kadykova

    I wasn't able to attend, but my film was there. And i am very happy. Thank you, BAMKIDS!!!
    Anna

    February 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    hi Anna ! Families loved Anansi. Once parent came out and was really amused by it and was doing some moves for her kids. I wonder how many will go home and try to grow pineapples...:-)

  • Jacqueline Sánchez-Carrero

    Excelent experience in this festival. Our short films have been seen by many children. Thank you!!

    February 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks Jacqueline. We loved to be able to screen Once upon a time there was a war and The whale who wanted to be an inventor. So important for kids to see other kids work!