The California International Children’s Film Festival’s provides a showcase platform for entertaining, educational and inspiring children based projects from around the world.

The CICFF is a biannual event that focuses on bringing together talented filmmakers of all ages that want to share their diverse and compelling stories about and/or by children. We curate and present the best independent and international cinema projects so our audiences and filmmakers will have a delightfully worthwhile screening and networking experience. All projects must have one of the following criteria to be eligible for submission: Project must be based around children, have a child as one of the lead protagonist or must have a child in one of the main behind the scenes production positions (Producer, Director, writer, etc...).

There will be nine categories of entry including, Narrative short, Narrative Feature, Documentary Short, Documentary Feature, Student, Animation, Music Video, Experimental, and scripts. All genres of fiction and non-fiction are accepted. There will also be nine awards up for grabs: Audience Award, Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best Student Film, Best Music Video, Best Animation, Best Experimental and Best Script.

*Audience Award
*Best Feature Film
*Best Short Film
*Best Documentary
*Best Student Film
*Best Music Video
*Best Animation
*Best Experimental
*Best Script

Project must be based around children, have a child as one of the lead protagonist or must have a child in one of the main behind the scenes production positions (Producer, Director, writer, etc...).

*We accept filmmakers of all ages.
*We accept all genres of fiction and non-fiction
*We do not have any premiere or distribution requirements.
*You may have multiple entries and submit to multiple categories.
*Each entry and submission category must have its own submission fee.
*Submission that are not in English must have subtitles
*Works in progress are accepted
*Films, videos and scripts can be produced from any year
*Entry Fees are in $USD
*Entry fees are non-refundable.
*No press kits are required for the initial submission process

The CICFF is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The Competition reserves the right to refuse entries. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless CICFF from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

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  • Suzanne Nichols

    I am thrilled to have been a part of the CA International Children's FF and honored that our film, The Life and Times of Schrodinger's Cat, was awarded Best Experimental! I was unable to attend, but our Director, Ron Noble, was there for the screening and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thank you!

    April 2023