The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival showcases new and classic children's films, TV programs, digital programming, DVDs and screenplays from studios, independent producers and youth producers. KIDS FIRST! partners with more than 50 venues that showcase its selections for their kids and family programming.

PLEASE READ our festival description BEFORE YOU SUBMIT. Thank you

By submitting once to KIDS FIRST!, it is like submitting to 50 festivals individually. Not all 50 festivals will play your film/feature your screenplay, but it will be considered.

Note that KIDS FIRST! Film Festival affiliates do not pay a screening fee and films that are played at their events are FREE to pass-holders. There are no individual admission fees although there may be a festival admission fee.

DO NOT SUBMIT if you want to receive a screening fee.

Awards & Prizes

Each KIDS FIRST! venue partner offers their own awards and prizes.

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. Although some may include screenplays.

Rules & Terms

Accepted titles must meet or exceed the KIDS FIRST! criteria and be appropriate for exhibition on a large screen. Criteria include:
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

Include in your description the age group you film is most suitable for.
PLEASE DO NOT say "all ages" or "ages 5 to 100"!

Once accepted, a film may not be pulled from the Festival by the filmmaker for any reason. By submitting your film, you are agreeing to comply with this and all other requirements.

By submitting your film, you are warranting that you are authorized to commit the film for screening and accept full responsibility to provide the correct format of your film to our venue partners for festival play.

By submitting this film, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 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.

Once we accept your film, you will receive an automated notification which includes the deliverables needed in order to proceed adding your film to our festival offerings. You will be asked to submit an electronic file of your film if it is a short, or a trailer if a feature. Once received, we will upload your film to our password protected film programmer's site. This is not a public site. It is for screening and downloading purposes only by programmers with our affiliated venues.

Feature films will only have a trailer on our programmer's site. When one of our affiliates requests a full length screener, we will connect them with you to get that. We will have them reach out to you for appropriate promotional materials once your film has been accepted for their festival or event.

Once your film gets booked by one of our partners, you will receive an update via email. When you see your booking, we strongly recommend that you contact the individual festival directly to see how you might collaborate in promoting your screening and whether or not you plan to attend the event.

We strongly encourage attending any festival where your film is featured and promote your screening/s to your personal network of friends and family.

Screening times and dates are solely at the discretion of our venue partners so, please communicate with them, not KIDS FIRST!

43 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rain Story

    Wonderful and friendly people to work with.

    October 2020
    Helpful
    Kffflogosamssmv2
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Rain. We love working with filmmakers like you. You make our job easy.
    KIDS FIRST!

  • Katerina Balabay

    Great festival! And thanks for the opportunity to show our film DRONYA'S ARTIFICES to viewers from all over the world!
    Special thanks to the Eshaan Mani, KIDS FIRST! film critic, for reviewing the film!

    October 2020
    Helpful
  • Nacho Ros

    Fantastic Festival! They put a lot of detail on everything, and they included us with a film review. Great work for children! Congratulations on the Festival !! Thank you very much!

    September 2020
    Helpful
    Kffflogosamssmv2
    Response from festival:

    Thanks for your kind remarks Nacho. Much appreciated. We certainly try our best to give everyone good feedback, and meet their expectations in terms of getting their film or screenplay shown. Best wishes to you. KIDS FIRST1

  • Agnes Lesti

    This is a great festival and the organisers are brilliant! We love attending it every year. :)

    September 2020
    Helpful
    Kffflogosamssmv2
    Response from festival:

    Thanks Agnes for your kind comments. Must appreciated. We love your work. It's a pleasure working with you.
    KIDS FIRST!

  • Alyce Vest

    Honored to have my film selected to this great festival! Ranny and the staff were always very professional and attentive. Thanks so much KIDS FIRST!!

    September 2020
    Helpful
    Kffflogosamssmv2
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Alyce for your kind comments. We truly have enjoyed working with you also. Our small team works diligently to review every submission and give helpful feedback. We are thankful for your appreciation. Best, KIDS FIRST!