KIDS FIRST! is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and we have an incredible event that has started to roll out – our 30th Anniversary KIDS FIRST! Film Festival – co-hosted by venues nationwide. The events will be a hybrid combination of live and online screenings, live streaming talent interviews and Q&A sessions, panel discussions and more – with an expected attendance of over 100,000.
KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is known for its showcase of extraordinary films made by and for children, ages 2 to 22. We feature creative, artistic, insightful, informative, humorous and thought-provoking films from filmmakers worldwide.
Our 30th anniversary selection contains an remarkable collection of animated films, documentaries, shorts and features. We have films by and about children of color, climate change and the environment, social justice, and multicultural awareness. Some films offer uplifting messages for kids trying to cope with the global pandemic. Others offer insight into a culture elsewhere in the world, showing how similar we are even though our traditions might be so different. Some films are just plain fun; they make you laugh at their outright silliness, and leave a smile on your face.
The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival showcases new and classic children's films, TV programs, digital programming, videos and screenplays from independent filmmakers, youth filmmakers, and studios. KIDS FIRST! partners with more than 30 venues that showcase its selections for their kids and family programming throughout the year.
Submitting to KIDS FIRST! is like submitting to 30 individual festivals. Not all 30 festivals will play your film or feature your screenplay, but it will be considered.
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.
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
Most importantly, we look for films that have an uplifting message!
ELIGIBILITY:
Films must be suitable for children age 2 to 18
Premiere status is a factor during the selection process
Only completed works can be submitted
Films with dialogue in languages other than English must be subtitled in English
Note that our January live events have been postponed due to damage to our venue. As soon as we know when we can reschedule we will notify the filmmakers whose films have been selected. This does not affect the venues that we partner with and those will proceed as normal.
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.