Like You Children’s Film Festival (LYCFF) is an annual film festival presented by Like You Film Club, a non-profit organization. Our mission is support the emotional growth and mental wellness of kids and families through the power of film.

Like You Children's Film Festival is all about friends, family, film, and fun. We do everything we can to rethink the movie-going experience with kids in mind, and that includes the kid-at-heart grownups who love family friendly films.

Hosted at the MoSH Pink Palace Museum & Mansion, we show films in their famous GIANT SCREEN theater. This 40 foot tall immersive screen is an opportunity for audiences and filmmakers to see independent cinema like they've never seen it before.

Our festival is "more than just screen time." We lead guided conversations exploring the themes of each film, offer filmmaker Q&A's, and plan all sorts of fun workshops and activities for kids of all ages.

FILM CRITERIA
We program films with content that speaks positively to children, teens, and families from diverse backgrounds. Please consider submitting if you have created work that can speak to all ages, including children and teens. This DOES NOT mean films should be dumbed down, simplified, or exclusively happy, positive stories. We celebrate and respect the creativity, intellect, and capacity for abstract thought that is inherent in childhood. Films may be entertaining and/or thought-provoking for children and teens, and may contain a wide range of emotions, as well as deep or nuanced themes about life and meaning.

LYCFF welcomes both short films and feature films of all types, including live action, animation, documentaries, foreign films with English subtitles, and experimental films that spark wonder, imagination, or a new perspective.

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

Note for Parenthood Spotlight and Teen Made submissions ONLY: these are the only exceptions where we MAY accept films that are not intended primarily for an audience of kids and family. Films must still be respectful of children even if they are not intended for children. This means some language and other mature situations MAY be acceptable in these categories only. If programmed, they will play in evening screenings with appropriate age recommendations, which may be 13+, 15+, or 18+.

Awards & Prizes

We recognize the festival's best films with awards* from our Youth Jury, our programmers, and our audience.

Our most prestigious awards are chosen by our two youth juries – the Little Reels Jury (kids age 6-9) and the Indie Lens Jury (kids age 10-14). Each jury selects the following awards:
- Favorite Short Film
- Biggest Feelings Award
- Kids' Wildcard (can be for anything our jury decides! Best Child Actor? Weirdest Animation? Funniest Talking Dog? Worst Dad Joke? Grossest Booger Montage?)

In addition to our Youth Jury Awards, we give our audience the chance to vote on their favorites in the following categories:
- Audience Favorite Short Film (Narrative or Documentary)
- Audience Favorite Feature Film (Narrative or Documentary)
- Audience Favorite Kid Made Film
- Audience Favorite Teen Made Film

And finally, our programming team gives out two awards:
- Programmers' Choice: Feature Film
- Programmers' Choice: Short Film

*LIKE YOU FILM CLUB RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER AWARD CATEGORIES BASED ON SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED.

Rules & Terms

The individual or entity submitting this film (“Filmmaker”) (1) warrants that it holds all necessary rights for the submission of this film for exhibition in the Like You Children's Film Festival ("LYCFF") and for use in related promotional and educational events prior to the festival and up to 12 months thereafter for screening in our year round programming for public and school based screenings. Filmmaker (2) shall indemnify and hold harmless LYCFF from and against any and all claims, costs, suits, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and court costs) by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, royalties, publicity and/or screening related to the film.

• All entries submitted must be suitable for children ages 18 and under.
• All entries whose original language is not English must be subtitled or dubbed in English.
• Films should not contain gratuitous violence, strong/frequent profanity, glamorized drug use, explicit nudity, or sexual content of any kind.

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 in nature.
• Films that are primarily advertising or promoting a particular brand, product, or organization.
• Films and videos that are aimed primarily at an adult audience.

Final acceptance decisions are made by the Festival Director with assistance from the programming team. These decisions are final and are not subject to appeal. Submission fees are non-refundable.

Final film format decisions of accepted films are solely decided by the Festival Director. We will make every effort to show on the best format, with the best resolution and sound quality. Exhibition formats and level of screening quality may change based on equipment availability and changes of venue.

LYCFF is granted the right to utilize and excerpt from any film or image submitted and accepted for exhibition at the festival, on the LYCFF website, and for promotional purposes.

All accepted short films are to be shown on a digital file. Filmmakers will be notified of exact format and specifications upon acceptance in the film festival.

LYCFF shall use best efforts to ensure correct title and credits are listed on festival materials but shall not be held liable for inadvertent errors and omissions. LYCFF reserves the right to adjust dates and times of film screenings and shall not be responsible for delays or cancellations due to equipment failure, shipping delays, inclement weather, the condition of the files delivered, or for any reason outside the control of LYCFF.

LYCFF reserves the right to decide all questions not specifically provided for herein.

4 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Athena Greenleaf

    This is a wonderful festival with an important goal and a caring team! Communication was very clear and helpful, and you can tell the organizers care about the filmmakers, the audience, and the community they serve. Excited to see this festival continue to grow!!

    December 2025
    Helpful
  • Alfred Hernandez

    A great festival with an important audience - young people. I was glad to have my video Fruit Crate City and Me be featured.

    December 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We were happy to screen your work!

  • Molly Wexler

    For its first year, this was a terrific festival. A great variety of programing and wonderful communication with the filmmakers. i hope it continues and grows.

    December 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Molly! We were honored to screen Tom Lee. The Local Stories block was definitely a festival highlight!

  • Muriel Smith

    I had so much fun visiting Memphis for the Like You Film Festival!! The organizers did an amazing job creating this wonderful event, and everyone involved was friendly and helpful. Also, the Q&A I got to do after screening my cartoon was my favorite Q&A I’ve ever done so far. The kids asked great questions about the logistics of my cartoon world. Memphis families are lucky to have the Like You Film Club!!!

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks Muriel! We loved having you in Memphis. I'm glad you loved the Q&A. Kids ask the best questions. Hope you can make it back next year!