LBIFF presents the best of independent and international children’s cinema to inspire, delight, educate, and connect a diverse community of children and families.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The annual LittleBig International Children’s Film Festival takes place in June at multiple venues in Almaty city (Kazkahstan), with over 5 days of screenings, filmmaking workshops, and free activities, along with post-film conversations that help deepen the film-watching experience and foster critical thinking skills. During the festival, LBIFF screens an average of 12 feature-length and over 50 short films—including live-action, documentary, and animation—made by filmmakers from around the world. Since 2018, LBIFF has included the Youth Filmmaker Showcase, a juried program of films made by youth, followed by an opportunity for young filmmakers to talk about both the fun and the challenges they face during the creative process.

Awards & Prizes

Shorts for children aged 4-11

Shorts for children aged 12-16

Animated shorts for children aged 4-11

Animated shorts for children aged 12-16

Feature films for children aged 4-11

Feature films for children aged 12-16

Short Films — Made by Kids

Rules & Terms

FILM CRITERIA
The LBIFF film selection committee seeks films with content that speak positively to children, teens and families of diverse ages, backgrounds and ethnicities. Please consider submitting if you have created work that can speak to all, including children. We seek films that are entertaining and/or challenging to young minds with serious, true-to-life topics and narratives. Topics can span the entire range of emotions. LBIFF welcomes foreign films with subtitles, documentaries, animation and even experimental films that might widen the perspectives of those who attend. Through the selected films we hope to: demonstrate the artistry and craft of filmmaking, provoke discussions about the stories and topics, and to make connections with people and cultures near and far.

FILM GUIDANCE
LBIFF curated films are not always appropriate for all ages. To help parents make informed decisions about what their children see and to provide context for discussions, LBIFF film listings include recommended ages, notes on thematic elements, and descriptions of potentially challenging content.

JUNIOR JURY
The LBIFF Jury is comprised of both adults and children. At LBIFF, youth have a voice from beginning to end in the selection of films. LBIFF’s Junior Jury is composed of young film enthusiasts from age 5 to 16.

At most children’s film festivals children only serve on award juries. But LBIFF’s Junior Jury gives children a unique opportunity and responsibility: working alongside an adult committee to select the final festival program from among hundreds of films that are submitted each year for consideration.