Film festivals aren’t just late-night industry galas and art house premieres—they’re increasingly becoming family affairs. In fact, more and more film festivals are catering to cinephiles of all ages, with some even encouraging teenage directors to submit their own pieces of work.
Here are four film festivals celebrating children’s films that directors of all ages should know about.
1. KIDS FIRST! Film Festival
Late deadline: Feb. 7
Launched back in 2000, the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival showcases shorts and feature films from independent and student filmmakers that are appropriate for children ages 2–5, 5–8, 8–12, 12–18 (or any combination of these groups). It also encourages screenplay submissions so that writers can receive detailed feedback on their potential films.
The festival unfolds in Sante Fe, New Mexico, with around 70,000 people attending its three-week celebration of cinema from across the world. In fact, KIDS FIRST! collaborates with other children’s film festivals from the United States, Asia, and Europe, to make sure that it’s getting the finest family films that are uplifting, promote inclusion, and inspire young viewers. Films are judged by a mix of youth advocates and jurors, KIDS FIRST! film critics, media professionals, and educators.
Festival organizers collaborate with a number of children’s museums, schools, and various nonprofit organizations, creating a vast network that allows films to be seen more widely after the festival.
The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival will take place Feb. 26–28.
2. Zlín Film Festival
Regular deadline: April 1
Since its inception in 1961, the Zlín Film Festival (also known as the International Film Festival for Children and Youth) in the Czech Republic has amassed a stellar reputation for screening live-action and animated features, shorts, and documentaries that deal with issues related to young people. Tickets for the event are free, with the audience consisting mostly of children and youth from the region.
Filmmakers that attend get to enjoy seminars and workshops to help enhance their careers and skills, and numerous parties and other events are held for visitors and children alike. The Zlín Film Festival is so renowned that filmmaking luminaries Alfonso Cuarón, Christopher Lee, and Peter Ustinov are just some of the names to have taken part in the festivities.
The Zlín Film Festival will take place May 28–June 3.
3. Giffoni Film Festival
Deadline: May 11
Now entering its 56th year, the week-long Giffoni Film Festival is attended by over 210,000 people annually. Judges whittle down more than 4,000 submissions to 155 films, which then compete for 20 awards. As well as celebrating the best short, feature, animated film, and documentary, the Italian event also hands out prizes to the best feature film and short that revolve around childhood but are targeted to older audiences.
What makes the Giffoni Film Festival extra special is that its jury is made up of approximately 600 youngsters. Intent on bridging the gap between the industry and its target audience, festival organizers hold a variety of master classes, workshops, and live shows, all of which unfold in a lively and joyful manner against the stunning backdrop of Salerno on the Amalfi coast.
The Giffoni Film Festival will take place July 17–25.
4. Beirut International Children and Family Film Festival
Early bird deadline: March 10
Regular deadline: July 10
Exceptional deadline: Oct. 10
When the Beirut International Children and Family Film Festival began in 2017, its aim was to use the power of cinema to raise awareness of family issues across the region. It achieves this not only by screening local films made by regional Lebanese directors, but also by bringing in films that fit into its mission to educate and promote love and peace from the likes of Holland, Canada, France, Iran, the U.K., and the U.S. (to name but a few!).
To boost this message, organizers encourage filmmakers to take part in Q&A sessions so they can break down their filmmaking journey and hopefully inspire young audience members to pick up a camera, too. The festival is run by the Beirut Film Society, which helps train emerging Arab and Lebanese talent in filmmaking and animation all year round. And with a deadline offered every month between March and October, even the procrastinators among us shouldn’t struggle getting a submission in.
The Beirut International Children and Family Film Festival will take place Nov. 20–Dec. 11.
