Submit to KIDS FIRST!

Four Great Programs Support Your Children's Film, TV Show, DVD, CD or Video Game

1. KIDS FIRST! Endorsement

Studio and Independent and Films and DVDs

1. The KIDS FIRST! endorsement is the most highly respected media evaluation and endorsement program in the U.S. Every endorsed title is juried by a community-based jury comprising adult professionals and children AND meets or exceeds the KIDS FIRST! criteria. Endorsed titles are given a one-, two- or three-star rating indicating good, better and best. Every endorsed title is also considered for screening in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival. To submit a title for endorsement or get more information, go here

Enter your DVD to both National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) competition and KIDS FIRST! endorsement and get discounts on both entry fees! KIDS FIRST! will give you 50% off the non-members' application when you submit to both.

NAPPA Deadline - July 30.

KIDS FIRST! offer ends August 30, 2008

For NAPPA application information, download a NAPPA DVD entry form here or call 617-522-1515 x23.

2. KIDS FIRST! Recommendation

TV Series

2. The KIDS FIRST! recommendation designation offers an alternative to endorsement for TV series. Endorsement requires evaluation of every episode in the series. Recommendation is based on the evaluation of three sample episodes from the same season. Recommended series have been juried by a community-based jury comprising adult professionals and children AND meets or exceeds the KIDS FIRST! criteria. Recommended series are also given a one-, two- or three-star rating indicating good, better and best. To submit a TV series for recommendation or get more information, go here.

3. KIDS FIRST! Film Festival

Films, TV Shows/Series and DVDs for Ages 2 - 18

3. The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival showcases new and classic children's films, TV shows and DVDs from studios, independent producers and youth producers. It travels 100 venues annually, has an attendance of more than 600,000, and creates more than 30 million marketing impressions. Submitting to the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is like submitting to 100 separate festivals. Accepted titles have been juried by a community-based jury AND meets or exceeds the KIDS FIRST! criteria. Accepted titles are also eligible for consideration for a KIDS FIRST! Best Award, granted every year in the fall.

The Festival also has a screenplay competition.

Screenplays are juried quarterly. If accepted, they are granted an "Official KIDS FIRST! Film Festival Selection" and are considered for awards as part of the KIDS FIRST! Best Awards in the fall.

To submit a title to the KIDSFIRST! Film Fesival or more information, go here.

4. KIDS FIRST! Best Awards

KIDS FIRST! Best Awards Day Oct 4, 2008 at Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, LA

4. Every title accepted by the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is eligible for a KIDS FIRST! Best Award presented each fall. KIDS FIRST! Best Awards honor films, in 20 different categories, that exhibit excellence in filmmaking for children and offer pro-social benefits beyond simply entertainment. Student and independent films are judged in their own categories so as to provide them the best opportunity for judging among their peers. Two thirds of the KIDS FIRST! awards are given to independent and student productions. Five “Best of Fest“ awards are given to the top films for the year.

For more details on KIDS FIRST! Best Awards go here

KIDS FIRST! Best 2007 Winners

KIDS FIRST! Best 2006 Winners

KIDS FIRST! Best 2005 Winners

FAQs for Producers

Answers to frequently asked questions from producers.

More about the Coalition for Quality Children's Media

KIDS FIRST! and KIDS FIRST! Film Festival are projects of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media, a nonprofit organization supporting quality children's media since 1991.

Coming July 2008

"Marketing Tips for Indie Producers," by Sarah Slater, former Director of Sales for WGBH Boston Video (PBS) and a Harvard Business School MBA. This column is designed to assist independent filmmakers and mid-size companies in expanding the distribution of their films. Sarah's column will appear on the KIDS FIRST! website and excerpts in KIDS FIRST! News. Due: July, 2008

Deadlines

For KIDS FIRST! Film Festival screenings taking place within the quarter specified. Endorsements and recommendations will be announced during the specified quarter.

Fourth Quarter 2008
(Oct. 15 - Jan 15, 2009)

June 15 - Early Deadline
July 15 - Regular Deadline
Aug. 15 - Late Deadline
Aug 25 - CQCM Member Late Deadline

First Quarter, 2009
( Jan. 15 - April 15)

Sept. 15 - Early Deadline
Oct. 15 - Regular Deadline
Nov. 15- Late Deadline
Nov. 25 - CQCM Member Late Deadline

Second Quarter, 2009
(April 15 - July 15)
Dec. 15 - Early Deadline
Jan. 15 - Regular Deadline
Feb. 15 - Late Deadline
Feb 25 - CQCM Member Late Deadline

Third Quarter 2009
(July 15 - Oct. 15)

March 15 - Early Deadline
April 15 - Regular Deadline
May 15 - Late Deadline
May 25 - CQCM Member Late

"Our sponsorship of KIDS FIRST! is a crucial part of our grassroots outreach efforts for our family friendly projects." Dorrit Ragosine, Vice President, Public Relations, MGM/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Public Relations

"I have worked with KIDS FIRST! for nearly three years. They have done a fantastic job of leveraging our sponsorship dollars and tremendously over-delivering. We find the exposure garnered from this program to be a valuable piece of our marketing plan." Kim Leibowitz, Marketing Director for Animal Planet Media and Discovery Kids Media

"KIDS FIRST! not only performs a critical role in providing parents and families with wholesome and trusted entertainment for young children, but is also an invaluable grass-roots marketing resource in creating wide-spread consumer awareness of these films. It is a great cost-effective way to screen films in a targeted environment. We have been working with KIDS FIRST! for years and they have always over-delivered in all aspects," Suzanne Faber, Vice President of Brand Marketing, Starz! Home Entertainment (Anchor Bay)

"I have worked with KIDS FIRST! for several years and they have done a wonderful job in promoting and supporting our family DVD releases. They are an integral part of our marketing plans and we look forward to many more opportunities to partner with them in the future" Cara Grossman, Assistant Project Manager - Family Brand Marketing, Universal Studios Home Entertainment

"It has been a pleasure working with Ranny over the past six years. Ranny is reliable, trustworthy, dedicated to her work and an absolute pleasure to work with. Ranny continues to provide a great service and I look forward to continuing to work with her in the future." Year first hired: 2002 (hired more than once) Christine Lewison, Genius Products

"We recommend KIDS FIRST! to all of our clients who are producing or  distributing children's entertainment content. I can't think of a better value, especially for newly launching TV and DVD properties. KIDS FIRST!  generates impactful, meaningful visibility on a grassroots level and beyond  - and it's totally turn key!" - Alan Winnikoff, Sayles & Winnikoff Communications