KIDS FIRST! Film Festival

KIDS FIRST! Film Festival Announces Accepted 2023 Films

Roshan Rahain KIDS FIRST! Film Festival 2023-24 US Premiere MeteoHeroes 1st Prize Environmental Short World Premiere DreamWorks Madagascar: A Little Wild: Gloria's Got 'Em All 1st Prize Ages 5-8

What is the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival

Since 2000, the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival offers a showcase for films from independent and student filmmakers worldwide, plus screenplays. We partner with 30+ venues worldwide that host screenings of KIDS FIRST! curated films year-round. These venues include established film festivals such as the Tallgrass Film Festival, the Phoenix Film Festival, the Atlanta Children’s Film Festival and the University of Hawaii at Manoa as well as children's museums, film socities, schools and other local organizations. For filmmakers, it is like submitting a film to 30+ venues all at once. Not every venue will play every film or feature every screenplay.

Films are digital storytelling – they offer a way to share our personal stories or those of our communities in a tangible way.  They help strengthen people-to-people ties between people from different countries and promote cultural understanding and tolerance. We have films by and about indigenous people, Latinx and Black communities, the environment, animal rights and gender identity that help break down barriers, empower women and encourage a more gender inclusive work environment. Some films provide insight about people with disabilities. Some inspire youth to reach out and achieve their full potential by providing positive role models. Some examine climate change and teach us ways to protect our planet. Others ask life’s big questions about spirituality or mortality. Some films are just plain fun; they make you laugh at their outright silliness, and leave a smile on your face.

The dialogue of these films is always either in English or subtitled in English so they encourage English proficiency for ESL individuals. Our film selections include animated films, documentaries, shorts and features, plus screenplays, which meet the same criteria as films.

Since the pandemic, most festivals are offering a combination of live, virtual or hybrid screenings that allows audiences to participate according to their comfort level. Many of our venue partners follow their live screenings with a day or more of online screenings. We are committed to improving the overall capacity within the arts community by providing opportunities for filmmakers to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and dialogue with their audiences. The screenings are often augmented by live or streaming discussions, Q & A sessions, filmmaking workshops for youth and other activities that support a dialogue between the next generation of thought leaders.

KIDS FIRST! is known for its diverse collection of films made both by and for children, ages 2 to 22. Our student filmmakers represent preschoolers through university students. They, and our independent filmmakers, come from all over the world -- United States, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland, India, China, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, South Africa, Russia, Portugal, Norway, New Zealand, Luxembourg, Israel, Iran, Germany, Croatia and more.  

If your organization is interested in co-hosting a festival with us, please contact us at [email protected]

Kids really do come first at KIDS FIRST!

KIDS FIRST! really does put kids ... first! Youth are given a voice as curators, critics, volunteer staff, audience members and, of course, as filmmakers showcasing their original work. Almost one-third of the films accepted every year for the festival are from student filmmakers worldwide - preschool, elementary, middle, high school and university students.

Programming

The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival accepts approximately 300 films every year, with quarterly calls for submissions. To be accepted for the festival, films must meet the KIDS FIRST! criteria including:

1) NO gratuitous violence or abuse;
2) NO inappropriate sexual behavior;
3) NO bias in terms of race, gender, culture or religion;
4) NO condescension toward children;
5) NO replicable unsafe behavior.
6) Have an uplifting message;
7) Be appropriate for ages 2 to 5, 5 to 8, 8 to 12 or 12 to 18.

FAQs for Filmmakers

Note to Programmers

To access of the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival curated collection for your event, please contact us.

The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is a project of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media, a national nonprofit (501-c-3) organization established in 1991.