KIDS FIRST! News

Based on the bestselling novel from Nobel Prize-winner Kazuo Ishiguro and written and directed by Academy-Award® winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit), Klara and the Sun introduces audiences to Klara (Jenna Ortega), an Artificial Friend who wants nothing more than to find the perfect home. When Klara meets Josie (Mia Tharia), each immediately senses a kindred spirit in the other. Josie has a fraught relationship with her mother (Amy Adams) and they’ve suffered great loss, but Klara’s innocent wonder and unwavering loyalty begin to heal the family and bring light to Josie’s complicated world.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Raasti K. comments, “Can a machine love us more deeply than a human? The timing of this film couldn’t be more perfect, since our current world is quickly being taken over by AI…” Valerie M. adds, “I love Klara. She is a fun, relatable character that gives the film an interesting perspective. Watching Klara explore her new world as she moves into the house, was like watching a young child learning about the world…” Julie O. wraps it up with, “The film’s message is about how grief can change people and the importance of relying on others to get through difficult times. Parents should be advised that this film deals with death, sickness, and loss as well as mild violence and injury.” See their full reviews below.

Klara and the Sun
Raasti K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

Can a machine love us more deeply than a human? Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s bestselling novel, Klara and the Sun reimagines science fiction by asking whether kindness matters more than being gifted. The timing of this film couldn’t be more perfect, since our current world is quickly being taken over by AI and, although the film is depicted as dystopian fiction, it could very well be our reality soon.

In a future where Artificial Friends (human-like robots) accompany youth, solar-powered robot Klara (Jenna Ortega) is chosen by Josie (Mia Tharia), a lonely, sick girl ailing from genetic “lifting.”

Despite initial skepticism from Josie’s busy mother (Amy Adams), Klara becomes a devoted companion. Meanwhile, Josie’s unlifted friend Rick (Aran Murphy) uses custom drones to apply to an elite academy. When Josie’s health declines, her mother considers a plan by Mr. Capaldi (Steve Buscemi) for Klara to replace Josie if she dies. Devoted to Josie, Klara risks her own life and prays to the Sun to save her.

Klara and the Sun is so emotional and thought-provoking. The cast is phenomenal; Jenna Ortega plays Klara with such optimism that I truly felt her warmth, sincerity, and humor as she wins over Josie’s family. It really made me fall in love with the idea of having an AF who is such a loyal friend. We see the world through Klara’s pixelated eyes, and see her struggle with even the simplest tasks like climbing stairs. One particularly funny moment is when Klara, despite feeling pain at losing her fellow AF friend, is asked by Rick to say some parting words. Since Klara is a robot, she simply says, “You’re dead,” which shows us the emotional limitations of being a robot!

Aran Murphy plays Rick so genuinely, and the most moving scene is when he is with other lifted children, who are cruel and treat their AFs badly, questioning whether being gifted is worth it if humans lose their basic quality of kindness. The pace of the film is perfect, giving us enough time to let the plot sink in while still enjoying the characters’ growth throughout the film, especially Klara’s.

This film questions whether being lifted is worth it if someone loses their kindness in the process. The finale is both heartbreaking and beautiful, and it left me with a huge question: can an AI actually love, or is it just sophisticated programming?

I rate Klara and the Sun 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases in cinemas on October 23, 2026.

Klara and The Sun
By Valerie M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic age 13

Klara and The Sun is a beautiful film! It is visually stunning, has relatable characters, relevant themes and a powerful message that make the film unforgettable.

In a dystopian future, an older model of a solar-powered Artificial Friend, aka AF, named Klara (Jenna Ortega) is waiting to be purchased. She believes the Sun has godlike powers and can grant wishes. Eventually, a sickly teenage girl named Josie (Mia Tharia) and her hesitant mother Chrissie (Amy Adams) buy Klara to take care of Josie. As Klara learns about Josie and her health, she starts to look for ways to get her wish to save Josie to the sun.

I love Klara. She is a fun, relatable character that gives the film an interesting perspective. Watching Klara explore her new world as she moves into the house, was like watching a young child learning about the world and being hopeful of all the good that can come from it. Speaking of the world, the scenery and visual design of the sets are amazing. The bright city streets, retro interiors of the house, and surrounding vast fields enhance the story. I like how the use of special effects, like glitches in her eyes as Klara takes in new spaces, helped me see the world from Klara’s point of view. It gives the film more depth without being overstated. The build-up and reveal was shocking. At first, I was just enjoying the little adventures Josey and Klara were on. But when all the little pieces clicked into place, and I saw the whole picture, the emotional payoff was surprising. While I love this film, it is certainly not perfect. First, the pacing is a bit off in the beginning, with some scenes feeling undercooked. The film also condenses a lot of information into explanatory monologues which made me feel like I was being talked at.

It’s important to note that this film is not a faithful adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s original novel of the same name. However, even with its faults, I still love the film.

The film’s message is that true love is not something that can be manufactured, and sometimes people can be so heartless they act like robots. Note that there are themes and visuals of death, blood, explosions, abuse and self-harm.

I give Klara and The Sun 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on October 23, 2026.

Klara and the Sun
By Julie O. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

I absolutely love the beautiful film, Klara and the Sun. It is an exciting futuristic sci-fi drama that emphasizes the power of love, friendship, and coping with grief.

The storyline follows Klara (Jenny Ortega), an AF (Artificial Friend) robot, that was designed to be a friend to a teenager to help them through their lonely awkward teen years. She spends years waiting to be selected until one day a girl, Josie (Mia Tharia) picks her to be her AF. Josie and her mom, Chrissy (Amy Adams) are still dealing with the death of Josie’s older sister. As Klara adapts to life in the real world she learns about love, friendship, and loss.

Klara and the Sun takes place in the future and I like that much of the futuristic technology is only slightly more advanced from the technology we have today which makes the film feel relatable. For example, every car is self-driving. The imagery in the movie is really beautiful and adds to the overall beauty of the film. I especially love the scenes where Klara explores nature. I also love that the camera angle switches to first person when Klara is calibrating her new surroundings and we get to experience what she sees and how she adapts. I really like the storyline of the store manager (Natasha Lyonne). She adds a lot of humor and sweetness. I love how she has so much compassion for the B1 model AF’s she sells and how she cares for them. I genuinely love every part of this film but my favorite part of the movie is how Klara interprets and experiences love.

The film’s message is about how grief can change people and the importance of relying on others to get through difficult times. Parents should be advised that this film deals with death, sickness, and loss as well as mild violence and injury.

I give Klara and the Sun 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Klara and the Sun releases in theaters on Friday, October 23, 2026.

We are filled with gratitude as we look back on Phase 1 of our Annual Fundraising Campaign! Thanks to the unbelievable generosity of our donors, supporters, board members, and young reporters, our Fall Sweepstakes raised $4,172 to support KIDS FIRST! and our core mission. Every single contribution directly empowers youth journalists and sustains our international film festival program, giving young voices the tools, mentorship, and platform they need to thrive in today’s media landscape.

Following a comprehensive entry audit and verification, we are thrilled to officially announce the grand prize winners of our Fall Sweepstakes. Rae Marie Taylor took home the grand prize to Sail the Riviera with Mallory Lewis & Lamb Chop! Anne deLain Clark won a Private 1-Hour Masterclass with Kenn Viselman, while Tatiana Shipkova won the Enchanting Santa Fe Getaway in a luxury 3-bedroom home near the Plaza. Finally, Erika L. won the VIP Behind-the-Scenes Studio Experience for four at WUSA9-DC! A huge congratulations to all of our winners, and we hope you enjoy these incredible experiences.

When you support KIDS FIRST!, you are directly investing in the next generation of filmmakers, entertainment journalists, and media leaders. Evie Kaatz, Chairperson for the KIDS FIRST! campaign, shared her gratitude: “Phase 1 gave us a wonderful foundation, and we are so grateful to every supporter, board member, young reporter, and donor who stepped up during the sweepstakes. We are excited to build on this momentum as we transition into Phase 2 of our annual fundraising campaign.” Ranny Levy, President of KIDS FIRST!, added that every single dollar raised directly equips young journalists with essential media training, video editing, expert mentorship, and festival credentials as the organization heads toward the end of the year.

While the sweepstakes and prize entries have officially closed, our mission does not stop here. We are now transitioning into Phase 2 of our year-end fundraising campaign to ensure full funding for our upcoming 2027 youth journalism and media literacy programs. Direct, tax-deductible donations remain open through December 31, 2026.

Your continued support allows us to train children and teens across the country in journalism and critical thinking, giving them a national platform to interview filmmakers and critique major releases. To contribute to Phase 2 or learn more about our work, please visit our Campaign Page.

When a stray dog begins trailing 12-year-old Bridget through her small town, she tries everything to shake him. The more they wonder, they more she learns about loyalty, courage, and the kind of friendship she never knew she needed. “Not My Dog” is a heartfelt family film about letting go of fear and opening your heart, one paw-step at a time.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Spencer C. comments, “I really like Not My Dog. I enjoyed how we get a perspective at the beginning from Nudge’s point of view, showing Nudge (black German Shepherd named Inkois) being chased by Animal Control. I also like how we get a clear perspective on what the main character, Bridget (Rylie Pennington), is like.” Julie O. adds, “Not My Dog is a touching coming-of-age story thanks to the help of man’s best friend. I like that this film has a small cast and the focus is just on the single walk between Bridget’s house and her father’s work place.” Julianna S. wraps it up with, “I like the movie Not My Dog because it is a really sweet, enjoyable family film to watch, with a heartwarming story. The relationship between the main character, Bridget and “not her dog,” Nudge is the strongest part of the film, and the movie excels at mixing humor and sarcasm with emotion.” See their full reviews below. Note: This film is also available to play at our KIDS FIRST! Film Festivals.

Not My Dog
By Spencer C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

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I really like Not My Dog. I enjoyed how we get a perspective at the beginning from Nudge’s point of view, showing Nudge (black German Shepherd named Inkois) being chased by Animal Control. I also like how we get a clear perspective on what the main character, Bridget (Rylie Pennington), is like.

The storyline follows a stray dog, Nudge, and 12-year-old Bridget, through their small town, as they embark on an unexpected journey, discovering the joy of an unlikely friendship along the way. Bridget is sent to bring lunch to her father at his barbershop when she encounters a stray dog that the Animal Control Officer Phil (Sal Rendino) has chased off.

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As the dog persistently trails her, Bridget insists to everyone she meets that “he’s not my dog.” As they wander together, Bridget’s initial frustration turns into compassion, pulling her away from her phone and teaching her valuable lessons about loyalty, courage, and friendship.

The movie is set in Vernon, Connecticut, specifically the Rockville section, during the winter. I can tell it is winter because they all are wearing big winter jackets and there is a lot of snow. Something that stands out to me is the original song that Bridget and Jessie (Analise Scarpaci) sing together, which is written by Analise, an actor in the movie. Something else that stands out to me is how, at first, Bridget does not like dogs, because in most movies there is a big bond between the protagonist and animals. The scenes with Nudge running past the local chess players Chuck (Eric Roberts) and Carl (Jeremy London), store owners, and bullies is funny. My favorite character is Nudge the black German Shepherd, because he is very smart. He can always get away from Officer Phil, knows a lot of simple commands and even seems to understand English. But the real reason I like him is because Nudge is very persistent.

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When Bridget doesn’t like him at first, he just keeps following her. She tells him to stop, but he keeps going until Bridget starts to like him. The turning point in the movie is when a rude woman, Miss Athelia (Marika Domińczyk) teams up with Animal Control Officer Phil to find the dog, and Bridget starts protecting Nudge. I like how the film reminds us that our feelings about someone, or an animal, can change once we actually get to know them.

The film’s message is that the best adventures are face to face instead of through a phone or on a screen.

I give Not My Dog 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Not My Dog is available on VOD, AVOD and Streaming now.

Not My Dog
By Julie O. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

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Not My Dog is a touching coming-of-age story thanks to the help of man’s best friend. I like that this movie conveys a lot of meaning with a small cast and a minimal script.

Bridget (Rylie Pennington) is a typical 12-year-old girl who has to walk across town to take her father his lunch. A decision on which path to take – the long way or the short cut, changes her life in an unexpected way. A stray dog joins her on her trip and refuses to leave her side. Along her way she comes across two chess players (Eric Roberts and Jeremy London), a singer, some high schoolers, a dog catcher, and Mrs. Athelia who tries to get Bridget in trouble for having the dog off of a leash.

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I like that this film has a small cast and the focus is just on the single walk between Bridget’s house and her father’s work place. I really enjoyed the slower pace of the film and the detail put into all of the interactions Bridget has on her journey. Most of the film is shot with close-ups, which gives a first person feeling. I love the use of the colors black, white, and red. The ground is covered in snow, the stray dog is black, and several of the characters wear red hats. These colors provide a nice contrast. I also like that Mrs. Athelia is dressed to look like Cruella from 101 Dalmatians. She wears a bright red hat and a long white and black fur coat. Every time she runs into Bridget there is conflict about the dog and her costume helps make her character larger than life.

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My favorite part of the story is whenever Bridget runs into Carl, one of the chess players in the park; he always imparts some life wisdom using chess as an example. He always says, “Life is like chess…”

The film’s message is that the unexpected can open new opportunities. I also like how the movie emphasizes the power of community and building relationships. This is a family friendly movie.

I give Not My Dog 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. It is available to stream on VOD and AVOD now.

Not My Dog
By Juliana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

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I like the movie Not My Dog because it is a really sweet, enjoyable family film to watch, with a heartwarming story. The relationship between the main character, Bridget and “not her dog,” Nudge is the strongest part of the film, and the movie excels at mixing humor and sarcasm with emotion.

The storyline follows Bridget (Rylie Pennington), a guarded, sarcastic 12-year-old girl living in a small town. Her mom sends her on an errand to take lunch to her father and Bridget’s day takes an unexpected turn when a stray dog begins following her. After many attempts to get rid of him, she eventually takes him on and names him Nudge, based on the fact that he won’t leave her side. She repeatedly tells people that he is “not my dog,” but he becomes intertwined with different relationships with various people, who all comment on the dog. While Nudge begins the story as an annoying interruption to Bridget’s chore, he becomes something much more meaningful.

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The person who stands out to me the most is Rylie Pennington, who plays Bridget. Pennington portrays Bridget’s stubbornness and sarcastic-ness perfectly, while still showing a softer, more scared side of her character. At the beginning, Pennington demonstrates feeling annoyed by Nudge, and her body language shows us how she does not want to take responsibility for him. However, as the film develops, Pennington physically and emotionally opens up more to Nudge and her surroundings. I love how she shows Bridget’s emotions through her facial expressions! I was also impressed by Inkosi, the dog that plays Nudge. Even though he cannot speak, his expressions, movements, and reactions make him feel like an important character rather than a simple dog.

Inkosi develops a connection with Bridget, making their relationship feel authentic and sweet. Together, these two create a friendship that has a natural feel and produces heartwarming moments.

The film’s message is that sometimes, relationships we never expect can become the most important. Bridget begins her story trying to push away Nudge, but he ends up teaching her about loyalty, responsibility, and being kind and open to others. This film reminds us to be more open to the world, and take a chance beyond first impressions.

I give Not My Dog 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. Not My Dog is available now on VOD, AVOD, and streaming platforms.

Every single dollar counts—and 48 hours remain in our KIDS FIRST! campaign.

We have two quick updates as we enter the final 48 hours of our KIDS FIRST! fall campaign:

First, thanks to our incredible community, we just officially crossed the $3,000 mark! 🎉

Second, I wanted to share a quick moment from earlier today that truly captured the spirit of this campaign. Someone I care deeply about—who happens to be going through a tough patch right now and looking for work—saw our campaign update. Without hesitating, she reached out and said:

“I have a dollar. Where do I send it?”

That is the heart of what we do at KIDS FIRST!

It’s not about huge financial commitments; it’s about a community coming together to back our young journalists, filmmakers, and film festival showcases.

As we make this final push toward our deadline on October 17th, I want to pose that same question to our entire community:

If every single person reading this email donated just $1 today, we would make a massive leap toward empowering the next generation of storytellers.

👉 Pitch in $1 or enter our sweepstakes here: 

When you chip in $1, you enter our sweepstakes for fantastic prizes!

If we could ask one more thing of you, it is to forward this email to a friend. Who knows you might just win a trip to Portugal for $1.

Remember, your support gives young reporters the tools, equipment, and platforms they need to make their voices heard.

Thank you for believing in our youth!

Warmly,

The KIDS FIRST! Dream Team and the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics

Time is officially running out! There are only 3 days left to enter the KIDS FIRST! 35th Anniversary Grand Sweepstakes. The deadline is this Saturday, October 17, and we don’t want you to miss out on these incredible rewards.

Every single donation directly empowers the next generation of youth media critics—and puts you in the running for a truly world-class lineup of prizes:

• ✈️ The European Escape: A dream vacation for two to beautiful Portugal!
• 🌵 The Luxury Getaway: Two nights at a posh Airbnb in historic Santa Fe, NM, just blocks from the plaza!
• 💡 The Masterclass Experience: A private business consultation with Kenn Viselman—the legendary entertainment executive who brought Teletubbies and Thomas & Friends to the U.S.!
• 🐑 The Nostalgia Prize: A private, magical afternoon with Mallory Lewis & Lamb Chop!

👉 Click Here to Get Your Entries in by midnight Oct 17. 

Whether you enter with a small donation or step up to a higher tier for extra entries, your generosity keeps our 35-year mission thriving.

Thank you for your incredible support, and good luck!

Evie, Robin, Nancy and Ranny

The KIDS FIRST! Dream Team