“Love Changes Everything” Film Festival, Bringing Global Stories Of Love and Compassion to Ukraine
Friday, April 25th, 2025
In 2023, KIDS FIRST! began a partnership with Ukraine Matters to create an online film festival for children in Ukraine and for Ukrainian refugees. We are returning this September with a 2nd edition, entitled “Love Changes Everything” that will focus on international short and feature films designed to uplift and inspire.
We have launched a fundraising campaign to support the festival and 50% of all proceeds will go directly to our Ukrainian partners. Your donation will help make this happen.
“Continuing our partnership with KIDS FIRST! for a second year is incredibly meaningful,” states Volodymyr Goshyly, President of Ukraine Matters. “After three years of war, Ukrainians are experiencing profound PTSD. These films, brimming with love and compassion, will offer vital inspiration and healing.”
“This collection is a testament to the resilience and hope we see in our friends in Ukraine,” says Nancy Kenney, VP of KIDS FIRST!
Ranny Levy, President, emphasizes, “We began our film festival partnership with Ukraine Matters two years ago and are excited to expand this year to bring these powerful and supportive stories for their youth and families.”
Leading up to the festival, beginning August 1, KIDS FIRST! will present a series of interviews with program creators to discuss the films featured in the “Love Changes Everything” collection. These young and independent filmmakers (ages 9-65), come from all over the world and represent some of the best new works by emerging filmmakers.
Expanding the Reach of Meaningful Cinema
Beyond this collaboration, KIDS FIRST! invites non-profit organizations worldwide to co-host local festivals or individual film screenings of this curated film collection. Whether at established film festivals, children’s museums, schools, or libraries, KIDS FIRST! can offer your organization an opportunity to help support our friends in Ukraine.
Since 2020, KIDS FIRST! Film Festival has drawn thousands of cinephiles globally, showcasing the powerful work of independent and student filmmakers. KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is a project of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a national non-profit (501-c-3) organization dedicated to promoting quality media for children since 1991.
https://fundrazr.com/KIDSFIRST-Ukraine-FilmFestival
In the heart of the Pacific Ocean lies a magical cluster of islands, home to a unique collection of castaways found nowhere else on earth. Narrated by Brendan Fraser, Disneynature’s “Sea Lions of the Galapagos” dives underwater with Leo, a handsome sea lion pup who’s learning how to navigate life alongside his mother, Luna. Following swimming lessons, fishing expeditions and some growing up, Leo eventually leaves his mother’s colony to find his own home—male sea lions must fight to earn the best spots, and only the strongest will become beach-masters. Leo’s lifelong quest is fraught with challenges and filled with new encounters with an array of creatures, from marine iguanas and racer snakes to yellow fin tuna and huge Galapagos sharks. The archipelago is Leo’s playground—overland and underwater—but he must stay vigilant to find his place in the world. Directed by Hugh Wilson, co-directed by Keith Scholey, and produced by Scholey, Wilson and Roy Conli, the all-new adventure launches is available exclusively on Disney+.
Sea Lions of the Galapagos is by far the cutest documentary I have ever seen. Vibrant, colorful, and a few splashes of laughter, it shows the life of a sweet little Galapagos Sea lion pup and all the challenges and triumphs that come with being one.
With direction by Hugh Wilson and Keith Scholey and narration by Brandon Fraser, this is not your standard animal documentary. Instead of just revealing facts about the animal in focus, this feature educates from the perspective of a story, with the life of a young sea lion, named Leo, as a guide. However, this does not mean there is less insight into the Galapagos sea lion species.
Thinking this might just be the place he can make his home, he falls asleep only to be awoken by the beach’s beachmaster, and he is NOT happy to see another male. Leo has no choice but to escape up a steep hill where the beachmaster, as big as he is, cannot follow. How does Leo leave the island? By belly-whopping his way down the other side of the hill! After this daring endeavor, Leo continues on his way.
Lucasfilm’s Emmy®-nominated thriller “Andor,” returns for its long-awaited conclusion on April 22. The second season takes place as the horizon of war draws near and Cassian becomes a key player in the Rebel Alliance. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting agendas will become profound. Rife with political intrigue and danger, the series is a prequel to “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” which portrayed a heroic band of rebels who steal the plans to the Empire’s weapon of mass destruction—The Death Star—setting the stage for the events of the original 1977 film. “Andor” sets the clock back five years from the events of “Rogue One” to tell the story of the film’s hero, Cassian Andor, and his transformation from disinterested, cynical nobody into a rebel hero on his way to an epic destiny.
Light & Magic is an American documentary television series directed by Lawrence Kasdan and produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. and Imagine Documentaries showcasing the people of Industrial Light and Magic, the special effects division of Lucasfilm, this series takes us back in time as they create the effects for some of the biggest and most successful films of the last 45 years.
Light and Magic: Season 2 offers a breathtaking, behind‑the‑scenes portrait of filmmaking’s pioneers and a view into the everyday life of a filmmaker. Blending archival footage with candid interviews, the series lets you look inside the creative sparks that modernized movie magic. As a die‑hard Star Wars fan and someone curious about cinematic innovation, I found myself riveted by insider glimpses into the making of The Phantom Menace and other iconic blockbusters.
This three episode series shows what it was like to be one of the key innovators in the movie industry in the 1990s. This season delves into the pivotal work of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) in the aftermath of the hit film Star Wars: A New Hope. Beyond the technical marvels, Light and Magic: Season 2 emphasizes the human spirit behind the art. Discussions range from how teams found new ways to make cinematic magic happen together to what happens when a director like Steven Spielberg calls with a big, seemingly impossible ask and a tight deadline.
I am a massive fan of the Star Wars movies. Revenge of the Sith is one of my all-time favorites. Watching this team creating the prequel trilogy was beyond exciting. I’ve always had an idea of how difficult filmmaking was, but I never knew it could be this extensive. This season offers fantastic insight to the sheer persistence and the community of the visual effects’ world. As much as I already love these films, I feel that I can appreciate them a little bit more after watching this series. The community is so fun to watch – everyone at ILM works together so wonderfully. They consistently meet their deadline; no matter the challenge. You would think that the amount of work would result in a stressed and tense work environment. Think again!
This team keeps an enjoyable atmosphere that makes me wish I could be there with them. My favorite part is when we watch the ILM crew create the iconic Yoda versus Dooku fight entirely with CG. I especially like the way they kept it realistic and high quality. This part is truly a testament to why they have remained pioneers in the visual effects’ world for so long.
Light & Magic: Season 2 is such an informative and compelling series about the history and process of creating digital effects in films. It gave me a newfound appreciation for a part of filmmaking I previously did not know much about and I learned a lot about the struggles and thought process behind creating special effects..
In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy farm girl named Yuri is raised to fear an elusive animal species known as ochi. But when Yuri discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to bring him home.
I really like The Legend of Ochi. It is an emotional, yet inspiring film. At the same time, it is also suspenseful, and creates a slight feeling of discomfort. I enjoy each of these different aspects, because they all help to build up the interesting storyline, and bring you into the world on the island of Carpathia.
Something that I really enjoy about this film is the cinematography. Director Isaiah Saxon has a unique style that helps to bring out the cold, uncomfortable feeling that this film exudes. There are many moments of stillness and closeups – many scenes where the camera zooms in very close on Yuri’s face. This helps the audience to really feel her loneliness and sadness. It is clear that she is undergoing something from the very beginning, and this camera work helps us to understand that, even without dialogue.
Lastly, the message of this movie is extremely powerful. It teaches us to not assume the worst in animals, and that violence is not the answer. This film also highlights how people’s opinions are able to change over time. This is a huge aspect of today’s society. With so much constant change, and things always evolving, it’s often hard to shift the mindset of those who are set in their ways and traditions. This movie breaks that stigma, and shows us how strong the power of family and love is. The ending is particularly compelling and really moved me. I had full body chills the entire time.
I absolutely love The Legend of Ochi. Unlike movies that I usually like, this is not primarily CGI and special effects. The writer/director, Isaiah Saxon, uses creative and talented acting, cinematography, music and puppetry to create this beautiful film. Everything artistically comes together in an amazing experience.
Willem Defoe plays a much older Peter Pan like character. Dressed in rather silly armor, he leads his band of lost boys on a misguided crusade to get rid of the ochi. Helena Zengel and Emily Watson show a complex mother/daughter relationship. Robert Tygner and the other puppeteers make the baby ochi so adorable. The adult ochi realistically show expressions. This casts’ performances are complex, heartwarming and, at times, comical. The ochi communicate their emotions through what Yuri’s mother, Dasha (actor), called an inborn melody.
Filmed in Romania, the director of photography (Evan Prosofski) brings the beautiful mountains, roads and lakes to life. My favorite part is when Yuri reunites with her parents. The enduring love of a father, the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter, and the strength of family deeply touched me.
The film The Legend of Ochi is a family adventure film with many unexpected events. I love the visuals in the film. This movie was filmed in very beautiful locations and the settings are perfect for the story.
I love how the movie shows that it is important to have a connection with your family. This movie also shows another culture and a different part of the world which is very interesting. My favorite part of this film is when Yuri finds out she can speak the ochi’s language. The ochi and Yuri are both surprised and have a bonding moment when they discover that they can speak the same language. It really sets the tone for the rest of the film, especially at the end when all the ochi’s communicate with her and the baby ochi.
