KIDS FIRST! Film Festival

KIDS FIRST! is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and we have an incredible event that has started to roll out – our 30th Anniversary KIDS FIRST! Film Festival – co-hosted by venues nationwide. The events will be a hybrid – a combination of live and online screenings, live streaming talent interviews and Q&A sessions, panel discussions and more – with an expected attendance of over 100,000. KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is known for its showcase of extraordinary films made by and for children, ages 2 to 22. We feature creative, artistic, insightful, informative, humorous and thought-provoking films from filmmakers worldwide. Our 30th anniversary selection contains an remarkable collection of animated films, documentaries, shorts and features. We have films by and about children of color, climate change and the environment, social justice, and multicultural awareness. Some films offer uplifting messages for kids trying to cope with the global pandemic. Others offer insight into a culture elsewhere in the world, showing how similar we are even though our traditions might be so different. Some films are just plain fun; they make you laugh at their outright silliness, and leave a smile on your face. The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival showcases new and classic children's films, TV programs, digital programming, DVDs and screenplays from independent filmmakers, youth filmmakers, and studios. KIDS FIRST! partners with more than 30 venues that showcase its selections for their kids and family programming throughout the year. Submitting to KIDS FIRST! is like submitting to 30 individual festivals. Not all 50 festivals will play your film or feature your screenplay, but it will be considered. Note that KIDS FIRST! Film Festival affiliates do not pay a screening fee. Accepted titles must meet or exceed the KIDS FIRST! criteria and be appropriate for exhibition on a large screen. Criteria include: NO gratuitous violence or abuse NO inappropriate sexual behavior NO bias in terms of race, gender, culture or religion NO condescension toward children NO replicable unsafe behavior Most importantly, we look for films that have an uplifting message! ELIGIBILITY: Films must be suitable for children age 2 to 18 Premiere status is a factor during the selection process Only completed works can be submitted Non-English films must be subtitled in English