Watching The Academy Awards always gets me excited to watch more movies, but maybe not the best movies for kids. In fact I’m sure that 99% of them are way too much for little ones (and, often, me) to handle.
But for you lucky New Yorkers–or those of you planning a trip to the city over Spring Break–set aside the month of March for “Extreme Movie Watching” because you’re about to get a whole bunch of reasons to hit the theaters with the kids. Or hey, even if you’re not NY bound, you can browse the site and start adding to your “to-watch” list that may need some desperate refreshing, like ours.
Now in its 16th year, New York International Children’s Film Festival is a huge family event, even in a city known for huge things. Loads of films from around the world come to the city, giving you the chance to see many on the big screen for the only time. Scroll through the schedule to see what is playing, when, and in which of 8 theaters.
Since some films are geared to tweens and above, be sure to check out the recommended ages for each then make a reservation!They do sell out.
I’d love to catch the US premiere of the Studio Ghibli film From Up On Poppy Hill, and the acclaimed Wolf Children. And bilingual families will get to check out ¡Rompe Ralph!, or Ralph Wreck-It Ralph in Spanish.
The inspirational Strong! about Olympic weightlifter Cheryl Hawthorn, challenges the female stereotype of beauty in an absolutely fierce way.
For those who prefer to mix things up, the various Short Films collections are a great way to see a bunch of films in one place. I like that they’ve grouped their shorts together based on age for toddlers, grade-school age kids, tweens, and teens. They also have a collection of spooky and strange shorts for older kids, and categories like Girls POV.
But hurry and order your tickets soon since they do sell out. And plan ahead: With so many great films to see from around the world, you’re gonna need a bigger box of popcorn. –Christina
Check out the schedule and reserve your tickets for the New York International Children’s Film Festival at gkids.com beginning March 1st. Also, follow news on Twitter @ICFF
By the way, if you can’t make the festival? Check out the excellent Kids DVD guide with tons of recommendations for purchase or download on Amazon that you may not have already seen.
